we moved!

Why hello there, thanks for checking in on us. We have actually moved our blog. Please visit our new site where you can continue to find a compilation of inspiring work being done all over the world, our current projects, and the stories of the many lives changed.


Home Of Change's New Blog

Sisters, Thanks, and Giving

While today in the United States we celebrate the awesomeness of Thanksgiving, as a Dominican woman I am honored to celebrate just a little bit more. November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The date has been marked since 1981; birthed from the brutal assassination in 1960 of the three Mirabal sisters, on orders of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo. These brave women, Minerva, Patria & Maria Teresa, served as political activists in the Dominican Republic, at a time when, not only women, but the people had no voice.


So today I am thankful for their courage and sacrifice. I am thankful they broke the mold of conformity and stood unconditionally for the better good of others. I am thankful they paved the way for the women of the many generations that have followed to have the opportunity to become leaders and world changers.

As we remember these brave women and celebrate a day of thanks, be encouraged to give today. Give a smile. Give a hug. Say a kind word.

If you are a first time reader of our blog, Home of Change is a nonprofit organization fighting human trafficking through education and leadership implementation in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Visit our website for more information.

Santiago in September

"Children will not remember for you the material things you provided, but for the feeling that you cherished them." - Richard L. Evans

This week I got back from spending some time in Santiago, Dominican Republic. I met with some wonderful people doing awesome work. Niños Con Una Esperanza is one of these warriors. Pastor Pablo Ureña and his wife, Elizabeth have rescued hundreds of children referred to as "dumpster kids", who were forced to live off the Rafey Dumpster in Santiago.

These children, once allies with disease, hunger, and the struggle to survive, are now on a hope-filled path to recovering their education, dignity, and childhood. Little boys who were vulnerable to being trafficked into field labor and girls forced into prostitution, can now reach for their dreams of becoming doctors, lawyers and, ultimately, world changers.

Everything Niños Con Una Esperanza has done in the last 5 years has been through the support of individuals, partnerships with other organizations, and a big chunk of faith. It is quite encouraging! They believe in giving the children they work with the tools to learn how to be leaders in their communities, through education and genuine love.

At Home of Change, we have decided to partner with this awesome organization for our Girls To Schools campaign.

Be encouraged in knowing that your gifts will impact the lives of hundreds of students. You will not only provide school supplies; you are helping them see that they are worth caring for, that they deserve dignity, which in turn becomes hope. So on their behalf, thank you!

"Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future." - John F. Kennedy

Picture by Niños Con Una Esperanza. Little girl rescued, her scar is from working in the dumpster.

Girls To Schools

As much as I enjoyed being on vacation from school, my favorite part of summer was towards the end. Simply because it meant it was time to go school supply shopping. It was the smell of never before used crayons, the bright colors of Lisa Frank folders; and, yes that one year, my Where is Waldo lunchbox! This past week, hundreds of thousands of students all across the United States began a brand new school year. And if I am completely honest, I may or may not have been a little jealous of the 9 year old at Target picking out matching notebooks and folders.

Yet, on a more serious note, this season has made me think of the other hundreds of thousands of students in the Dominican Republic. Those that will not be making their ways to classrooms. And it made me think of those that will attend, but that will have to walk a couple of miles to and from school everyday, with two pencils, one notebook, an empty stomach, and yet a determined will to make it through another year. It made me think of the young students that will not go to school because they have to many chores or their parents just do not care enough to make it happen for them. It made me think of young girls who will drop out of high school to get married or to be trafficked and forced into prostitution.

At Home of Change, our goal is to fight poverty and trafficking by educating and empowering girls and young women. We believe education is a right every child is entitled to. That is why we have started our Girls To Schools campaign.

Research shows if you educate a girl she will:

• Earn up to 25 percent more and reinvest 90 percent in her family.
• Be three times less likely to become HIV-positive.
• Have fewer, healthier children who are 40 percent more likely to live past the age of five.

The lack of education is among the main factors feeding the vulnerability of these children being trafficked for sexual exploitation and child labor practices. Education does not only provide empowerment, it is a strategic prevention tool.

We want to encourage you to bring passion, take action and be the change. Learn about our Girls To Schools campaign and how you can help.

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." -Mother Teresa

Thought For Change

When a man shows interest in changing the lives of the thousands of women that are at risk to be trafficked and forced into prostitution, my heart can't help it but to skip a beat. See, women tend to get it. We think of these girls as one of us. Because it can very well be us. But when it's a man... naturally, the gender that makes up most of the demand for women and yet, ironically, has the most potential to end trafficking for sexual purposes... well, it's world changing.

Needless to say, when Nathan, my friend from Thought For Change, approached me for an interview on Home of Change, I was moved and excited to share. Nathan is an observant individual, with an innate gift to creatively write, teach, and share the things of God.


Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Thank you Nate, for sharing our passion to be a voice for the things that matter. Read "The Spotlight: Home of Change" by Nathan Arcenaux.

PS. If you heart twitter follow us here:
Home of Change and Nathan Arcenaux

outrageousness.

"It's a third world country, you can do whatever you want."

These were the words spoken by a fishing tour operator at a hunting and fishing conference in Dallas, Texas. See, he is not only referring to the lack of follow-up by government authority or the excess of corruption of the same, we all know that is a given. The truth is that he is referring to the sad reality of how easy it is to get more than a fishing experience in South America. More along the lines of sex with minors, girls as young as 13, who have been abused and trafficked there with the false hope of getting a cleaning job to support their families financially.

As a citizen of a third world country myself, I am fed up. Fed up with first world foreigners, who 'should know better' who come to our countries, and our own native society leeches with that same attitude and do nothing but bombard our societies with drugs, arms, and they take our own daughters, sisters, and mothers to abuse, beat, and rape. Fed up that the government puts on the blindfold to this situation. But most of all, fed up that the people who have the power to really end this outrageousness (yes, I realize that is not a word...) sit back ignorant to the issue. That would be ordinary people like you and I.

When did we forget we are more than the few who control our countries? When did we forget that a collective shout can make the difference? Decades ago, the people who stood up against injustice, fought for freedom, were synonyms of bravery and seen as heroes. Today, the people with the same spirit are looked as dreamers, as if they were speaking of impossible things. Well here is a little insight in the words of Rob Morris, founder of Love146, "Ending human trafficking is not idealistic or naive. It is audacious. And it is people of audacity who change the world."

This is the report ABC did on this issue: Pleasure Trips or Underage Sex Tourism?

Lets not forget that ignorance is just as bad as the injustice taking place.

If you are a first time reader of our blog, Home of Change is a nonprofit organization fighting human trafficking through education and leadership implementation in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Visit our website for more information.

for her

You are not only providing hygiene products; you are helping them see that they are worth caring for, that they deserve dignity, which in turn becomes hope.

So on their behalf, thank you!

psalm 23 for haiti

Tonight we lift a special prayer for the people of Haiti. We ask God for protection, comfort, and strength over our brothers and sisters in this tragic time. Father we pray that you wipe their tears and fill their hearts with your overwhelming peace and love. We pray for a supernatural peace to flow in their nation. In Jesus name, Amen.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

³ he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

⁴ Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

At Home of Change, we encourage you to take action. We will be posting an update of local organizations who are in the trenches in Port-Au-Prince, and how you can help.

the time is now

It is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day today. I have been researching this social issue for quite some time now; and naturally, it had me interested in knowing the statistics of human trafficking in the Dominican Republic. I wonder if I am ever going to stop being surprised..... Clearly this is not that time.

I was shocked to find out that the Dominican Republic is not only a hot-spot for human trafficking, but according to research, it is ranked No. 4 worldwide following Thailand, Philippines, and Brazil. The Dominican Republic is a source, transit, and destination country for trafficking victims including men, women, and children.

According to research done by UNICEF, there is an estimated 4,000 children being trafficked annually from Haiti into the Dominican Republic for forced labor and sexual purposes. In addition, there is an estimated 500,000 Dominican women involved in prostitution in Europe, South America, and the Caribbean.

My question is, what is the Dominican government doing about the estimated 400 trafficking networks working from within the country, responsible for this organized crime? Yes, I am aware of Law 137-03 established in August of 2003, stating the punishment for those involved in the traffic of humans. However, the government has, yet again, lacked follow up in prosecuting and punishing violators. It's like hearing the news that Mark McGwire used steroids...tell us something we don't know!

I ended my last post stating that Home of Change had become more than just a blog, and I had decided to take action. Well 2010 has arrived. After much research, continual planning, and a couple of God winks (my favorites!) I have decided to start a nonprofit organization.

Home of Change exists to provide educational, financial, and health-care resources to the girls and women of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Our goal is to reduce the risk of trafficking for sexual and labor purposes by instilling leadership in the community.

Our vision is to develop women into key leadership roles in their communities, while they pave their own road to social change.

Home of Change is a hub for education, leadership, and social impact.

Why girls and women? Research shows that when resources are invested in women, they invest in their families and communities, which leads to social change. They are also among the most at-risk citizens and more likely to become victims.

“It always seems impossible until its done” -Nelson Mandela


For more information on Home of Change, contact me at carolina@homeofchange.org

my piece of half the sky

I love to read. Reading comes easy to me. I am one of those people that picks up a book, and quickly gets wrapped into each and every word being read. I tend to get emotionally invested in most cases. Those of you who know me also know that it usually does not take me more than a month to get through a book.

I have been reading Nicholas Kristof's column in the New York Times for quite some time now, and must say I am never less than inspired and impressed. Needless to say, when I found out he and his wife, Sheryl WuDunn, were writing a book together, it soared right to the top of my must-read list. Not only are they the first married couple to win a Pulitzer Prize in journalism, but the book is about "turning oppression into opportunity for women worldwide"- like I said, a must-read. I picked up my copy of Half The Sky at good old Borders one night after work, and after getting over my disappointment of not being able to stay there for the rest of my life (OK, so I admit this happens often), I drove home. I was like child with a new toy, filled with excitement and curiosity.

A couple of pages into the introduction of the book, the excitement turned into indignation, and the curiosity into responsibility to do something about it. As I continued to read, I found myself putting it down at times just to get a hold of my emotions. When I read the stories like that of the 3 year old baby girl that was repeatedly raped by soldiers in the Congo and eventually killed after they fired their guns into her, it's hard not to get emotionally invested. To read, time and again, of the thousands of mass rapes and honor killings, deaths due to lack of health care and education because of their gender, girls being trafficked and turned into prostitutes by age 11, and in many cases at a younger age; the list just goes on and on.

We are wrong if we think this is not our problem or our responsibility. As a young woman, I am broken by the suffering my sisters worldwide have had to, and continue to unjustly endure. I can not imagine what it would be like to be kidnapped, repeatedly raped for days, returned home,and since I am a girl, I am not worth spending the money at a hospital to be treated; so I am left to be eaten by wild animals by my own family because they can not stand the smell coming from the fistulas or infections in my body caused by the rapes. I am a daughter, sister and hope to be a mother some day... these women too. It is our responsibility.

"Every year, at least another 2 million girls worldwide disappear because of gender discrimination. ... We believe that in this century the paramount moral challenge will be the struggle for gender equality in the developing world." -Half The Sky

When I started this blog, I made the decision and stated that "I choose to be an advocate for change and equality for the voiceless." Well, now I am making the decision to advocate through action and social entrepreneurship. So this post is a battle-cry to my fellow sisters to take action. Get educated and get involved.

I encourage you to visit Half The Sky and join the movement. Remember you're not going to fix the global problem, but make a significant difference. If everyone does that, well then we just might change the world after all! Make the decision to make a difference World Changer... that would be You!



As some of you know, Home of Change has become more than a blog for me. After much thought and planning I am looking into taking action formally beginning towards the first months of 2010.

I have decided to hold up my piece of half the sky.

water tweets

Twitter has been described as the prime example of time wasting activities. Sure, as every other social networking site, there are the occasional leeches of social progression roaming around. However, Twitter has become a rally for social causes all over the world, to shine light on some of the most mind raveling global social injustice issues and, in effect, recruit warriors to fight these battles.

My personal activity on Twitter is quite limited, nonetheless it gives me the opportunity to follow some of the heroes of our generation including Rob Morris (founder of Love146.org) and Nicholas D. Kristof (New York Times columnist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner). In my following, I noticed that both Rob and Nicholas tweeted about a fellow named Scott Harrison. Of course, it did not take long for the curiosity in me to strike up and research this man, if he was worthy of Rob and Nicholas' tweets then he certainly must stand for something great. Sure enough, Scott Harrison is nothing less than great. He is the lead advocate for the one billion people who do not have access to clean drinking water. Yes, one billion, that is one in six of us humans around the world.

That is a lot of fathers, mothers, children, sisters and brothers. So I did more research. I learned about the children in these third world villages that, instead of sitting in a classroom, have to walk hours to the nearest water source and find that it is nothing more but a contaminated, mud-filled fest. To my surprise, not as shocking to them as it is to me. It is all they have and ever known. I guess after a couple of walks everyday, the dirty, disease infested water would probably lose its shock value to me too. After a full minute of thought, I take that back.

See, if our bodies are made up of approximately 65% water, and the water these people are drinking is made up of preventable illnesses..well then....that explains the estimated 4,500 children dying daily from water related diseases. Yes children, the future of our generation. Yes, daily.

It is so cliche. The whole "it's the little things we take for granted," "we don't know what we have until we don't." We don't think about the one billion people who cannot open the tap and get a drink. But it is classic. Can you imagine not being able to go to school because your job is to go fetch the water, that by the way, is among the leading contributors to your death. When put that way, it is not such a "little thing" to be taken for granted. More than thinking about these people, we need to start doing for them. It is time we start realizing the world-changing abilities in us.

charity: water is a non profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. We give 100% of the money raised to direct project costs, funding sustainable clean water solutions in areas of greatest need. Just $20 can give one person in a developing nation clean water for 20 years. www.charitywater.org

Scott Harrison is a visionary. Scott Harrison realized he is a world changer. We are no different.

I encourage you to look for the opportunity in everything. A little less Spears, Hilton and Kardashian; and perhaps a little more Clinton, Morris, and Kristof (to name a few!) on Twitter can be a real eye opener.

a homeless encouragement

Of course the last day of the month, I have been once again inspired and changed by one of the most serendipitous of events. OK, so not really that serendipitous, nonetheless still out of the norm. Like on many occasions in my everyday life, I wasn't looking for an experience. My trip to the supermarket was no different. Get the eggs, go home. It was all going according to plan, except I felt a nudge to park my car and engage in conversation with a random homeless man sitting in the parking lot under a tree. By the way, that's the normal part.

I parked my car, and thought about it for like 2.7 nanoseconds. Enough time to remind myself that, first of all if Robert Downey Jr. talked with Jamie Foxx in The Soloist, I could do it; and secondly, that of course God would protect me. I got out of the car, and as I walked towards the man, I remembered the Soloist was just a movie; and that good thing the second thought actually holds its own.

The man was writing on a piece of cardboard, classic I thought. No fancy introductions were made. Just an awkward and quirky "watcha writing there?" sparked a, what felt like endless, conversation about a life filled with ups and lows. I found out he was on a mission to protest. He told the story of how he was involved in spreading the Gospel many years ago, but with time was taken over by false accusations and identity theft. The truth behind his life story remains a true mystery. However, what I do know about this man is that with the utmost eloquence he described this passion against social injustice and political corruption, and at the same time, his love for God.

Needless to say I was perplexed by this man. All I could think of was to pray over him, so I did. But more than that, it made me realize that there is too much lost hope in this city to sit around being a bystander of society.

This month I was honored to encounter an organization that is impacting our Central Florida city in more than many ways. Harvest Time International is a non profit charitable organization that provides relief to disaster, hunger and refugee victims in Central Florida and around the world.

I wonder what would happen to this city if there were more selfless warriors like Harvest Time International. Perhaps less confused, hopeless and hurt homeless families would roam our streets in search of more than just physical needs.



A simple prayer and two dollars later I received this gift from that man. More than just one of his many protests, I believe he gave me the gift of encouragement.

becoming a chlid

So clearly it has taken me the entire month of July to figure out what I should blog about... and then it happened... while looking for pictures for a newsletter campaign I am working on, I found this piece of art...

Such innocence, humility, and genuine joy. They are curious and bold. Ever had a child ask you a question that left you speechless? Automatically your facial expressions turn into that how-am-I-suppose-to-answer-that-question look.

I must admit, at times I may be a little jealous of their carefree spirit. This picture made me wonder why, for a long time, I was in such a hurry to grow up. Now I realize, as my friend Amy Porter once said, "I am just not built to be an adult!"

I want to run around in the rain; daydream about what I want to be when I grow up; play my guitar all day and not call it procrastination. Never mind, I still do all of those things!

On a more serious note, I want to believe in people again. I want to believe that our society and generation can fearless and radically make a difference. I want to inspire and be inspired.

This month was one of spiritual growth and strengthening.
God met with me. I was forever changed.
He gave me a bigger calling and purpose.
I realized that I am a child, His baby girl.

So I have been inspired. Now my purpose includes inspiring others. I choose to see through the eyes of a little girl. I do not mean be naive like a child, but care like one. The more I observe children, I realize they are passionate and fight for what they believe in, and a lot of times win.

So why then are we, as young adults, not being bold and standing up for what we care about, for what is right?

Why are there 2 children being sold every minute into sex and labor trafficking? Why are we allowing more than a billion people to go hungry and starve? Why are millions of people living without access to clean water? Like a child I ask, why? why? why?

Many give all sorts of political responses, but honestly, all I hear is laziness and lack of courage. If it was one of our children being sold or going hungry, I am sure we would hum to a different tune.

So this month is a simple encouragement to become curious and uncomfortable; ask why. Be a child and be bold.


"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
- Matthew 18: 2-4 New International Version

i missed the memo

60.59.58.57.56.55.54.53.52.51.50.
49.48.47.46.45.44.43.42.41.40.
39.38.37.36.35.34.33.32.31.30.
29.28.27.26.25.24.23.22.21.20.
19.18.17.16.15.14.13.12.11.10.
9.8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1. SOLD

It is estimated that two children are sold every minute. They are forced to live in brothels, and as the nights fall, so do their untouched bodies and the lively innocence that comes with being a child. They are continuously traded, from one perverse mind to another, and back to a so-called home where their biggest worry is not if they missed their favorite TV show, but instead, whether they are infected with HIV or not. Pain, abuse and shame are their closest allies, appearing to be a never-ending relationship.

Would you imagine, you're ten years old and you are sold by your own family to a trafficker, who then sells you to a brothel, in a place you probably don't even understand the language, and that night, and all the rest to come, you are to sexually service the perverse minds and bodies of those who pay the right price. I don't care how right the price is, in my book, this is rape.

I missed the memo when it became acceptable for our children and young girls to become commodities. I missed the growing trend of the high demand for five year old babies that can give "yum-yums".... yes, that's exactly what you think it is, and yes that's the official term they use. There is a problem when a teenage girl can be bought to serve as a sex slave, just as easy and affordable as buying a blackberry. Oh, that's right, a three hundred dollar blackberry is actually more expensive in a lot of cases, I stand corrected. Disgusting, abusive and shameful.

"In September 2002, Love146 Co-Founders Rob Morris, Lamont Hiebert, Desirea Rodgers and Caroline Hahm went on an exploratory trip to SE Asia to determine how they could serve in the fight against child sex trafficking. In brothels they saw young children being sold for sex. In safehomes they witnessed the miracle of restoration as they sang and danced with survivors." www.love146.org

Organizations like Love146 get it. They understand the urgency of this problem. They understand that it is going to take people like you and I to make the difference. I encourage you to get educated. I warn you the numbers are staggering.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." -MLK

it's about being human

Imagine after endless hours of pain, because you can't afford to buy the medicine, you are brought to this room to deliver your baby.

Photo taken by Amy Porter on our visit to Haiti March 2009.
Clinic in Ounaminthe, Haiti.

So many times I get asked: Why are you, as a Dominican, raising awareness for a Haitian cause? My answer is simply that it's not about being Dominican or Haitian, it is about being human.


In my personal opinion there is a problem, way beyond the discussion of my nationality, when a country faces statistics like these:

• 60% of Haitians do not have access to even basic medical care

• There are 490,000 orphaned children in Haiti, a country of roughly 8 million people.

• Nearly 1/2 of the population of Haiti are children under the age of 18 years.

• Water-borne illnesses account for a large percentage of deaths in Haitian children and adults. 70% of Haitians do not have access to clean, potable water.

• 1 out of 7 children in Haiti die before the age of 5 years, mostly of preventable or curable diseases like pneumonia and diarrhea.

• According to UNICEF, only 36% of adults are aware that they can transfer HIV/AIDS to their children. As a result, over 17,000 children are infected with HIV/AIDS in Haiti, most of whom are not on proper medication.

I will let you take a moment to let those sink in...
See the problem is that these children are suppose to be the future leaders of their nation. What happens when they are not even given the chance? This world seems to be on a fast train to self-destruction and as the passengers we seem to be enjoying the ride a little too much. I believe it is time we start creating opportunities that enable access to education and basic health care for these children.


Danita's Children is a non‐profit organization with the intent of rescuing and caring for orphaned children, meeting their needs spiritually, physically, academically, emotionally. Danita's Children exists to answer the need for orphan rescue and care in Haiti and around the world. www.danitaschildren.org

Many people think that helping this cause means picking up, leaving behind, and moving to Haiti. But the reality is that many of us do not have that calling. Many times, the best way to support a cause is simply getting the word out. I encourage you to visit the Danita's Children website and learn about how you can get involved.

the beginning

Growing up in the Dominican Republic was quite the experience. Past the clear beaches, fertile mountains and local hospitality, sleep the countless families snuggled by the hardships poverty has brought upon them. Most on empty stomachs and restless worries for the second or third night in a row. It was hard to believe I lived within miles of these people. It seemed as if society had become blind to the lifestyles our very own citizens were forced to endure.

It was a hot Saturday morning when I first visited Pancho Mateo, a Haitian community on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. I remember my first impression and at that moment forgetting all I had ever learned or heard about poverty in the country. That moment was life-changing. As we walked through the village, I could feel my heart shattering and tears welling up. A young girl came up to me in search of a mere hug; not money, food, or clothes, but a single sign of love. I realize now, that moment defined in great part who I am and what I stand for today.

Aside from the tin-made houses and lack of clean water, I noticed a small house. This house was different. The children inside were smiling and it seemed to have a peculiar hope-like glow. This house belonged to Makarios.

Makarios, named using the ancient Greek word for “blessed,” is a faith-based organization that focuses on educational development in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. For more information please visit their amazing website: www.makariosinternational.org

After that trip I felt encouraged and empowered. This blog is a product of the seed that was planted over 3 years ago. I have decided to become an advocate for the voiceless, not only in my country, but around the world. home to change is a small and humble place with the mission to educate others on social injustice issues, highlight extraordinary people who are giving hope, and ways to get involved.

Thank you Makarios, YL DR staff, SCS teachers and everyone who has one way or another watered this seed of purpose in my life.