Before the Complex, Bonao was one of the most violent regions in the entire country. With generations of residents struggling through extreme poverty, the people of these 16 communities resented the government and released their frustrations on others in neighboring villages, leading to deeply rooted hatred and frequent quarreling.
In response to this situation, a council was established in the region as a community action counterpart to the Complex. Named the Community Works Team, two representatives from each village are tasked with identifying needs and submitting proposals for social and community improvements in each of their respective villages. By providing residents with a platform, there is now a culture of dialogue between the 16 communities which has allowed them to work through their historical differences and drastically reduced the animosity between villages.
