Villa Asencion 1, 4, 5 Group

Villa Asencion is a community located between Puerto Plata and Sosua in the Dominican Republic. This community is a mission project that was constructed by American missionaries in an attempt to improve the lives of Haitian immigrants living in the Dominican Republic. Tragically, there have been several outbursts of racial violence in the community.

The sturdy concrete houses in the community were built exclusively for the Haitian immigrants and given to them for free. Some local Dominicans have taken this as discrimination, and have responded by breaking into Haitian homes and stealing their things, often times materials used for their businesses. Many Haitians have fled the community for fear of being robbed. Consequently, the local entrepreneurs have had a difficult time starting successful business ventures within the community.

Marie Blaise one of three group leaders in the Villa Asencion loan group. She has started a business making purses and messenger bags. She sews all of her bags herself and sells them to tourists at nearby resorts. Despite the civil unrest, her business has had considerable success. She is on her third micro-loan, and plans to take out more loans in the future. Her husband is a construction worker, which means his work is inconsistent. He usually has to travel to wherever there are construction projects in order to find work. Marie has worked very hard in his absence to be a consistent source of income for her family.