The Dominican Republic (DR) is home to beautiful beaches and is visited by tourists from all over the world. Past the pristine resorts and entertainment are the neighborhoods and cities that are home to over 10 million people. Education is mandatory and compulsive, however the national average for drop out is around 14, as reported in 2023.
When board member Rick Maingot first visited DR several years ago, he was introduced to a neighborhood in a poor area where children were at risk. At risk for dropping out of school to help their families, at risk for being orphaned, at risk for being trafficked – it was a harsh reality. With multiple humanitarian partners, he helped create the O’Faro Community Center. The purpose of the center is to provide a safe environment for children to learn and grow. They are mentored after school or provided lessons during the day. The kids especially love the music and computer programs offered at the school. The director Omar Diaz says that its not just a training center but its a way of life.
The neighborhood was noisy, with lots of fighting and unrest. The beauty and hope that the school has instilled into the children is having ripple effects into surrounding homes and streets – no more yelling and fighting and hope is alive.
Many students from Utah County have volunteered their summers in the Dominican Republic to help at the school and we have several that are excited to go back and are currently fundraising for the center. Caleb Johnston and Lance Meurs are biking across the USA this summer to raise funds for O’Faro. If you are someone you know is interested in volunteering this summer, watch this video and sign up for more info.
We worked with the Barebones team to help tell the history of Tifie in the Congo, and hopefully answer the questions of why do we do what we do. In helping answer some of these questions, I was (not surprisingly) emotional and grateful to see photos of our 15-year history, think about the great people who support our projects and partners around the world, and also proud of us for pivoting.
It takes courage to change. Tifie’s WHY has stayed the same – helping lift people lift themselves out of poverty – but our HOW changed. Moving from running programs in the Congo to sending products and funds to local partners who know their culture and needs has been our new mode of operations.
Wondering where your donations are going when you donate to Tifie? Here’s where we assigned donations this month.
One time $100 Donation (Education) This donor was interested in helping students in our programs, so we assigned it specifically to the girls home in Cost Rica that we support. Girls who are rescued out of tracking recover and relearn how to be children in this safe home. They receive an education, life skills and therapy. Many girls who were graduating from school didn’t have the money to pay for the school fees. This donation was almost the exact amount of the fees, and came at the perfect time to help them in their next steps in their future.
$10/month (Education – Roots) This regular donation goes to Roots Charter High to the “Next Steps Fund” we’ve setup with them. This pays for anything that the students need to pursue their next steps in education or career. The fund has paid for concurrent enrollment fees at the local Community College, closed toe shoes for new jobs, and food handler’s permits.
One Time $250 (Where Need is Most) We have several kids who attend our after-school center in Dominican Republic who don’t have birth certificates. We have an attorney translate their birth certificates from Haitian Creole to Spanish, then the kids can get into public school. Without it – they can’t go to school. The cost is around $65 each. We’ll apply these donations to several of these students.
$5000 Scholarship (Education/Shelter) We recently had a local SLC company who wanted to support our initiatives in high schools in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In past years, they have donated scholarship to seniors to help pay for their first year of college. We found out that these students were spending over 4 hours a day driving to and from their families home to get to college, and were struggling in their studies because of it. (And if any of you have driven in Kinshasa, you know that it’s not for the faint of heart, and certainly not a situation where reading or writing can be done while driving). We were able to secure housing and food for students near campus with this generous donation.
If you are interested in supporting any of our initiatives, please donate online and choose the project you are most interested in. Or you can always choose “Where Need is Most” and we’ll put it toward a pressing need.
Thanks to all of you who came to Tifie to donate to the Light the Lives of Others campaign. Five different Spherion Staffing offices chose local non-profit organizations to give to, donating time, services, in-kind donations and money to each organization. It truly was a group effort from each office, the Spherion management team, the organizations themselves, and Tifie Humanitarian, as the matching donor.
At the heart of all the projects are people who need help to bridge the gap to a good future – whether that be single moms who need help finding a job for their families, a safe place for families in crisis, or an alternative school for students who need additional resources. We are so proud to work with each organization and it was so fun to present checks to them.
One of the organizations was Utah Valley Refugees. Leonard Bagalwa, the Director, wrote us and said “Because of your support, Utah Valley Refugees will be able to hire one paid part-time employee this year. As a young organization, we value your support and partnership.” Such great news! We look forward to receiving more updates in upcoming months of the difference your donations made in the community.
Special thanks to all of the donors who came via Facebook, word of mouth, Instagram or partner organizations. And a big big thanks to Utah Valley Refugees, JEM Friends, YCC Family Crisis Center, Utah Food Bank, Horizonte, and People Helping People for all of the good you are doing. We’re thankful to partner with you all.
As always, all donations to Tifie Humanitarian go directly to the projects, not a penny goes to overhead. Tifie Humanitarian has been a registered 501c3 for 12 years, although its founders have had “doing good” in their DNA their whole life, which is truly why we do what we do. Our mission has been to help lift people out of poverty by giving them opportunities, tools, training or employment so that they could lift themselves out of poverty. We support the “teach a man to fish” concept, while also understanding that people need clean water, nutritious food and a place to call home while learning to fish. We try to do both, and this project with Spherion was a great mix of helping provide basic needs as well as skills for the future. Thanks to Ron Zarbock for his involvement in the Utah humanitarian community and introducing us to all of these great organizations.
Tifie support projects that help marginalized people with basic needs: Shelter, Power, Food, Water, Education, and Jobs. These are the building blocks to being self-sufficient. Tifie doesn’t run projects ourselves; instead, we partner with local organizations and people who know the needs, priorities, people, culture, and have a strategic plan for how to move forward. Tifie and Barebones traveled to Bahamas to set up shelters for Hurricane Dorian survivors. We are so thankful for the work that Open World Relief is doing and that we could help give people dignified living spaces.
Survivors who have been sheltering in a church after losing their homes in Hurricane Dorian stand with Erik Workman of Tifie and OpenWorld Relief volunteers, who helped them assemble their new temproary Barebones shelters. Abaco, The Bahamas. Hurricane Dorian Relief 2019. OpenWorld Relief/Laura M. Hamel
Unfortunately for those living in the islands devastated by Dorian, their newly unfolding reality has disappeared from the news cycle, as new natural disasters and political upheavals have taken over. However, the need is great long after the initial shock of the first few days and weeks pass by.
By luck/blessing/happenstance/divine inspiration, we were connected to Maggie Whitcomb and her network, which included, so randomly (or not so randomly?) two people who we had worked with in Puerto Rico three years ago, one who had set up Barebones shelters. With a generous donation from Barebone’s logistics company, Mainfreight, a shipment of Barebones shelters, Discobed bunk beds and bedding were shipped and arrived by donated charter plane in Abaco..
OpenWorld Relief volunteers help survivors build sleeping cots and temporary Barebones shelters donated by Tifie. Abaco, The Bahamas. Hurricane Dorian Relief 2019. OpenWorld Relief/Laura M. Hamel
Erik Workman was part of the initial Barebones product development team, and has helped set up Barebones shelters in Fiji after Cyclone Winston. He said he was in need of “an adventure”, and was available to fly out with little notice. He arrived in Abaco with a Delta pilot who volunteers on his off days to do humanitarian flights. The team from Open World Relief were working hard to prepare the shelter sites and construction plan. Erik reminded them that he was a strong back and hard worker, and ready to tackle whatever they needed that day. He wasn’t just there to set up shelters on behalf of Tifie and Barebones, and certainly didn’t need a ‘horse and pony show” that is common when donors are involved in humanitarian work. It seemed like there was a collective sigh, and he was put to work distributing clean water solutions around the island that day instead. Back home in Utah, hearing Erik recount this, made me so thankful, and proud, that we are truly in this together with our partners, and try to serve their needs first, acknowledging that they are the experts and know what needs to be done.
A survior whose home was destroyed by Hurricane Dorian builds a platform for a Barebones shelter, with some help from OpenWorld Relief volunteers. Abaco, The Bahamas. Hurricane Dorian Relief 2019. OpenWorld Relief/Laura M. Hamel
OpenWorld Relief volunteers help survivors erect Barebones shelters donated by Tifie. Abaco, The Bahamas. Hurricane Dorian Relief 2019. OpenWorld Relief/Laura M. Hamel
❤ Make “love bags” for homeless people that you can keep handy in your car. Fill them with warm socks, hand warmers, granola bar, hygiene items, gift cards to grocery stores, playing cards, and a note from your family.
❤ We Welcome Refugees: Write messages electronically or download and send cards personally to refugees.
❤Purchase little gifts for your family from small shop owners, like Etsy or local store owners in your community.
❤ Giving Keys – a “pay it forward” company that has a homeless person engrave the key.
❤ Give your business-minded friend or partner a donation of sponsoring an entrepreneur through kiva.org
❤ Sponsor a Well with Who Lives. Just a monthly $5 donation would pay for a child to have clean water for their lifetime. If you’re interested in sponsoring a well in memory or honor of someone, reach out to them directly and they can help facilitate!
❤ Write notes of love and appreciation to your neighbors. A simple “thanks for waving to me!” or “i think it’s nice when you shovel our sidewalk” would make a neighbor happy. If we all did a good job of “loving our neighbors” think of the transformation that could happen on each of our streets.
❤ Pay for someone’s drink in the drive through.
❤ Make Love Posters for everyone in your family and write “I love you because_____” with a new sentence every day. Kids of all ages will catch on and will love adding new ideas to the poster. Read them out loud every day to remind each other of specific reasons why you love and appreciate.
I don’t know about you, but the New Year message of “be better! be more!” made me raise my eyebrows this year. I’m all for improvement and thoughtful growth, don’t get me wrong. But I want those goals of growth be built on a foundation of love and worth. I believe that we, you and me, were made with intention and joy, and that makes us each worthy of love and belonging. We don’t have to be more, do more, or prove ourselves to earn love and belonging in this wonderful world.
We keep this in mind when we think of our project partners around the world. In our attempts to support and help others, we try to always keep a mindset of love and worth. The “savior complex” is real, especially in working in cultures that are different from our own, and we want to be so thoughtful and aware that we respect and celebrate every person as they are.
Do More By Being You
When I think of Tifie and our mission, I feel really confident that we are fulfilling our mission, being true to the intention of our board members, and thoughtfully engaging with our partners. When I think of me, and who I am, I feel confident that I am fulfilling who I am, being true to the intention of my Maker, and thoughtfully engaging with people in my life.
The flag I am waving this year is one of belonging and love. That you are seen, heard, and the world needs you, as you are, with the unique gifts and passions and ideas that make you who you are. And for myself, that I’m surrounding myself with inspiring people and peaceful places that remind me of that on a regular basis. I hope that our Tifie Community can be a place of inspiration for you.
So for you, dear Tifie community, please receive this message as a deep breath of relief and let it sink in deep. We want to see you, hear you and encourage you in this new year. And from there, move into growth. Or as one of my favorite new podcasters says “to move forward in love.” (Check out “The Next Right Thing” wherever you listen to podcasts for a short thoughtful podcast on decision making and soul care).
That being said, I am enjoying putting together our email plans and communication strategies for the year. We’re planning on emailing (subscribe!) you all once a month with a story from one of our projects that you’ve contributed to, a blurb from me or Robert, and resources for connecting thoughtfully to others, in your own community or with resources.
If that sounds interesting to you, let me know what you’d like to hear from us about, what you’d like to learn about our process of humanitarian work, of lessons learned, failed attempts, and the like. Email ideas and questions to [email protected].
Over one year later, Puerto Rico still rebuilds, amidst brokenness, isolation, oncoming storms, and power failure.
In September 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, devastating the island. Cari Lu Alvardo, Director for Light Up Puerto Rico (LUPR), says “Puerto Rico is strong. We are rebuilding. But we will never be the same. We are now living in a new normal.”
Cari Lu with her son and husband.
A new normal that looks like grocery shopping across towns because roads are still blocked by debris. Conserving power because the power grid still comes and goes. Living in basements because roofs are destroyed. Creating new memories because lifetimes of photos and mementos were damaged or permanently ruined.
A Community of Partners and Individuals
Tifie partnered with AMAZING people who were and are still championing the people of Puerto Rico. LUPR has a full-time volunteer living in Puerto Rico to coordinate and assist in rebuilding roofs. Tim Dye and Jose Perez-Ramos have installed 22 mobile health clinics throughout the island to provide essential care to survivors. Direct Relief mobilized donations to first responders, hospitals and clinics throughout the Caribbean. Tifie sent shelters, solar panels, volunteers, and donations to these organizations in the months following the donations.
Gov. Herbert held a press conference to raise awareness for Light Up Puerto Rico’s efforts in October 2017
We saw the people of Utah (and across the nation!) rise up to be a solution in the aftermath of the Hurricane. We were amazed at the hundreds of people who came alongside of them to donate and volunteer. Governor Herbert and Lt Governor Cox put together a press conference and brought Utah residents and companies together to donate to the LUPR campaign.
“If we could load up our trucks drive to Puerto Rico, we would’ve done it.” – Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox said to first group of 50 volunteers in Nov 2017
Carilu and Jorge Alvardo led the efforts in Puerto Rico to identify, distribute and organize donated supplies. They are still there, along with Ron, coordinating volunteer groups who are rebuilding roofs for families. When Tim and Jose from the University of Rochester reached out to us to help with mobile medical tents, they brought dozens of donors and colleagues to help make all of the donations possible. It truly was a tapestry of people with a variety of backgrounds and connections to Puerto Rico who wanted to help however they could.
With Ron Batt’s background in contracting, he’s the perfect man for running operations on the ground. He’s got a big heart, even rescued little Lucy off the streets. Ron volunteered for two years as an LDS Missionary and feels right at home.
The volunteers who travelled to Puerto Rico worked long days in humid conditions, but with no complaints. Their focus, and ours too, is on the people we are helping. And we continue to say to the people of Puerto Rico, we see you. We see you rebuilding. We see hope rising and communities coming together, neighbors helping one another in an unprecedented way. We see the goodness of humanity.
When You Do Good, You Get Good
There’s always a ripple effect when you do good. Our founder Robert Workman has always said “when you do good, you get good.” Whether that’s a personal growth or receiving goodness, we’ve seen the ripples extend of communities coming together, donating what they can, praying together and becoming more empathetic. We share a heartfelt and deep thank you to all of our donors who have given time, money and supplies to us to help the people of Puerto Rico. Thank you for trusting us – a collective us of many organizations and people who are still wading through debris, storms and brokeness to help raise to life the new normal of Puerto Rico. #puertoricoselevanta.
Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong? Or that no one sees you? Like the world was meant for everyone, but you? High school can be trying for anybody, but for some, it’s the time where they receive the course-correction and encouragement that sets them on a new path of life.
SOWING NEW ROOTS: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESS FOR EVERY STUDENT
Students at Roots Charter High School, Utah’s first agriculture charter high school, come to the school for a variety of reasons. Some want to pursue an interest in agriculture or gardening, some live nearby, some need to make up credit and traditional schools aren’t an option anymore. Whatever the reason, what they find at Roots is belonging and the belief that their future is bright.
When we initially met Tyler Bastian three years ago, we were intrigued by the agriculture focus of the school. Tifie’s foundation is built upon hard work, sowing and reaping, and digging in the dirt. It was an obvious shared value. But it was Tyler and his passion, his belief that providing a new culture of belonging at Roots, could swing open the doors to the big and beautiful world that is out there.
A PLACE TO BELONG AND EXCEL
Roots recently had its graduation and we are thrilled to see the graduation rates increase from 35% to 78% over the course of three years. As impressive as that jump in percentage is, more meaningful is the fact that those numbers represent real kids. Real students who didn’t think they’d graduate. A girl who came to school hungry, shopping in the student pantry for breakfast and lunch. A guy who didn’t want to go home to his apartment, so he’d stay as long as he could at school, where he felt safe and welcomed, and was even given jobs to do to help out. Real kids with real needs: Hungry bellies. Lonely hearts. Anxious thoughts. Gang pressure. Our high schoolers live in a harsh reality, especially if they come from at-risk environments where graduation is a long shot, for whatever the reason.
FURRY FRIENDS, ONE SECRET TO SUCCESS
Raising animals increases a student’s likelihood of staying in school and graduating.
One aspect of belonging is by helping others belong – and at Roots, those “others” are animals. This year 48% of graduates raised and directly cared for a farm animal that they owned during the school year. Tyler has found that the raising of animals increases a students likelihood of staying in school and graduating. Doesn’t that seem like a beautiful principle of life— when we take care of others, we really are taking care of ourselves? It reminds me of a tried and true Robert Workman quote, “When you do good, you get good.”
FACULTY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS
In honor of Fred Rogers 143 letter code for “I love you,” the school has been sprayed with 243 to remind students they are loved. It takes two letters to say “We”, four letters to say “Love,” and three letters to say, “You.”
Roots can’t solve everything for its students, but the teachers work diligently to provide an environment where students know that they are cared for, that they are important and that their future is bright with potential. With one on one time, counseling, graduation coaches, and career fairs, there are constant connection points to the future. Tifie and Barebones have helped with Career Fairs at Roots for the last three years, which many from our Tifie community have participated in (thank you!!). The Career Fair exposes students to the variety of opportunities they have after graduation beyond the traditional four-year college, from tech schools, volunteer opportunities, skilled trades, entrepreneurship, and college opportunities.
Students were able to visit with cosmetologists, economists, delivery drivers, marketing specialists, business, finance and more during the 2018 career fair.
One graduating student wrote about his experience at Roots and his relationship with his teachers. (Get some tissues…)
ROOTS OFFERS MORE THAN JUST A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION
Zach’s Story:
“Without this school, I’d be a nobody and now I’m a somebody.” —Zach, 2018 Graduate
We believe Zach has always been a “somebody”, but the amazing teachers and staff that pour their hearts and time into students helped him realize his potential and inherent value.
So today, we are giving thanks for teachers who help students realize that they are somebody.
To animals and pets who feel like family and give a sense of purpose
To parents and stand-in parents, who are sacrificing and working hard for their children
To people like Tyler, who pursues big dreams that will make a difference in the lives of hundreds.
To people like Robert, who remind us to dig in the dirt and do good every day.
To local businesses who have donated, toured, listened and advised.
To people like who, you have heard about Roots, and given your time, your resources, your experience, to students who will remember when an adult took interest in them and had a conversation.
Matt Barr of Barr Photography and his daughter Jessi came with us to Ghana in March. It was wonderful having another set of eyes to see Kushea in a new light, in addition to having passionate and enthusiastic people to connect with on the trip. Matt has traveled internationally personally and for his business, and it was a return trip to Ghana for him. We appreciated his thoughtful insights, his friendly demeanor, and of course, his amazing photography. Matt quickly became the favorite visitor from our group with everyone in the village because he had a fancy camera and could immediately show them his photos.
Neatest City in Ghana and Friendliest People
Matt Barr and Jess Barr loved getting to know Nana Prah and the community
Matt has spent time filming for other NGOs in Ghana in past years. We think Kushea is pretty special, but it was nice to hear it from someone who’s spent time in other places in Ghana as well.
“One of the things was evidently unique was that Kushea is a beautiful clean village. My previous experience in Ghana was in villages that were full of trash. I spent time in a larger village that was trying to be more commercial, or more westernized. There were cell phone towers, gas stations, much more of a city. My experience in Kushea feels like a quaint village where people were at peace in their space. There was a feeling of contentment in Kushea, where people weren’t looking for handouts.”
We have to agree with Matt, both in Ghana and in Congo, Kushea is so neat and tidy, and its inhabits Nana Prah has so much pride in Kushea and has instilled that in the village.
Every Wednesday is a city-wide cleanup time from 7 am – 9 am, before the farmers go out to the cocoa fields. Everyone— parents and children— pick up trash, clear weeds and work on community projects together. There are iconic garbage bins throughout the streets, painted the color of the Ghanian flag, to encourage cleanliness.
The people of Kushea are so friendly. Lots of smiling eyes, friendly waves, and invitations to chat. Our first evening there we talked a walk through some side streets. We passed by one family and a lady called out to us “Nana! Nana!” Nana is a title of royalty and respect, any chief or subchief would be called Nana. Because Robert was appointed the Chief of Development in a ceremony two years ago, he is recognized in the village. This lady remembered him from past trips and wanted to take a photo with him.
Barr Photography
Matt had an amazing ability to capture photographs like he wasn’t there, an invisible person swooping in and around our conversations. But he was even more talented in that he could talk and connect to a person, then take a photo that reflected something deep and special about that person. We asked him if he had any moments from our trip that were especially meaningful and he shared this story.
Barr Photography
“When I photographed this younger guy, something about his life connected to me. We are both dads, doing what we can to take care of our families.
Here’s this young dad to young children, working so hard within his circumstances to provide for his family by farming cocoa beans. His entire town could fit into my house, and his house was the size of our walk in closet! It was such a stark contrast of our two lives. It made me realize how much we take for granted, when we think about how much the world lives.”
This was Jess’ first time visiting Africa, and despite a friendly visit from a resident cockroach in her bed, she said she had a good time. A local teacher from the school organized several girls her age to visit at the king’s palace and take her on a tour of the village. They spent over three hours together.
We asked Jess about that morning and what that was like for her.
Jess said she loved this photo because it showed what good friends the girls are to each other (Barr Photoraphy)
“I was a little nervous and there were so many girls who came. They wanted to see and touch my hair. We sang songs and they taught me the games they play at recess. They wanted to know what me and my friends did together.”
Then we asked Jess, what was the same or different about your lives?
These girls walked everywhere, no matter how long it took. We have bikes and cars. They didn’t text; they played real games with each other. After being with them, I wanted to be more present with my friends at home. These girls were in the moment, and happy with what they had right then. They weren’t thinking about tomorrow, or nervous about the next day. They just thought about today.”
Hand Up, Not a Hand Out
One of Tifie’s guiding principles is to help people provide for themselves, not to simply give things away. Sometimes, gifts are beautifully generous and the right thing to do. Other times, especially in a humanitarian context, they can cause more long-term damage than good. The hundreds of abandoned wells, schools, and donated items throughout Africa are examples of these well-intended donations.
Without a thoughtful community plan and internal commitment, they often become abandoned projects. Matt noticed this guiding anchor in how TIfie approached its projects—a solar battery project for families and businesses as well as the newly formed honeybee coop that Tifie is supporting.
Matt said that he talked to Robert about bringing donations in his suitcases to give out in Kushea, he got the vibe from Robert that giving toys wasn’t’ our intention.
“We were there not just to give, but Tifie is about helping people be empowered to help themselves. That’s the vision that I caught in Kushea, that TIfie can be the catalyst to assist and empower them for what their next thing is. Tifie helps get the ball rolling, provide the next stepping stone so that they can take off running.”
On that note, thanks for reading all the way to the end. If you got this far, hit me up at [email protected] and I’ll send you some swag. 🙂
Cari Lu with her son and husband.
With Ron Batt’s background in contracting, he’s the perfect man for running operations on the ground. He’s got a big heart, even rescued little Lucy off the streets. Ron volunteered for two years as an LDS Missionary and feels right at home.
