Viery Franco
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Feminine Synergy in the Migrant PopulationDominican Republic
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 enhanced understanding of entrepreneurship and sexual and reproductive health among fifty migrant adolescent and adult women residing in the Many Aguas area in San Cristóbal. It provided them with economic support by teaching them job skills and by empowering them with knowledge about sexual and reproductive health rights and access. Women gained practical experience through hands-on activities, such as working in a beauty salon and preparing snacks, fostering entrepreneurial interests and skills. The project successfully integrated 16 women into various workforce opportunities alongside many of the workshop facilitators, enhancing their economic participation and skills. Viery collaborated with 2024 IVLP Impact Awardee Coralia Vasquez on a workshop focused on self-care.
Viery participated in Omar Miramontes (Mexico) 2024 IVLP Impact Award project podcast to discuss migration in Latin America alongside IVLP alumni Coralia Vasquez (Colombia) and Rubén Jiménez (Mexico). Listen here: https://youtu.be/wWa1S5D0UI0?si=TxfY42EnoZ_R8snT
“We want to continue supporting initiatives such as SIFEM that help women to know their rights, to pay attention to their health and that help them to obtain a source of livelihood.” - Project Partner
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