Batey Housing Initiative

Working in the Bateyes is an enriching service and learning experience. Travelers will contribute to the ongoing community development project in San Pedro de Macoris. Our work here consists of infrastructure rehabilitation, agricultural work with local farmers, health initiatives, and education projects with local children.

The Batey

Los bateyes are traditionally communities of sugar cane workers and their families, and are among the most impoverished areas of the country. Many people in these regions lack access to some of the most basic human rights, including access to clean water, adequate nutrition, decent housing, basic education, electricity and other infrastructure.

Our Project

Our projects in the bateyes include home improvement, infrastructure projects, and education projects where we work with local elementary schools to provide supplemental education. Our primary project in our partner community is home improvements. Offbeat Travel began working with these communities in 2012 through our partnership with ASCALA, a local human rights non-profit. The community has stated that home improvements and latrine construction are the top priority, for both safety and health reasons.

Depart from Santo Domingo by 8am in a private bus. We will have three pick up spots. One at our offices in Bella Vista at 8am, another at the Plaza Juan Baron around 830am, and a final one near the Puente Juan Carlos in Santo Domingo Este at 9am.

Then enjoy a healthy snack on the bus as you head into the endless sugar cane fields of Eastern Dominican Republic. On the way our knowledgable staff will give you all a summary of the project, our history in these communities and other context for the work you will be doing.

Arrive into the community and head straight to your service site. Put on your work gloves and get ready to contribute to our ongoing projects in the bateyes of San Pedro de Macoris. You will either contribute to the construction of a latrine, a house or cement floors in houses identified by community leaders as the ones with most needs. Your job will consist of mixing cement, filling buckets, passing them on to the masons and helping them in leveling the floors. Service will take place from 10am - 1pm.

After service head to the community center or nearby restaurant for a hearty Dominican lunch.

Then take a visit to our NGO partner ASCALA to learn about the initiatives in the bateyes of this grassroots organization.

• Snack and Lunch

• All transportation

• Offbeat Travel full-time local guides

• All activities as detailed in your itinerary

• Single point of contact from Offbeat Travel for support leading up to the program

• Offbeat Travel 24-hour emergency support throughout program

• All fees, community service donations, and guide tips