In 2001 Mustard Seed Communities expanded to the Dominican Republic to provide residential care to children with disabilities, many of whom had been abandoned. MSC acquired property in the small town of Cangrejo on the outskirts of Puerto Plata and constructed a home called Hogar Immanuel.
In 2007 Mustard Seed Communities purchased an adjoining piece of property to expand the home to meet the growing need to provide care to children and young adults with disabilities. Today, the fully developed property includes 4 cottages, a physiotherapy room, a chapel, and on-site mission volunteer housing. The expansion has doubled Mustard Seed’s capacity to care for children and young adults, enabling the organization to serve a greater population of the most vulnerable children in the Dominican Republic. Currently, at full capacity, Hogar Immanuel provides loving care for 48 children and young adults with disabilities.
On April 29, 2023, Mustard Seed Communities celebrated the official launch of the construction of Hogar Niños de Dios. The new home will be located on the outskirts of Santiago, the second-largest city in the Dominican Republic, and will provide a safe and loving environment for children with disabilities who have been abandoned. The facility — four residential cottages, a learning and therapy center, a health clinic, a chapel, and volunteer housing — will provide individualized care for each child. In addition to sheltering 56 children, Hogar Niños de Dios will offer education, therapy, and recreational activities to nurture a brighter future for the most vulnerable members of society.
We have launched a campaign to raise $5.2 million: enough to cover construction costs and secure operating funds for the first ten years. With your committed support, you will make a significant difference in the lives of children with disabilities in the Dominican Republic. Please join us to help provide them with the joy, hope, and dignity they deserve. Visit mustardseedcampaign.com to learn more about this important project and how you can make an impact on children who have been abandoned.
Children & Adults with Disabilities
Hogar Immanuel is presently home to more than 48 children and young adults. The residents’ disabilities include Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, psychomotor delays, mental impairment, autism, epilepsy, physical deformations, deafness, and blindness.
More than 20 employees, including an occupational therapist, work together to care for the children and ensure that their daily needs are met. Several of the children attend physical therapy, occupational therapy, and special education classes depending on their abilities.
Hogar Immanuel is a loving and caring home where residents thrive, each one reaching their full potential. Residents like Brailin, who has Down Syndrome came to Hogar Immanuel in 2010 after his mother passed away. He is often described as the life of Hogar Immanuel by volunteers and caregivers alike. He has made incredible progress over the years in his development, showing great strength and perseverance in the face of his challenges. He enjoys attending school and anything to do with art and music. It is extremely rewarding to witness the progress Brailin, and all the residents, have made as a result of the therapy and the level of care they receive at MSC.
