Before & After

The Reality We Walked Into.
The Future We Built Together.

These images are not easy to look at. They are not meant to be. They show the truth of what these children were living before Jacques and the Jacques Education Foundation arrived — and the extraordinary transformation that followed.

See the Before See the After

A warning and a promise: What follows is an honest portrait of poverty as these children lived it in Santo Domingo. Every image represents a real child, a real struggle — and a real turning point made possible by Jacques Education Foundation of Kelowna, British Columbia. Scroll past the darkness — the light is waiting.

  Before Jacques

This Was Their Reality

Before the foundation arrived, these children faced hunger, homelessness, and no access to education. This is what poverty actually looks like — not a statistic, but a face.

Children living without safe shelter or basic resources in poverty
Before

No Safe Place to Sleep

Dozens of children had no stable roof over their heads. Nights were dangerous, cold, and full of fear with nowhere to go.

Children with no access to education — school was unaffordable
Before

Education Was Out of Reach

School fees, uniforms, and supplies were simply unaffordable. An entire generation was growing up unable to read their own name.

Infant at severe risk — malnourished and without medical care
Before

Infants Facing the Highest Risk

The youngest children faced the gravest danger. Babies like Sofia faced malnutrition and preventable disease with no medical access whatsoever.

Children with nothing — poverty, isolation, and no future in sight
Before

Isolation & Abandonment

Without a family structure or support system, these children faced their hardest days completely alone — no one to turn to, no safety net of any kind.

Child facing hunger and chronic malnutrition with no regular meals
Before

Chronic Hunger & Malnutrition

Children here ate once a day — if they were lucky. Malnutrition stunted growth, robbed them of concentration, and stole their ability to simply learn.

Children forced to survive in extreme poverty with no clean water
Before

Childhood Stolen by Survival

Without support systems, children as young as six were forced to fend for themselves — scavenging, selling, or begging instead of playing and learning.

2016

Then Jacques Arrived from Kelowna.

A generous businessman with a clear vision and an open heart, Jacques of the Jacques Education Foundation saw these children not as a statistic but as individuals — each with a name, a personality, and a future worth fighting for. He partnered with Casa de Esperanza and committed his foundation to changing every single one of these realities.

After Jacques

This Is Their World Today

Because of the Jacques Education Foundation and donors like you, the same children now wake up to safety, learning, laughter, and a future that is entirely their own.

Children laughing and thriving — safe, joyful, and full of life
After

Pure Joy — Every Single Day

Children who once had nothing now have laughter, friendship, and the freedom to simply be children. This is what transformation looks like.

Children in a bright classroom, learning with proper supplies
After

A Classroom Full of Futures

Every child is enrolled in school, supplied with everything they need, and supported by dedicated tutors. Education is now their daily reality.

Caregiver with a child — consistent love and support restored
After

Love That Never Wavers

Dedicated caregivers ensure every child is seen, heard, and cared for every day. No child here is ever alone again.

Children eating a proper nutritious meal together every day
After

Three Meals. Every Day. No Exceptions.

Hunger is no longer something these children know from personal experience. Nutritious, home-cooked meals are served every single day.

Children playing freely outdoors — childhood fully restored
After

Childhood — Fully Restored

Play. Games. Laughter. Running. Friendships. The things every child deserves — and these children now have every single day of their lives.

School supplies and learning materials provided to every child
After

Every Tool They Need to Succeed

Pencils, notebooks, textbooks, backpacks — no child goes to school empty-handed. Jacques made sure of that, and your donations keep that promise alive.

The Numbers Behind the Transformation

What the Jacques Education Foundation partnership with Casa de Esperanza has made possible:

12
Children now living in safety, comfort & love
100%
School enrollment & attendance rate
3×
Daily nutritious meals — every child, every day
47+
Children whose lives have been changed since 2016
I didn't come to the Dominican Republic to be a hero. I came because these children needed someone to show up — and I happened to be the one who could. Anyone can do what I did. They just have to choose to.
Jacques Founder, Jacques Education Foundation · Kelowna, BC
Continue the Story

You Can Be the Next Chapter

Jacques showed what one person from Kelowna could do. Imagine what happens when hundreds of people like you join the mission.

Donate Now Read Jacques' Full Story