Global Potential transforms the lives of youth from underserved communities through education, service learning and cultural exchange into globally competitive leaders of positive change in their lives and communities.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic has the ninth largest economy in Latin America and is the largest economy in the Caribbean and Central American region.
In the Dominican Republic we work in BARAHONA: a three-hour drive southwest of Santo Domingo. The incredible natural environment includes mountains, lakes, interesting vegetation, and gorgeous coastline. The region is also full of ‘Batey’ communities, historically neglected rural villages. Our Partner Agencies In the DR include Instituto Dominicano de Desarrollo Integral (IDDI) and the Center for Sustainable Development (CEDESO), Municipal Governments, youth groups, women’s associations, World Vision, the Peace Corps, Cooperazione Italiani, and others.
The Joys of Work
Global Potential youth actively participate in the creation of documentaries. Enjoy!
Batey Communities
In the DR we work in BARAHONA: a three-hour drive southwest of Santo Domingo. The incredible natural environment includes mountains, lakes, interesting vegetation, and gorgeous coastline. The region is also full of ‘Batey’ communities, historically neglected rural villages.
Our Partner Agencies In the DR include Instituto Dominicano de Desarrollo Integral (IDDI) and the Center for Sustainable Development (CEDESO), Municipal Governments, youth groups, women’s associations, World Vision, the Peace Corps, Cooperazione Italiani, and others.
What is a Batey?
GP partners with Batey communities, generally very poor villages of migrant workers and their families who harvest, or harvested, sugarcane. Conditions in Haiti are often so difficult that many of these workers and their families prefer the Bateys, but still struggle for basic human rights like health care, water, food, and education. The great majority of Batey inhabitants are 2nd or 3rd or even 4th generation Haitians or Haitian-Dominicans born in the Dominican Republic, but they are frequently denied documentation (papers) and therefore lack legal rights, health care, and education opportunities.
Batey 1
Youth Conference 2012
Batey 1 partnered with GP for the first time during the summer of 2012. Eduard, Adela and Jenne are very active youth in the community. Other active leaders are Brenda Adalgisa Cuevas, Michel Yoeli Anderson, Berenice Anderson, Luis Rodolfo, Maria Estel Alcantara, Milta Lida Gomez and Eduard Batista Feliz
Meeting
Batey Blocks de Mena
Global Potential stayed in Blocks de Mena during the summer of 2010. Since then, a community facilitator also spent summer of 2010 in the community carrying out development projects and working on building local capacity. Some leaders of the community are: Birma Montero Feliz Edison, Charles Feliberto Beltre, Yeraldo Pie Perez Gervania, Mateo Cuevas Simona De La Rosa and Nuris Marciel.
Batey 8
Youth Conference 2012, 2011, 2009 & 2008
Batey 8 was our second community we partnered with in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012. We have very strong leaders such as the Union Executive Director and Mayor, Beneco Enecia, Executive Youth Council members Hogla Perez and Samy Enecia (President), and other very active youth like Christina Leon Perez, Isa Montilla, Danexi Perez, Raisa Rodriguez and Arsenito Santana. Andres De Jeus Perez, Maria Delsa Feliz Danexis Perez, Betzaida Perez Pierre, Miguel Angel D Oleo Perez and Doris Jackelin Leon Perez are other very active members.
Batey 7
Que Nos Motiva 2007
Batey 7 was the first community where Global Potential carried out an exchange. Since 2007, GP has collaborated a total of four times with this community of 2000 inhabitants in the region of Barahona. Batey 7 is very active and includes Loranny Juliana Batista Feliz, Yanirda and many other leaders who help make this partnership work. Nerson Martinez Jose, Miguel Cuevas Batista, Sian D Bock, Jose Aquino, Kelvin Medina Cuevas and Yesenia Duval are also all very active.
Constructing Letrina
Batey Cuchilla is a small community of about 800 residents, surrounded by sugarcane fields on all sides. In Cuchilla, there is a community center and a baseball field. There is a four-room school that serves children up to fifth grade. There are four churches, five stores, two hair salons, two bars. There are no paved roads. In 2009, GP’s advocacy work and meetings with the sugarcane company and the municipal government led to over 50 dumptruck loads of material to repair the entranceway to the community, but there remains much work to be done on the road. An informal baseball team of men aged 18-26 meets weekly to play against other communities. Some leaders are the following: Yaira Feliz Heredia, Yanirda Alcantara Polo, Anailsa Sanchez Guelina, Feliz Feliz Maria Solanchi, Feliz Santana, Miguel Antonio De Los Santo Montero and Guillermina Gomez Beltre.