Yesterday we visited Batey Libertad and learned about the community from Papito and several of the youth in the community. After our tour, we played with the kids and even had a game of Batey Basketball 4 v 4 (men v women) while our fans looked on!
Despite having much fun, we also learned about some serious grassroots efforts of the community as they work to improve the lives of the community members. Education is extremely inportant here in the Batey. The new school now goes up to 8th grade. Last year it only went to 5th grade. Progress is being made each year! There has also been a project to pick up trash in the community. There are health cooperadoras who help coordinate health projects, aquaducts and water filter projects, and homework rooms for the children to continue their studies when not in class. Children may attend school here in the Batey even if they do not have papers. There is also a boy's and girl's soccer team. They occassionally play as far away as Santo Domingo. The men's team has been undefeated since 2010!
We learned about the Famn Valiant which is a women's group that makes candles. WIth the proceeds from the business, the community obtains papers for people to get the work visas and residency cards. A new law has made it easier to get papers. The first step is to pay $200 USD for a work visa. Then after a year the community members have the opportunity to apply for residency status which costs even more money. Becoming a legal citizen is often cost prohibitive, yet this community is determined working to make dreams a possibility.
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