Education and community empowerment: the Puntacana Group's commitment to the Dominican Republic

In Verón, Dominican Republic, education and social inclusion have become drivers of development thanks to the initiatives of the Puntacana Group Foundation. Among the most emblematic projects are the Ann & Ted Kheel Polytechnic, the Caracolí Global School, and the Artisan Workshop, which have marked a turning point in the community.

The Ann & Ted Kheel Polytechnic, opened in 2004, arose from the need to offer secondary education in the area, avoiding long commutes to La Otra Banda or Higüey. With the support of the Ministry of Education, Infotep, and the Catholic Church—which administers it through the Bishopric of Higüey—the school established itself as an educational benchmark.

In 20 years, it has graduated more than 1,450 technical high school graduates, prepared not only academically and technically, but also in values. This comprehensive training has made the polytechnic the main provider of human resources for the tourism sector in the area. Local companies emphasize that hiring graduates from the center has been the solution to many of their operational needs, a reflection of the quality of the education received.

Its educational offerings include workshops on bar and restaurant, cooking, electricity, refrigeration, and computer science, as well as a strong emphasis on English. Additionally, there's a summer internship program that allows students to take their first steps in companies within the Puntacana Group and other players in the tourism industry.

Caracolí Global School, inaugurated in 2019, represents the group's second educational offering. It was created as a complement to Punta Cana International School, with a curriculum in Spanish and an English as a Second Language program. Despite opening in the midst of the pandemic, the school quickly established itself thanks to its focus on supporting families, with initiatives such as the school for parents, which offers workshops on nutrition, finances, parenting, and emotional support. This model has strengthened the bond between home and school, becoming one of its greatest strengths.

The third pillar of this social commitment is the Artisan Workshop, created in 2014 thanks to the initiative of the wife of a Puntacana Group executive, who saw an opportunity to train women in the community in artisanal weaving techniques. Since then, the program has trained dozens of women and today has approximately 25 active artisans, including Dominga, Patricia, and Liz, the project leaders.

The workshop not only promotes female entrepreneurship and empowerment, but also integrates an environmental component, as many of the pieces—such as purses, wallets, and keychains—are made from recycled plastic bags. The foundation provides support in technical training, personal finance, and sales, in addition to facilitating marketing channels in airport stores, area hotels, and the Yaoya store, located within the foundation itself.

The artisans have also been present at high-profile events, such as the PGA International golf tournament in Punta Cana and contemporary art fairs in Santo Domingo. They have even created exclusive pieces for the renowned Indómita store, and their work was recognized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as a promising practice for its social and environmental impact and potential for replication.

Thanks to this project, women who previously lacked access to the labor market have become organized microentrepreneurs, with tax registration, bank accounts, and the autonomy to manage their income sustainably.

With these three initiatives—the Ann & Ted Kheel Polytechnic, the Caracolí Global School, and the Artisan Workshop—the Puntacana Group reaffirms its commitment to education, empowerment, and sustainability. This commitment goes beyond academics to transform entire communities, generating real opportunities and contributing to the comprehensive development of the destination.