Villa verde
Dominican republic
Located in the northern outskirts of Santo Domingo, Villa Verde began as a displaced community formed by urban overflow. It lacks a centralized health clinic, sanitation system and consistent electricity. CE works in partnership with Movimiento Comunitario Unido por Villa Verde (MCU), a non-profit formed by the community to assist in development.
Status: Self-Sustaining
Partnership began in 2018
Sustainable since 2024
METHOD of sustainability
CE worked with local leaders to adapt and customize our model of sustainability to fit the community’s needs. Here was our approach:
1
Engage Community
We identified local leaders and assisted in assessing the community’s needs, focusing on immediate and long-term goals.
2
Provide Consistent Care
CE-led teams provide primary and specialized healthcare services based on the needs of the community. Villa Verde required care for chronic conditions as well as special screenings, such as audiology and diabetes.
3
Sustaining Business
Alongside local leaders, we created a profitable clean water business that provides local jobs, funds the clinic and is governed by a community board. This is modeled after Peralta.
4
Registering the Clinic
We registered the clinic with the Ministry of Health to staff and supply the clinic in exchange for ownership of the land and clinic facility. Individuals who have previously volunteered with CE are prioritized. At this point, our medical teams no longer provide direct clinical care. The complete integration of clinical services into clinic assures longevity and bolsters local medical infrastructure instead of competing with it.
KEY Accomplishments
community development
Partnering RISE to provide infrastructure support, such as fixing floors, and Engineers Without Borders to fix the flooding of roads and homes. These projects reduce illness from standing water and improve health outcomes.
The Ministry of Health provides full-time, local staff to see patients daily and provide services ranging from health education to vaccines and medical consultations.
consistent care
A community-led board oversees the potable water business, which provides an income-generating stream for the local distributors and the clinic facility. The water business was founded in 2024
sustainability
