Meet Felipe de la Cruz
Felipe de la Cruz was born and raised in the Los Cocos community. He lives with his two children, both of whom have mental health conditions. His livelihood comes from agriculture and gardening work at a school.
His home is in poor condition, with holes, leaks, and deteriorated materials that pose risks. Despite this, Felipe lives calmly, focused on caring for his children and meeting daily needs.
Felipe built his house with an inheritance from his parents. One of his proudest achievements is having raised his children after the passing of his wife. Providing daily sustenance has been his greatest challenge.
This project would offer him greater safety and comfort. For Felipe, a stable home means living out of danger. He is grateful for the support and hopes to continue living according to God’s will.
Meet Lixandro Cuello
Lixandro Cuello and family have been living in their community for approximately seven months, after losing their previous home when it collapsed due to its poor condition.
They now live with their three children — Lady (12), Andrea (9), and Scarlin (2) — in a borrowed space provided temporarily by a family member. However, their situation is unstable, as the owner of the home needs to reclaim the space.
Lady is a homemaker, and Lixandro works in agriculture whenever work is available, saving little by little in hopes of building a home for their family.
One of their greatest challenges is the lack of basic living conditions. They do not have access to a proper bathroom and must depend on others, which makes daily life difficult and uncomfortable.
Each day, Lady does what she can to support her children. Occasionally, she helps a neighbor with cleaning in exchange for food or small payments, which she uses to buy school supplies or basic necessities. Lixandro contributes with whatever he earns, ensuring their children have food and essential needs covered, while also trying to save toward a home.
A new house would bring a significant transformation to their lives providing stability, privacy, and dignity. For this family, having a home of their own means finally having a safe place to grow, rest, and build a better future.
Meet your Team Leaders
Otoniel Suero
Otoniel M. Suero Escalante is from San Juan de la Maguana and began working with Bridges as a Volunteer Coordinator in February 2023. He brings over six years of experience working with North American volunteer groups across the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Canada.
Additionally, Oto has held various summer positions in the United States, spending time in Virginia and North Carolina. What he enjoys most about working with Bridges is supporting others as they create positive change in their lives and building meaningful connections with volunteers.
Otoniel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is also trained as a certified medical and simultaneous interpreter. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar and hiking.
Randy Bautista
Randy Esteban Bautista is a 37-year-old Dominican native from San Juan de la Maguana. He holds a degree in Basic Education and brings over 10 years of experience working with Solid Rock International, where he served as an interpreter and Construction Area Coordinator. In this role, he led and supported multiple groups of American volunteers on construction projects, ensuring smooth communication and successful execution on the ground.
Randy is known for his open-minded attitude, strong sense of responsibility, and willingness to learn. He embraces new challenges daily and views mistakes not as setbacks, but as valuable steps toward growth and excellence (and yes, lessons learned the hard way tend to stick best!).
About the Community
San Juan de la Maguana is located in the western region of the Dominican Republic and sits in a broad valley surrounded by mountain ranges. . Known as the country’s agricultural heartland, approximately 85% of the province’s land is dedicated to farming, particularly beans, rice, and corn. The region’s fertile soil and open plains make it a vital contributor to the Dominican Republic’s food supply.
The climate is generally hot and sunny, with average daytime temperatures around 85°F (29°C). Due to its elevation and surrounding mountains, evenings tend to be cooler, especially after sunset. Rainfall is seasonal, resulting in lush, green landscapes during the rainy months and drier conditions at other times of the year.
San Juan is a predominantly rural province with limited infrastructure, simpler accommodations, and fewer commercial amenities. Visitors should be prepared for basic conditions, intermittent electricity, and limited internet access.
The climate is generally hot and sunny, with average daytime temperatures around 85°F (29°C). Due to its elevation and surrounding mountains, evenings tend to be cooler, especially after sunset. Rainfall is seasonal, resulting in lush, green landscapes during the rainy months and drier conditions at other times of the year.
San Juan is a predominantly rural province with limited infrastructure, simpler accommodations, and fewer commercial amenities. Visitors should be prepared for basic conditions, intermittent electricity, and limited internet access.