GFDD Projects, Programs and Publications Presented at Santo Domingo’s XVII International Book Fair

The International Book Fair in Santo Domingo’s Plaza Cultura came to a successful close on May 5, 2014 after two weeks of bustling activity for visitors and book aficionados. Now in its 17th year, the Book Fair was dedicated to prolific writer, Santiago-born Domingo Moreno Jimenes, “creator of postumismo” in the Dominican Republic.

The venue not only attracts thousands of people interesting
in learning about the latest leading national and international publications, but also has become a significant meeting place for  authors, editors and publishers and other leading industry professionals. Activities during the Fair involved various workshops, conferences, film screenings  and  book presentations by more than 450 national and international exhibitors including Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo
(FUNGLODE).

In 2014, GFDD was able to participate with several of its educational, cultural and environmental initiatives including; Portal Dominicanaonline, ReCreate, Eco-Huertos and several film screenings, including GFDD-produced short films.

GFDD’s social networking coordinator, Reydi Moreta, led the interactive workshop  presentation, "Dominicanaonline.org Portal: All about the Dominican Republic one click away!" Mr. Moreta was able to show how GFDD’s signature program continues to be the most comprehensive, detailed and interactive portal about the Dominican Republic. It presents the DR’s history, geography, education, culture,
environment, tourism, to virtual audiences including tourists, business professionals and investors. Users of the website are exposed to a wide array of materials, from written texts, audios, videos, photo galleries and directories, interactive maps, electronic postcards,  and a virtual library.

Also showcased was a talk by Cristiana Cruz Minier, coordinator of the EcoHuertos Program  "Encouraging the development of sustainable gardens in the Dominican
Republic".  Ms. Minier  demonstrated how the program supports the creation of organic and sustainable vegetable gardens in schools and communities throughout the DR and divulged how the program encourages hands-on workshops in  the field of natural sciences contained in the country’s educational curriculum.

In addition to a summation of what Eco-Huertos is doing on a national level, the important point
that was conveyed by Ms. Minier to the young audience, many of whom were students from San Jose Fe y Alegria School, was to inform that a big garden space is not needed to create a sustainable garden, and that it can be created on a balcony or terrace space.

The Fair was also a chance to screen GFDD-supported  films, highlighting and raising awareness on important local environmental issues, as well as informing audiences of the different  and unique cultural
aspects of the country. The three films presented were; "Salga el mal y entre el bien- Liborio Mateo, la historia", which was followed by an interesting discussion by historian Dr. Sobieski De Leon, on Liborista culture; as well as GFDD-produced shorts; "The Growth of Lake Enriquillo: Environmental, Social and Scientific Implications"; and"Garbage or Resource? A
Dominican Republic Experience".

The universally acclaimed "Garbage or Resource" short was aptly followed by a practical workshops in art recycling, undertaken by ReCrearte Program Coordinator, Bertha Santana. Ms. Santana conducted a demonstration to those gathered on how recycling waste into an art-form can empower individuals and communities alike. She emphasised how the program, an
initiative of GFDD’s Dominican Republic Environment Film Festival (DREFF), seeks to engage Dominican communities into reformulating the way they think about trash, thereby promoting the three golden rules of proper waste management: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

For the most part, the participants were occupied with making notebooks created with images from old recycled magazines. Speaking about her experience, Diana Sarahi Diaz
Ureña, a 9 year old student from Manantial del Saber School who attended along with 25 of her fellow students and teachers said, ” In my community I”ve seen how we collect and throw garbage on the dump and then burn it. But, I have since learned that it is not good for air quality and the environment. Today, I also learned that recycling old paper, newspaper, magazines can make new things, like we did in today”s workshop in order to help the environment. I would like to continue
participating in this program.”

This format of events, organized by the Foundation is proving to be a popular crowd-puller and allows for for active participation and discussion by its attendees.

Related links :
www.dominicanaonline.org
www.eco-huertos.org
www.r3crearte.org
www.garbage.dreff.org
www.funglode.org
www.cultura.gob.do
www.dreff.org
www.dominicanscreenings.org
www.publications.globalfoundationdd.org