OSDPC has three main established programs in education, local community economic development, and environment. In implementing these programs, OSDPC creates partnerships and collaborates with local and internationational groups. OSDPC Education Initiative is an initiative launched 2 years ago aiming at providing access to education to economically marginalized students by breaking down economic ba
rriers through scholarships. OSDPC Education Initiative is done in coordination with public and private city schools (primary and secondary). OSDPC Education Initiative came out of joint project between Empowerment Through Education (ETE) Camp of Brandeis University and OSDPC in Summer of 2009. OSDPC Environmental Conservation and Renewal Program started as university-community partnership between the organization and a student-led initiative at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The goals of this program are to: 1) address ecological problems of the region, mainly deforestation and soil degradation, 2) promote environmental conservation and renewal through environmental education and awareness, and 3) work on providing alternative, sustainable and accessible sources of energy with potential income generation to local communities. Listed below are key achievements of OSDPC:
• Distribution of schools supplies to 1,500 students from 6 schools for the academic year (2009-2010).
• OSDPC Education Initiative – a partnership between OSDPC and a collective of local public-private schools, 20 scholarships were given to students. The OSDPC Education for Excellence Scholarship covers full tuition and fees.
• Rehabilitation project of the National School of Law in Hinche – funding is allocated to rehabilitate major units of the law school. Phase I of the rehabilitation project is underway.
• Earthquake disaster relief from January through March of 2010.
• OSDPC Environmental Conservation and Renewal Program - 3 year environmental pilot project.
• Last year in August of 2010, OSDPC and its local partners: GRAPP, OPTED, and the Office of the Mayor of Hinche launched a local initiative: community needs assessment and resources mapping to identify needs of different sectors of the region and the analysis of collected data will inform the implementation of social and economic programs.
