Amarylis Castillo
Amarilis Castillo was born in Las Matas de Fanfan in the Dominican Republic, but had to emigrate to the US as a young woman. She lived 24 years in the U.S.and became a psychologist and social worker. In spite of this success, she remained concerned about the poverty back home in the Dominican borderlands. “I thought constantly of the people who were always empty-handed and wearing the same torn cloths.” Amarylis said. “I always wanted to return home and do something about it. I Worked with senior U.S. officials, including members of the Black Caucus. It has always had a strong belief in people and their ability to affect change.”
In 1990, her family founded the Castillo Foundation (FUCAS). Amarilis began providing money and resources to help those most in need of Elías Piña and in Las Matas Farfán. In 1999, she decided to return to the Dominican Republic. She immediately donated land for the construction of the first vocational school in your region for the Armed Forces. Today, this school provides workshops in woodwork, carpentry, baking, electricity, sewing and repairing air conditioners–an opportunity offered in very few of the border towns.
In 2002, she was able to expand her work with the help of a small grant from the UN Development Program. Through this grant, she was able to begin realizing her dream of reforesting the border. She began helping 88 families to plant avocados and other tree fruits. Two years later, she began working with the Nuestra Frontera Project. The project staff helped her to improve the quality of the work and to expand to reach a total of 120 families as well as to help her grow her network within both the public and private sectors.
“Amarylis’ excitement rubs off on everyone she meets,” said Daniel O’Neil, “When we have brought her to technical conferences, she works the whole room and leaves with a pocketful of business cards and a handful of solid contacts. We are pleased that we have been able to help her attend a variety of conferences both here in the DR as well as in the US and Central America.”
Amarylis was one of the leaders that created a network that links together the 23 strongest Dominican civil society organizations. The group has adopted the name “Nuestra Frontera” in honor of the project that brought them together in the first place. She dreams of linking this network with one from the Haitian side so that they can truly talk about “their border.”
“Thanks to PADF, some people in the border now call me a leader,” says Amaryllis. The humility of her words contrasts with the way she mobilizes communities where she is both loved and respected and where she has become a major partner the fight against poverty.
FUCAS, the organization that started as a family foundation, today is a more development-oriented and “owned” by farmers that benefit from it.
“PADF has allowed me to participate in meetings and in areas where previously I had no access. I am proud of the work that I have done for my community and thrilled to be better able to speak for the borderlands.”
