ABOUT US

Sabaneta Orphanage, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation in the USA and serves as the support arm for an orphanage campus in the Dominican Republic named Hogar Del Niño Feliz Orfanato Sabaneta, which translates to "Sabaneta Orphanage, Home of the Happy Child."

The mission of the Sabaneta Orphanage is to restore happiness, love, hope, and purpose to needy children in the Dominican Republic who have lost all sense of these possibilities in their lives. This restoration is accomplished through sharing the love and message of Jesus Christ and providing a caring environment where children have a safe place to live, plenty to eat, access to a quality education, and a sense of belonging to the Sabaneta family, with affection and love. One trip to Sabaneta makes it easy to understand why it is called the "Home of the Happy Child." The grounds are filled with happy children playing with big smiles and boundless energy. It is truly a place of refuge from the chaotic and poverty-stricken areas that surround it. It is a place where the children who live here can truly be children again, knowing they are cared for and loved.

It is amazing how quickly a child settles in at the home, begins to give back the love they receive, and opens their heart to a structured way of living as if it had always been their norm. Sabaneta truly is the "Home of the Happy Child." Our goal is for every child committed to our care to be immersed in a structured and balanced family environment centered around God's love and purpose for every individual. We aim to provide each child with the resources to become functional and responsible citizens upon reaching adulthood, with the capacity to serve and give back to God's work, their community, and their country, ultimately making a difference in the world.

The campus consists of three separate homes for children: the boys' home, the girls' home, and the small children's home. Additionally, the campus has an elementary school for Kindergarten through the 6th grade, providing a strong foundation for further education. There is also a church, where children learn about the love of God and the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

We also have an administrative office where the day-to-day business of the orphanage is managed, and all the children's records are stored. While the number of children at the home can fluctuate, we currently care for about 40 children.

Our history

The work began in 2005 with a vision, a piece of land, two children, and the construction of what would become the first orphanage building in Sabaneta. It took five years to complete the construction of this first home, which was dedicated in 2010 with the same two original children. Shortly after the dedication, the home received seven additional boys, followed by five girls, marking the beginning of the realization of a refuge for the underprivileged children of the Dominican Republic.

As more children arrived and began to grow, we recognized the need for a church and a school. Construction of the second building, designed to house both the school and the church, began in July 2014. Once completed, it was immediately put to use. By then it became apparent that separating the boys and girls into specific homes was necessary. A second story was added to the school/church structure to serve as the new girls' home, while the original building remained the boys' home. After the girls' home was completed, a dedication ceremony was held in February 2016, signifying the continued expansion of our vision to help the helpless and destitute children of the Dominican Republic.

Although smaller projects such as storage buildings, playgrounds, driveways, and other improvements occurred in the years following the 2016 dedication, it wasn’t until 2020 that the next major building project began. With increased community interest in the church, a growing congregation, and an expanding school, it became clear that a new church facility and a remodel of the school were necessary. We were blessed to purchase an adjoining piece of land with road frontage at the edge of the community, offering a dual purpose: the new church would remain part of our orphanage complex while also serving as an outreach to the surrounding community.

Construction of the new church began in spring 2020, generating excitement within the community. More local people started attending church, many giving their lives to God, accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior, and becoming faithful members. By December of that year, the church was near completion and held its first service, which was filled to capacity. The finishing touches were completed in January 2021.

With the church moved to its new facility, we began converting the old church space into permanent classrooms for the school. This phase, completed in February 2021, provided much-needed accommodations for the growing number of students and grades. These projects played a vital role in expanding our vision, not only for the orphanage but also for the surrounding impoverished community. They allowed us to extend spiritual and educational support to others beyond our property while continuing our mission to help the children of the Dominican Republic.

To plan for the future and care for more children, we began constructing another home on the lower part of the newly acquired property in May 2021. The project was completed by the end of the same year. While the home was not immediately needed, a steady flow of incoming children during construction proved its necessity. By September 2022, the boys' home had reached capacity, and the girls' home was nearing its limit. We decided to use the new home for smaller children who require additional care, thereby freeing space in the main boys' home for older children. This newest facility has been instrumental in accommodating our growing family, enabling our mission to continue expanding.

The property purchased in 2020 included a small existing house near the campus entrance. Although it needed repairs, its location made it ideal for conversion into an administration office. In mid-2022, we renovated the building to create office space, establishing a new administrative hub for the orphanage’s daily operations and evaluations of the children in our care.

In the Dominican Republic, the concept of Sunday school is relatively unknown. However, with the addition of many children to the home and the growing number of community children attending church, we saw an opportunity to introduce Sunday school. All that was needed were classrooms and an explanation of the concept. In July 2023, we began constructing a second story on the church, divided into Sunday school rooms. By October of the same year, the new classrooms were completed, and Sunday school began.

Although no major building projects have been planned for 2024, we continue to make necessary improvements and upgrades to the campus. These include building storage facilities, repairing roofs, pouring concrete, upgrading electrical and plumbing systems, and painting. As we move forward, we are actively seeking God’s guidance and discussing future growth opportunities to embrace His vision for the children of the Dominican Republic.

Board of Directors & Officers

President Fonzo Randolph 276-623-7403

Vice President: Daniel Johnson 434-230-1597

Secretary/Treasurer Richard Hurst479-414-9830

Director Danny Lafferty918-935-7827

Director Darren Burnett 270-970-1336