Social Entrepreneurship in the Dominican Republic

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Social Entrepreneurship: A Solution to Poverty in Developing Countries The Dominican Republic is a country of vast contrasts. There is much diversity in everything from its people, the number of its various industries, and, perhaps most notable, the economic situation of its inhabitants. Upon spending some time outside the country’s fabulous resort offerings, one will quickly notice the great disparity of wealth among the population. In the crowded, bustling streets of Santo Domingo, it is not uncommon to see a $100,000 luxury vehicle mixed in among a sea of ramshackle motorcycles and taxis; or the opulent estates of the city’s wealthy inhabitants situated less than a few miles from the slums and poverty of those less fortunate. In fact, the overwhelming degree of poverty is one of the country’s most prominent issues. In a nation of 10 million people, 3 million live in extreme poverty. Sixty percent of the DR’s population lives on less than $2 a day, with one in three living on less than $1 a day. As Americans, it is hard to fathom such a desperate situation. Even the poorest citizens in our nation manage to get by on more than $2 a day. America also has social services in place to help these people. In the DR, the issue is much more complicated. Lack of identification and birth records prevent people from receiving the help that they need and would otherwise receive if the government knew of their plight. Most rural inhabitants receive no assistance from the government and instead receive sporadic aid from charitable or non-governmental organizations targeted specifically at these groups. One of the biggest hurdles to overcoming this extreme poverty is the lack of opportunity, which has perpetuated the current situation. For a large percentage of the DR’s population, the lack of job opportunities forces many to find a need in their community that is not being

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