When helping a little bit becomes dependency
That doesn't stop him for asking for money and I have helped with small amounts here and there. But now I realize he hasn't really worked for years and yet depends on me sending money for rent and occasionally food. He says the economy is really bad due to Covid and there are no jobs.
How do you guys manage to help out here and there when you see a need with out becoming the 'go to" person all the time and making it easy for people to not work.
Recently his cousin in Miami found someone for him to marry and he wants $8000 to start that process. I do not support fraudulent marriages and have said no but that does not stop the pleas.
Honestly as I think about places to settle in the future--the economic differences and the seeming desperation of some Dominicans to leave the island takes the DR down a notch on my list.
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The one of them turned away. OK. So the situation became clear to me, he was only looking for a sponsor, that I do not want to be.
The other person still keeps contact, but took more distance.
I think, it is a situation, that gives me the chance, to do something good, if I assess for myself that I will do it.
On the other hand my opposite will learn, that there is a clear limit.
As a 'gringo' I also have to learn to say 'NO'. I am on the way to.
When I take my coffee in a restaurant outside in the morning I am asked for money at least three times per day. So...... training.
First I only intended to come to DR to relax, was pretty exhausted by my last jobs and only thought of beach and palm trees.
In the meantime it changed and I think it will become boring after a while.
I got to know a priest and teacher in SD. Developed a very good and positive contact and if possible, I will look for other possibilities on a non profit base to support there. I think he knows about possibilities and can give me some advise.
I also felt bad after my return to the resort when I visited the real DR outside of tourism for some days. So much food and drinks, half full plates going to the waste in the hotel....
But that is tourism. It puts money into DR and supports too, I think.
I will find a way for myself to become content and support without spending money on a regular base.
We cannot rescue the whole world...聽

We all can make a difference.聽 It only takes any act of kindness.聽 As those who have enough, we can help out in other ways.聽 This may deserve its own thread!
I actually have a small list of threads we need and this is added
聽 Also learn to just say no! He probably has multiple folks sending him money.Weeks go on She asks my husband and I to be the Godparents. Covid comes. We couldn't go back to Dr but she is always looking for help. I feel badly and send money but once I had a cancer scare she stopped writing now. 2 years. I guess kindness is looked at as foolishness. I think the only way to go is with a grass roots organization. One on one is not the way. Sad really. I did think she had potential to rise up and get some skills.
Our first world guilt is powerful.聽 We have so much and they have so little!聽 And yes that is used as a trigger!
Maybe it's a change of our mindset that is needed. Instead of giving mom money, pay for one if her children to be educated?聽 Pay for her to learn skills?聽 I am throwing out ideas here
How do we give a hand up that doesn't become toxic?
Remember, no newspaper jobs, no cleaning backyards for allowances, few fast food jobs, just shoe shining under the hot sun.
No different here, lazy ones start stealing or selling drugs, lucky ones land resort jobs and opportunities to make life changes, and when they see tourists throwing tips around, they don't understand how hard people work to come for a vacation, they imagine that is their lifestyle year-round.
Also, family members are usually giving or sending money to the needier ones in the family who are asking for help. Just check the amount of remittances from the US to the island, incredible!
Different ideas about sharing, more direct and personal. Lunchtime is often shared between several families so everyone gets to eat, same w caring for children. Pooling your resources is normal, so sharing money becomes acceptable.
I would always stay at the hotel when visiting but when I bought my place it changed because didn't need a place to stay. However, pre covid needed a place to stay one night so went back since I had not seen them for few years. I did my usual return of tipping genoursly but was off early that night but was very anxious to be able to see me again before I left. The next day when kept hearing from them about needing to see me before I left. Never did see because it was obvious what it was about,
Covid strikes and they are out of work and hear from them about needing to buy stuff for fixing up his house. I told them could not help especially off the last visit and conversation got nasty from their side at the end.
Morale of the story, work hard, never expect anything in return and don't burn bridges where you don't have to.
For example now is a great time to help anyone with kids.聽 In August kids go back to school here.聽 It's expensive in relative terms!聽 I have started buying backpacks and school supplies for people I know will need help. No one has asked for help.聽 I am simply recognizing it's been a hard year and doing what I can!
For those living in Las Terrenas , do you know if either of the two large supermarkets have gift cards available? And if so, would you be willing to help me purchase some for 2 families there?
Please PM, thanks.
I will, however, pay more than fairly for work well done, and if someone is in need, I hire them to do whatever odd job.聽 Never never let yourself be taken advantage of, it ruins it for the rest of us.
It isn't natural to work out of poverty into a comfortable situation. A small or even medium donation will not fix it. If you see lottery winners, they often end up more bankrupt than before. People create the environment they live in based on what they see in their own minds and work for.
Some people were blessed to never deal with poverty at a true level. Life isn't and will never be fair. Also, be aware that having money isn't a guarantee to be happy. There are many who are happy and have a daily struggle just to eat, drink water, and have shelter.
If you want to feel good about giving money, give it as long as it makes you feel good. If you want to help fix the problem, you have to invest in changing minds and hearts. Money can be useful here, but as 2VPSoldier's story shows, the real investment is in time and creativity to get other people invested in the answers, which they must come up with a good amount of on their own.
I am lying La Romana聽 since punta cana is lot more expensive than any other places .
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