Along the northern coast of the Dominican Republic lies the community of Caraballo—a place marked by deep and generational challenges. Here, poverty, fatherlessness, and teen pregnancy are part of daily life, and many families navigate racial discrimination and limited access to essential services.
In this setting, Park School offers more than education—it offers stability. And for many children, that stability begins in the office of school psychologist Alfonsina, whose steady care has made her a trusted figure for students and teachers alike.
“Every day I have a parade of children coming in,” she says with a smile. “Sometimes because of problems they need help with, and other times just to greet me. On a typical day, I see more than 20 students.”
Her small office has become a place of safety, where students learn to express their emotions and find strength in the face of hardship.
Helping Students Heal and Grow
Alfonsina’s role goes far beyond addressing crises. She helps students recognize and manage their emotions, teaching them when and how to regulate their responses. These lessons—rooted in grace and understanding—extend well beyond academics, shaping how children relate to others and how they navigate everyday life.
Her support doesn’t stop with students. Alfonsina works closely with teachers, equipping them with strategies to meet each child’s unique needs. Through individualized guidance, she helps classrooms become safe, nurturing spaces where every student can learn and thrive.
Advocacy in Action
In addition to her counseling work, Alfonsina acts as a bridge—strengthening communication between students, families, and teachers. When she first joined the Park School team four years ago, her first case showed just how vital that role would be.
“When I started working at Park School, the first case I had was very delicate,” she recalls. “It was a family with about eight or nine children—six of whom were attending the school at the time.”
The children were often left alone, without food or protection. “We mobilized so those kids wouldn’t be left exposed,” she says. “They had no food. They were alone.”
Through the combined efforts of Alfonsina and the multidisciplinary team, the school provided food, medical care, and ongoing support. In the years since, Park School has continued to walk alongside the family, and three of the siblings remain enrolled today.
A Heart for Transformation
For Alfonsina, her work is about far more than addressing immediate needs—it’s about transformation. Recently, she attended a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®) training in Guatemala to strengthen her trauma-informed care skills. “It was an excellent training,” she shares. “We gained practical tools for the realities we face every day and connected with professionals from other countries who, like us, work with vulnerable children.”
Her deepest motivation comes from seeing hope take root in her students’ lives. “My favorite part of my job is that here at Park, it’s not only about what students learn in class, but the transformation and impact we can have in each student’s life—the hope we can give them in the middle of their situations.”
In Caraballo, where many children face instability in nearly every other area of life, that hope is life-changing. “For many,” she says, “this school is a refuge, a place of protection, a family. Many times, it feels even more like family than at home.
Living Out “Justice that Heals. Bonds that Mend.”
Alfonsina’s faith anchors her work. “I work in a Christian context where we seek to sow—working with hearts through the Word,” she explains. Every conversation, classroom visit, and counseling session reflects that mission: helping children encounter the love of Christ that heals and restores.
Her presence at Park School reminds us that healing often begins with listening, empathy, and faith—and that every child deserves a safe place to belong.
Thank You!
We are profoundly grateful for donors whose faithful giving makes it possible for staff like Alfonsina to serve in Kids Alive schools around the world. Your partnership helps provide emotional, spiritual, and educational care that brings justice that heals and bonds that mend for children who need it most.
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