Where We'll Be.
The ocean city of Barahona is on the southwest coast of the Dominican Republic (DR) - known for its beautiful beaches, mountains, and agricultural production, particularly cacao, sugarcane, and coffee. The area has a predominantly Roman Catholic population. Barahona faces significant poverty, with limited access to quality healthcare, education, and stable employment opportunities. The people most at risk are those are of Haitian descent - despite their families living in the DR for generations, the government does not recognize their existence and have almost no chance at becoming citizens.
A Word About Baseball.
Baseball is a way of life in the DR - and almost every little boy dreams of playing in the MLB. Often, young boys will be convinced to drop out of school to train with recruiters. They are poorly fed and endure unethical training methods. It's very common for older boys to be dropped from their baseball program with no education and bodies that are unable to function properly because of the harsh training they've been put through.
Who We'll Partner With.
We will be working with Children of the Nations (COTN) and their 'I Love Baseball' (ILB) Program. COTN has a presence in several Haitian villages in the Barahona area, running schools and sustainability programs. They operate a medical clinic and a hotel in town. Through their ILB program, COTN recruits young boys to play baseball - but continues to educate and feed them, and to train them with ethical methods. Boy's in the ILB program are exposed to daily Gospel lessons and often become lights in their families and villages.
What We'll Do.
This team will work directly with ILB players (boys aged 8-17), assisting with trainings, practice, and devotions. Our team will also visit several of the villages where many of the boys live.
Who Can Go.
- Team Size: 10.
- Ages: 16+ (minors must be accompanied by a parent).
- Skills: Team members should be proficient baseball players or coaches.
- Other: Spanish speakers are especially welcome to apply!
What It Costs.
- Approximately ~$2,500 per participant.
- This number will become more precise as details are finalized.
- CBC contributes up to 25% of the trip-cost for each participant.
- Participants will be provided with coaching, progress-monitoring, and support with their fundraising.
- CBC will host one springtime fundraiser to help raise support.
Who's the Leader?
- Leader: Pastor Kyle Donn
- Email: kyle.donn@cbchurch.org