No Power, No Internet, No Problem: Launching an Ecommerce Store with the Boys of Helping Hands

June–July 2026 | Dominican Republic

If you want to test your patience and your faith at the same time, try teaching a group of teenagers how to run an online store in a place where the electricity can disappear for twelve hours at a stretch  and the internet can vanish for another twelve the very next day.

That’s been my week here at Helping Hands Orphanage in the Dominican Republic. Long hours, unpredictable conditions, and honestly? Some of the most rewarding work I’ve ever been a part of.

The Kids Were Ready

Despite everything the infrastructure threw at us, the boys showed up ready to go. Many of them had design ideas already finished. Others had them fully formed in their heads, just waiting for a screen and a working connection. When the tools finally cooperated, they put up a lot of designs,  so many that my next couple of days will be spent reviewing with the boys, making the products as good as possible.

But that’s a good problem to have. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and they have a lot to share with the world: their love for Jesus, their pride in the Dominican Republic, and design ideas that are just plain cool.

Who These Young Men Are

Most of the students taking this class, along with several staff members, are boys between twelve and eighteen years old. Half of them are Dominican and half are Haitian. For many of them,  especially the boys from Haiti  opportunities are limited. That’s exactly why this project matters.

This ecommerce store gives them real, transferable skills. Whether they one day decide to run their own online store, consult and help others get started, or simply keep creating products to support Helping Hands, they’ll have experience most people their age (in any country) don’t have.

Where the Money Goes

In case you’re new to this project, here’s how it works: all profits from the store go to Helping Hands Orphanage.

• 50% supports all the other kids at the orphanage
• 40% goes into each young entrepreneur’s education or move-out fund
• 10% is their own spending money

Every purchase directly invests in these boys’ futures and in the orphanage community that surrounds them.

Months in the Making

This launch didn’t happen overnight. It represents many months and long hours of work from teams back in the United States, plus plenty of preliminary work by the boys themselves here on the ground.

Our goal is simple: create products that are truly unique: designs that reflect Haitian and Dominican culture, that reflect these young men’s love for God, and that are just really cool.

Come See What They’ve Made

So shop the store and see what you think. These boys are proud of what they’ve created, and I think you will be too.

Lots more coming.