Life in the Bateyes

Rachel Kim (on left) and Rachel Tompson (on right), juniors at St. John’s School, traveled to the Dominican Republic with the student travel program Rustic Pathways. The program, Life in the Bateyes, focused on critical issues in the Bateyes, communities of impoverished Haitian immigrants. Students spent the majority of their time working on construction projects like building durable homes for families previously living in deteriorating conditions. For two days, the student group put together a kids’ camp for local children, where they taught art, math and English and led sports. In between service days, the group had the opportunity to visit beautiful Dominican beaches. The program ended with two nights spent at an eco-lodge, an opportunity to experience environmentally sustainable living. Both Rachels say they plan to participate in another Rustic Pathways trip next summer.

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