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Ramon and Juana Prenza

Monte Plata, Dominican Republic

Ramon and Juana Prenza are intimately linked with the needs of children in Monte Plata. Both were born and raised in "very poor Catholic" families. Ramon accepted the Lord at age 16 through the ministry and mentoring of Canadian missionary Eva M. Russell. Juana soon followed, and the couple were married in 1971. Soon after, with two small children, the couple dedicated themselves to full time missionary service.

From the beginning, Ramon and Juana had a great desire to begin a home for orphans, but the scope of the project was beyond their reach. In 1986 they opened the Eva Russell school, where they could at least teach children to read and write. In 1992, through affiliation with Kids Alive® International, the project was able to buy property and build a permanent facility. Today, the school serves 170 orphan and vulnerable children in Monte Plata. Additionally, in 2004 Ramon, Juana and their staff opened Casa Monte Plata, a children’s home that will eventually become home for 40 of the Dominican Republic's most needy children.