Don Bosco

This Dominican community, home to more than 3,000 children, takes its name from St. Giovanni Melchoir Bosco (St. John Bosco). Don Bosco was a Catholic priest whose life-call of working with the poorest street children, specifically providing Christian discipleship for homeless boys, yielded over 6,000 dedicated young men prepared for the priesthood by the time Don Bosco died in 1888. The same compassion that led Don Bosco to welcome that first homeless street urchin in ragged clothing into his church service, led a loving young pastora, Africa Trico, to begin a small church meeting with children to teach them the word of God. The handful of children soon grew into 40 with more eager to participate.

In 2002, after meeting with Chris and Debbie Clark, Pastora Africa partnered with COTN and started a school in a tin shack. Immediately, COTN identified and enrolled 80 children into their village assistance program. Not only did the children receive Bible instruction, they also began formal education, received one nourishing meal each day, medical care by visiting volunteer doctors and nurses and Christian love from the national staff and volunteers who supported the work.

In 2003, a group of missionaries came to the community and began construction on three primary classrooms and one small office. “I can remember picking up rather large rocks with both hands and tossing them over the concrete block shell of a building to fill in the soil for a floor to be poured into the new school. I thought this was a crazy way to lay a foundation. But now, seeing this lovely school and play yard and all the children dressed and clean in their blue uniforms, it’s hard to envision that this place was once just a dry heap of dirt and rocks, on a forgotten hillside on which naked children who had nothing played,” says 2003 team member Carmen Richards.

When the community observed the difference God was making in the lives of their children, they immediately began looking for a way to add property to enlarge the school grounds. A blessing for COTN was the ability to purchase additional school property for a very affordable price and, in 2004 they built a new kitchen to replace the tin shack the faithful cooks had long worked in.

In 2005, enthusiastic short-term teams added three new classrooms. COTN Country Director, Guadalupe Feliz enhanced the program with additional teacher training, program supplies and new uniforms sewn especially for each child. Summer interns painted a colorful and happy mural on the walls as a parting gift of appreciation for the children of the school they had served.

At the end of 2005, COTN had 913 children enrolled in their Dominican Republic schools and held their first ever preschool graduation for 86 students; of which 25 were from the village of Don Bosco. These children, who once had nothing, are now following the lead of COTN and their dear Pastora into a future and a hope.

Pastora Africa continues working in Don Bosco. She is a consistent reminder to the children of God’s love, care, and compassion. Today, she is also known and respected as, Principal Africa of Niños de las Naciones Don Bosco Escuela Vista Hermosa, a COTN School of Hope.