Day Two (Yeah)

Assignments switch on day two--and each subsequent day.  The goal is that each student and chaperone visit all three sites.  

Featured location: Batey 50

  Kamryn G.   

Photo taken by Kerry Boyle

                                                                           Peter W.

Batey 50 is located deep into a sugar cane field--over a half an hour of driving through what feels like a giant corn maize.  Upon our arrival, we took a tour of the town, visiting the local residents.  We noticed immediately that many children had an eye infection--conjunctivitis--that had spread through much of the community due to their close quarters and minimal access to resources.  Thank goodness for our extensive hygiene training!  We were able to play with the children despite this illness, reminding them in Spanish not to touch our face (no tocas, por favor!) to keep ourselves safe.  We will be visiting Batey 50 each day this week, so we will be bringing medicine to the children to help cure them as quickly as possible.  

Most important were the reactions of former travelers.  Watkinson has had a longstanding relationship with Batey 50, and so we have seen it grow and develop with outside support.  Kerry Boyle, a participant on the 2010 DR trip, was shocked to see the quality of the homes the residents now lived in.  Previously, they resided in shacks made of scrap tin, blankets, tarps, and anything else they could find.  Now, many live in furnished houses with separate rooms for eating and sleeping. Even the most primitive houses were neatly decorated, and some even contained a garden out back to help support a nutritious diet.

There is a great deal of work left to do, but at the same time, it's important to remember to be proud of all that's been done.

Kilometer 6

Photo of a classroom at Kilometer 6, where we are beginning to lay the groundwork for a jardin infantil (playground)

Picture taken by Mike DeFlaun

Traveling Med Clinic

Distributing "Comfort Dolls" to the children 

Photo taken by Toby S.

Special Tuesday Night Outing

After a long day of work, Wat and University High students enjoyed a baseball game, in which we watched the La Romana home team (Toros) beat out the Jaguars.  Please note the orange pep band in the background, whose enthusiasm and sheer decibel level would put your college pep band to shame.