Hispaniola Humanitarian Assistance & Relief Team
(aka HHART)
About HHART
HHART stands for Hispaniola Humanitarian Assistance and Relief Team. HHART missions began in 2011, and are supported, organized and led by Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Wasaga Beach, Rotary District 7010 (central Canada).
The Team’s mission is to improve the lives of poor, disadvantaged and underserved people living near Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, by providing medical, dental and community development services they require.
To receive future HHART Newsletters, register here. If you want to chat with someone about HHART, contact Steve@HHART.org. Follow HHART at www.Facebook.com/HHART.info/
Help Finish the Batey Cangrejo Schoolhouse — and Receive a Tax Receipt
HHART is entirely self-funded, and every mission continues only as long as resources allow. Today, the second floor of the schoolhouse in Batey Cangrejo is close to completion, but a few final touches are still needed to make it fully usable for the community’s children. Donations will help replace the dusty concrete upper floor with porcelain tile, creating a clean, welcoming space where the kindergarten class can learn and thrive. Funds are also needed to complete the walls and floor in the second-floor bathroom.
An estimated $3,000 CAD will finish the project and bring the schoolhouse to 100% completion. Thanks to the Rotary Club of North Bay Charitable Trust, donors can now receive a tax receipt for gifts made in support of HHART.
To help, donate online through this link to CanadaHelps and receive a tax receipt immediately. Alternatively, send a cheque payable to Rotary Club of North Bay Charitable Trust to P.O. Box 242, North Bay, ON, P1B 8H2, and clearly indicate that your donation is for HHART.
Every gift helps turn an unfinished space into a place where children can learn, grow, and dream.
Mission Report – HHART 30 & HHART 31
Two dedicated service teams traveled to the north coast of the Dominican Republic in January and February 2026, bringing hope and opportunity to communities in need. Their primary mission was to expand Batey Cangrejo’s one-room schoolhouse, built in 2025, by adding a second floor and creating more space for learning and a brighter future for local children. They also provided high-quality dental care to poor and disadvantaged residents with little access to treatment.
Beyond addressing urgent needs, the teams helped plant seeds of lasting change through vocational dental training, practical nutrition education for people living with diabetes and hypertension, and the distribution of reading glasses and sunglasses. They also created moments of joy and connection by engaging adults, youth, and children in arts, crafts, and other uplifting activities. Working with a nearby men’s shelter, the Teams helped fill pantry shelves, bring hope to residents, and provide musical instruments to support healing, recovery, and renewed purpose.
HHART Q1 2026 Fun Facts
- HHART 30 – Jan 2026: 12 participants (9 from Canada; 3 from Germany)
- HHART 31 – Feb 2026: 25 participants (23 from Canada, 1 from Germany, 1 from Dominican Republic)
- 32 Construction days – 10 contractors engaged
- 1,100 cement blocks laid and parged, 73 bags of cement & 9 cubic meters of sand mixed and hauled by hand
- more than 20 local tradespersons employed
- 23 dental clinic days – 365 patients served
HHART 28 (Jan & Feb 2025) Mission Update
In January & February 2025, the 28th Team to deploy since 2011 continued the tradition of bringing hope, health, and education to communities in need in the Dominican Republic.
The Team accomplished so much, including completing it’s main community development objective – to build a one-room schoolhouse in Batey Cangrejo.
