Evolution Foundation Launches “I Love My People, I Love My Country,” an Initiative to Mobilize the Dominican Community Abroad in Support of Sustainable and Resilient Cities

Evolution Foundation

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

June 2026

After several years of research, community work, and the design of territorial intervention models, Evolution Foundation announced the launch of the international campaign “I Love My People, I Love My Country” — an initiative inviting Dominicans living abroad to contribute one dollar per month to support local development projects, environmental sanitation, and the construction of sustainable and resilient cities.

The campaign is rooted in years of accumulated fieldwork in vulnerable communities across the country, particularly in Los Guaricanos, Santo Domingo Norte, where the Foundation conducted socioeconomic assessments, focus groups, and intervention protocols designed to identify concrete solutions to the most pressing challenges facing these communities — including poverty, sanitation, education, employment, and health.

Timbeque: Where the Experience Began

One of the cases that inspired the campaign was the community of Timbeque, in Los Guaricanos, where — in collaboration with community development specialists — a consultation process was carried out with local leaders and youth to identify the most urgent challenges facing the area.

The results revealed an alarming reality. Pollution caused by the accumulation of solid waste in a local ravine was identified as the community’s primary problem. Garbage was blocking water flow, causing frequent flooding, damaging homes, and contributing to the spread of respiratory and skin diseases.

Deteriorating sanitation systems, direct discharge of wastewater into the ravine, infrequent garbage collection, and limited environmental education compounded the situation. The assessment led to a core conclusion that now underpins the campaign:

An Evidence-Based Model

As part of its work in Los Guaricanos, Evolution Foundation conducted a socioeconomic survey of hundreds of families and designed specific protocols to address the key challenges identified. The data showed that:

• —Nearly 60% of the population lives in poverty.
• —Only a minority of households receive running drinking water directly inside their homes.
• —More than 90% of households report insufficient income to cover basic needs.
• —Food insecurity affects a significant proportion of families.
• —Informal employment and school dropout rates limit opportunities for advancement.
• —Sanitation and waste management issues directly impact community health.

Waste as a Starting Point

Evolution Foundation maintains that solid waste management is the intervention with the greatest capacity to produce visible, measurable results in the short term. The Dominican Republic generates more than four million tons of solid waste per year, while many municipalities face budget constraints that limit adequate collection and final disposal.

The campaign seeks to complement these efforts through innovative citizen-funding mechanisms. Resources will be directed toward:

• —Increasing the frequency of waste collection.
• —Funding community cleanup brigades.
• —Installing smart waste bins.
• —Supporting the repair of collection equipment.
• —Implementing recycling programs.
• —Conducting environmental education workshops on waste management.
• —Cleaning ravines and critical contamination hotspots.
• —Strengthening the capacity of community organizations.

The Power of the Dominican Diaspora

The initiative is directed especially at the more than two million Dominicans living outside the country who send billions of dollars in remittances to their families each year. The proposal is simple: one dollar a month for your community.

$120K per year with 10,000 participants

$1.2M per year with 100,000 participants

$12M per year with 1 million participants

The Foundation believes that even the most conservative scenarios would make it possible to execute hundreds of local-impact projects across municipalities throughout the country.

Transparency and Accountability

One of the most innovative components of the project will be the creation of a digital monitoring and tracking platform. Through a “Control Tower”, donors will be able to consult funded projects in real time, verify progress, review performance indicators, and access open information on how funds are being used.

The proposed financial structure includes fiduciary mechanisms and independent audits to ensure the proper administration of resources.

Toward Sustainable and Resilient Cities

For Evolution Foundation, solid waste management is only the first step in a broader vision. The protocols developed by the organization encompass comprehensive solutions for drinking water, sewage, housing, health, education, employment, and food security.

The goal is to build communities capable of meeting the challenges of urban growth, climate change, and social inequality through partnerships between citizens, local governments, private sector actors, and civil society organizations.

The campaign will soon begin a series of consultations with Dominican associations in the United States, Puerto Rico, Spain, Italy, and other countries to structure participation mechanisms and define the first community interventions.

I Love My People. I Love My Country.

Evolution Foundation is an organization with a proven track record in applied research, territorial diagnostics, and solution design — giving this campaign strong credibility before donors, local governments, multilateral organizations, and the Dominican community residing abroad.