Tucked away in pockets of the Dominican Republic, a country known in part for its lush landscape and magnificent coastline with endless white sand beaches, are impoverished villages called bateyes. Poverty is a serious issue throughout the country, but these communities are unique. They began to form in the 1930s, when large numbers of poor Haitians migrated to their neighboring country for seasonal work cutting sugarcane. Though the workers were victims of exploitation and prejudice, many ended up staying permanently for lack of better options.
As the influx from Haiti continued, the government sought to isolate Haitian immigrants away from Dominican society while still slashing production costs for this important crop. Bateyes were the solution. Flimsy shanties to house workers were constructed adjacent to sugarcane fields while armed guards and fences were put in place to prevent people from leaving, essentially creating company-owned villages cutoff from surrounding Dominican towns and cities. Living conditions were awful, lacking running water, electricity, bathrooms, and other basic amenities.
Over the decades, the bateyes became home to hundreds of thousands of first, second, and third-generation Haitians, who despite spending their lives in the Dominican Republic, had no legal claim to citizenship. That made it extraordinarily difficult to access medical care, education, and a wide range of other resources.
When economic demand for sugar in world markets sharply declined in the 21st century, some operations ceased and guards departed, but hundreds of bateyes remain to this day. Thirteen-year-old Dalianiza lives with her family in one of them. Because her parents are both undocumented, their job options are nearly non-existent. Her father is confined to guiding an ox cart in the cane fields, and his wages are barely enough to afford a single meal per day for the family. The sugar company owns their small house, and the only bathrooms are outside the home, shared with the community. Education is typically out of the question for kids like Dalianiza.
While children and families in bateyes may be largely invisible to the outside world, God sees them. In these challenging places, Cross International is committed to bringing lasting change in the name of Jesus. Because of the selfless giving of Cross International friends, Dalianiza and her family regularly receive food through CI’s local partner, Buen Samaritano. Along with other kids in the program, Dalianiza’s BMI (Body Mass Index) is tracked over time to ensure healthy growth. Parents and caregivers even participate in cooking classes in which they learn how to prepare nutritious meals using a variety of foods.
The program has also increased access to healthcare and paved the way for Dalianiza to attend school by covering fees and providing her with necessary items like a uniform, socks, shoes, a backpack, notebooks, and pencils. And crucially, she hears the message of the Gospel from compassionate Christians who point to Jesus as the true source of provision and hope.
There are no quick fixes or easy solutions to address the immense needs in batey communities. Instead, sustainable progress requires patience and dedication. Thank you for joining with Cross International to give Dalianiza and so many others opportunities that were once far out of reach. What a blessing it is to witness transformation unfolding.
Our work ranges from self-help groups that offer low-interest microloans, job training and community support to residential programs that offer career counseling, tutoring and Bible training.
