Viery Franco holds a medical degree, a master’s degree in public health, and a specialization in epidemiology from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, and a Master's in Hospital Services Management and Clinical Nutrition from St. George’s University. She is working on her thesis for a doctorate in health with a focus on public policy. Viery's professional roles include coordinating social assistance and health projects for patients in vulnerable situations and serving as a clinical manager at a first-level care center. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Feminine Synergy in the Migrant Population

This project enhances understanding of entrepreneurship and sexual and reproductive health among migrant adolescent and adult women residing in the Many Aguas area in San Cristóbal. The objective is to provide them with economic support by teaching them job skills and by empowering them with knowledge about sexual and reproductive health rights and access.

In August, Viery taught 50 women about sexual health and the right to health services in Muchas Aguas. In September, she held two workshops on making healthy snacks and preparing a budget for ingredients. Participants prepared different recipes and conceptualized a snack business in groups. Four women joined the facilitator's own initiative to learn how to offer their own services in the future. Nine women expressed interest in culinary training at the National Institute of Technical and Vocational Training (INFOTEP).

“I hope to ensure that more women are correctly informed about their rights in the health sector and how to prevent the main diseases that can affect them, and that the proportion of adolescents who become pregnant at the wrong time due to lack of information is reduced. Above all, I would like migrant women to have a job that allows them to cover their economic needs, contribute to their families, and contribute to the country's economy.” – Viery Franco

IVLP Exchange Experience

Viery participated in the IVLP Project Migration in the Americas, organized by the U.S. Department of State and CRDF Global, in partnership with International Citizen Diplomacy of Los Angeles, International Institute of Buffalo, and World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth.

Viery’s exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award project: “The experience at IVLP expanded my knowledge about the mobile population group. I was able to learn about the needs of migrants and strategies to improve the quality of life in this population group. The Immigration Institute of Buffalo and Los Angeles were the pillars of my inspiration for this initiative because I learned with them that we can offer an alternative for insertion into the world of work to those people who, due to the regulations of each country, do not have access to a job, decent to support their families, in addition to offering basic health services to guarantee the quality of life of this population in our countries.”

U.S. Communities Visited 

Los Angeles, CA; Washington, DC; Buffalo, NY; Dallas, TX

Country: Dominican Republic 

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