# Educational access and support in Dominican Republic and ECU > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/educational-access-and-support-in-dominican-republic-and-ecu > Updated: 2026-08-13T15:28:49.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. As the new academic year approaches in the Dominican Republic, the region is seeing a mix of systemic challenges and community-led support initiatives. In the Dominican Republic, families have faced intense competition for limited public school spots, with many parents reporting they receive the response “No seats available” after traveling to multiple institutions. This shortage affects both local families and Haitian immigrant children. To mitigate material shortages, various organizations have launched aid programs. In Ecuador, the Fundación Jonathan initiated the “Una Mochila, Un Sueño” campaign to collect school supplies and electronics for vulnerable children. Similarly, in Sosúa, Dominican Republic, the Lions Club distributed backpacks and school kits to over 1,000 students from low-income families. Additionally, the National Baseball Commissioner's office organized educational visits to baseball academies and the National Palace for the children of its employees. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-13: Community initiatives held in Dominican Republic Community initiatives in the Dominican Republic include baseball academy tours for employees' children and a school supply distribution for 1,000 students in Sosúa. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/community-initiatives-held-in-dominican-republic ### 2026-07-23: Education Access Initiatives Ahead of New School Year in Dominican Republic and Ecuador Dominican families struggle for public school spots, while Ecuador’s Fundación Jonathan gathers supplies to deliver 1,500 kits for vulnerable children before the new school year. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/education-access-initiatives-ahead-of-new-school-year-in-dominican-republic-and-ecuador --- Cite as: Educational access and support in Dominican Republic and ECU. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/educational-access-and-support-in-dominican-republic-and-ecu