IIn 1989, a young couple in the Dominican Republic took two life-changing steps: they gave their lives to Christ, and they pledged their lives to each other. From that moment forward, Vijo and Chanina’s story has been a remarkable testimony of endurance, transformation, and unwavering faithfulness.
For the past 27 years, they have been pillars of strength and hope at Kids Alive Dominican Republic—first as house parents, and for the last 23 years, as the beloved directors of the Ark Jarabacoa—offering justice that heals and impact that lasts to children who deserve restoration and a future filled with hope.
When they began as house parents, Chanina found herself in a unique and beautiful role. “It was a job that let me be a mom to my kids while also serving other children in need,” she shared. Every day was a balancing act of caring for her own family while pouring love into the lives of children who had experienced deep brokenness.
Vijo found profound purpose in witnessing the healing that took place. “Children would arrive emotionally destroyed, physically too… but seeing that transformation—it gives you the desire to keep going,” he reflected. Their home became a place where hurting hearts could find stability, dignity, and the beginnings of healing—a powerful glimpse of God’s justice made real.
Early on, they learned a crucial lesson: that restoration must begin at home. “We couldn’t expect transformation from the children in the program if we weren’t seeing it in our own children,” Vijo said. They made it their mission to weave their biological family and ministry family together so seamlessly that no one could tell where one ended and the other began. Their everyday example of unity and love became part of the impact that heals.
As their responsibilities grew, so did the challenges. Transitioning into leadership meant overseeing a diverse team—psychologists, social workers, educators, and administrators—each playing a vital role in the healing journey for children. “Even if I’m not the psychologist or accountant, I still have to understand what they’re doing,” Chanina explained. “As directors, you’re the face of it all.”
Through prayer, ongoing training, and God’s grace, they embraced the complexity, helping Ark Jarabacoa grow into a full ecosystem of care—where children’s emotional, physical, educational, and spiritual needs are met with excellence. Creating bonds that mend takes a team, and Vijo and Chanina have faithfully stewarded that team for decades.
The work has left an indelible mark on their own hearts. “This job can’t be done with human strength,” Vijo said. “You fail if you try to do it on your own. You have to depend completely on God.”
That dependence has brought peace and perseverance. “We don’t push our own agendas—we wait on God. Every step we take in this ministry is His,” he said. Their commitment reflects Kids Alive’s vision: offering every child not just a safer environment, but a pathway to hope, healing, and a life restored by God’s redeeming love.
To those who have faithfully supported the ministry over the years, Vijo and Chanina offer their heartfelt thanks. “Supporters should know their resources are being used with integrity,” they shared. “They are helping transform lives—many they may never meet—but the impact is real, and it’s lasting. They are partners with us in the Kingdom of God.”
Your generosity is producing impact that heals—breaking cycles of hurt and offering children a future filled with dignity, purpose, and possibility.
As they look to the future, their hearts are full of hope. They dream of raising up new house parents—people filled with passion, ready to offer children a new beginning through the transformational power of justice that heals.
“We’re praying that this next season brings fresh hands and hearts to the ministry,” they said. “We want others to know the joy of saying, ‘Here I am, Lord. Send me.’”
For Vijo and Chanina, 27 years of service is not a finish line—it’s a launching point for all that God still has ahead.
