Sharing the good news about the progress of the Valiente multipurpose hall immediately led me into another solidarity relay race — one I had no idea would begin quite so literally. Guillermo Santana invited me to visit twenty-two homes that now have cement floors, thanks to the support his foundation receives.

“It’s not the same to hear about it or see photos and videos as it is to witness it yourself. I’ll pick you up Saturday at eight; at the meeting point, the community leader will be waiting with two friends who’ll guide us on motorcycles throughout the visit.”

What followed was an unforgettable experience: six hours riding through the communities of Brisas del Este, El Quilombo, Marginal Las Américas Km 20, Rivera, Cancela Adentro, Monte de los Olivos, and La 66 — witnessing firsthand the impact of twenty-two brand-new cement floors on the lives of mothers and their young children. One family’s story stood out: the floor was completed almost at the same time their first child was born.

A working model taken to perfection

How has Guillermo Santana managed to find these families? With more than fifteen years focused on this initiative, he has refined the method to near perfection. The key to success lies in partnering with community leaders who share the same vocation for service — people with whom the right chemistry exists to harmonize the family selection process and the logistics of the work: distribution of materials, supervision of construction, and documentation of each delivery.

Each family is selected based on clear criteria: the condition of their home, family composition, and the employment situation of the parents. The community leader fills out intake forms for the families in greatest need and takes a “before” photo showing the dirt floor. In December, he returns to supervise the work for each of the first twenty-two homes — verifying that every delivery meets the agreed standards, in the presence of witnesses, beneficiaries, and the general public.

Each family visited had the opportunity to share a brief word of gratitude. Guillermo explains that documenting the delivery — with a signed receipt and, when families consent, a video — is essential to continue helping others.

Evolution Foundation and FINDESA join as partners

The twenty-two homes visited represent the first group in a cohort of one hundred that the El Guille Open Foundation will present at its traditional annual fundraising event, following a personalized audit of each delivery.

Evolution Foundation and FINDESA are joining as new collaborative partners in this program, adding their support to the network of friends and organizations that make it possible to replace dirt floors with cement in some of the most vulnerable communities in Santo Domingo Este.

Original article by José Alfredo Guerrero.