Fundacion de Libertad, Batey Libertad, Esperanza, Dominican Republic

Film Premiere: Cane & Able - Hope in Hispaniola

2009-11-29T07:07:00.000-08:00

Please join the University of Vermont travel-study program to the Dominican Republic and the Center for Health and Well-Being on World AIDS Day for the world premiere of:

Cane and Able: Hope in Hispaniola
Chittenden Bank Room, Davis Center, Room 413
Tuesday, December 1st at 4 p.m.

This new documentary by Fleischer Films highlights ongoing service-learning projects of University of Vermont students and faculty in Haitian migrant communities in the Dominican Republic, including a community farming initiative with Seeds of Self-Reliance and an HIV/AIDS prevention education program with Grassroot Soccer. Following the film will be a short discussion with UVM faculty Jon Erickson (Rubenstein), Pat Erickson (Animal Science), John Hayden (Plant and Soil Science), and McKew Devitt (Romance Languages) and current and past students from their Dominican Republic classes.

For more information on upcoming January and March faculty-led programs abroad to the Dominican Republic, see: http://learn.uvm.edu/studyabroad/dominican_republic.

For more information on the event, please contact Jon Erickson at jon.erickson@uvm.edu or 802-656-3328.

5th UVM 'Lose the Shoes' Soccer Tournament and Fundraiser

2009-09-29T19:57:00.000-07:00

Please join us for the University of Vermont's 5th "Lose the Shoes" soccer tournament and fundraiser in support of Futbol para la Vida, an HIV/AIDS prevention education program in the Dominican Republic that is part of the international Grassroot Soccer network. This semester's 3 v. 3 barefoot soccer tournament will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the University of Vermont campus. Join us on the intermural soccer fields near the Patrick Gym for some food, prizes, music and ... of course ... barefoot soccer. For more information or to pre-register a co-ed team, please get in touch with Christina Newman at cnewman@uvm.edu. If you need convincing that barefoot soccer is a good idea in Vermont in October, just check out picts from past UVM "Lose the Shoes" events: 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st.

4th UVM 'Lose the Shoes' tournament to benefit Futbol para la Vida

2009-04-22T18:17:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, April 26th, the University of Vermont hosted its 4th "Lose the Shoes" barefoot soccer tournament and fundraiser to benefit Futbol para la Vida, an HIV/AIDS prevention education project in the Dominican Republic and a member of the international Grassroot Soccer network.

The 3 v. 3 tournament missed the beautiful Vermont spring (a 1-day season) by just one day, but futbolistas braved the cold and the wind to play in four rounds of barefoot games, followed by found rounds of single elimination playoffs. The day included a raffle with prizes from Burlington businesses, music, pizza from Papa John's, and of course a Grassroot Soccer demonstration.

Many thanks to all the UVM students, faculty, and alumni who played (including Achier who came all the way from Boston!). A special thanks to Christina Newman and Devon Byrne who organized the fundraiser. If you're interested in getting involved with a "Futbol para la Vida" UVM student club and helping to organize our next barefoot tournament in the fall, please get in touch with Christina at cnewman@uvm.edu.

Below are some photos from the day by Devon. Enjoy.

Goal!!!

Our fearless leader, Christina.

Bloody knees and broken toes. Hardcore barefoot soccer in Vermont.

Grassroot Soccer demo ... hide-the-ball led by Batey Libertad alumni Kris McKernan.

Group shot. (We really need a banner.)

Kamaro, a raffle prize winner.

Team spirit award - snazzy new sippy cups.

We are the champions! Can you hear Queen playing in the background?

3rd UVM "Lose the Shoes" tournament to benefit Futbol para la Vida

2008-12-07T22:00:00.000-08:00

The 3rd University of Vermont "Lose the Shoes" soccer tournament went off on a snowy December 7th in Vermont. While only a few "futbolistas" braved the indoor tennis courts without shoes, over 15 teams got together for a 3 v. 3 tournament and fundraiser that is quickly becoming a fall semester tradition. UVM students raised money to support Futbol para la Vida, an HIV/AIDS prevention education program in the Dominican Republic that is part of the international Grassroot Soccer network.

"Abazos" to Matt Linder for organizing the tournament, and to all the UVM students who trudged to the gym on a cold Sunday morning just before the last week of classes.

Grassroot Soccer co-founder on CNN

2008-12-03T16:03:00.000-08:00

Co-founder of Grassroot Soccer, Ethan Zohn, was interviewed this month by CNN as he wrapped up his recent HIV awareness campaign, a soccer ball dribble from Boston to Washington, DC. Grassroot Soccer continues to expand programs and train new NGO partners in HIV/AIDS prevention education throughout Africa, as well as supporting our Futbol para la Vida program in the Dominican Republic through sharing their curriculum and with joint fundraising opportunities.

For more on this recent interview with Ethan, check out the CNN video clip below.

Highlights from Nov. '08 UVM travel-study class to the DR

2008-12-02T20:42:00.000-08:00

The latest group of University of Vermont (UVM) students returned from their November break trip to the Dominican Republic with a long list of accomplishments, and a still longer list of new found friends. The group worked with the community of Batey Libertad to accomplish many projects, including building a bathroom for the community center and health clinic, freshening-up the community center with a new coat of paint, fixing a community shower, and repairing a stinky latrine. Thirteen students and UVM faculty Pat and Jon Erickson also coordinated a community health clinic, hosted the 7th Annual Soccer Tournament of the Batey Libertad Coalition, brought two buses full of smiling faces to the beach for the day (despite the rain!), participated in a vodou presentation, and had quite a dance party during one of the home-stay evenings.

The fundraisers leading up to the trip also supported a bed project of the Las Madres de la Iglesia women's group -- raising enough money to buy 6 beds for batey residents in need -- and the immigration project of the Famn Vayan women's group -- purchasing candles to earn money for passports and visas for Haitian women to live and work legally in the DR. The group was also successful in obtaining a visa for Emely (aka Negrita) to come back to the U.S. with for her ear surgery later this month. In between days at Batey Libertad they managed to visit Santiago, Puerto Plata, Cabarete, the community of Saman, and the border town of Dajabon ... with lots of coughs, stomach aches, and fevers thrown in with the rain just to spice things up a bit.

If you're interested in learning more about travel-study opportunities to the DR, please join this semester's class on Tuesday, December 9th in 105 Aiken on the UVM campus as we share some trip experiences and final reflections from a busy couple weeks in Hispaniola. Students from upcoming travel study courses to the DR in January and March will be in attendance as we pass the service-learning baton. If you're interested in learning more about our yearly trips and ongoing projects in health education, community gardening, Spanish literacy, and community development then please don't miss this opportunity to connect with students and faculty from past, current, and future trips.

2008-09 UVM Travel Study Courses to the DR

2008-10-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

The University of Vermont (UVM) will lead three travel-study courses to the Dominican Republic to work with the communities of Batey Libertad and Saman during the 2008-09 academic year. These international service-learning courses have been run in partnership with these communities and local NGOs working in the DR since 2005.

The first group of UVM students will be led by Drs. Pat and Jon Erickson during the Thanksgiving week. The focus will be community health, with projects including a Futbol para la Vida HIV/AIDS course at two local schools in Esperanza, a community health clinic, bed donations, and numerous projects involving upkeep and expansion of the services of the community center and clinic. Students are organizing a number of fundraisers in Burlington, Vermont, including a benefit dinner, candle and bake sale, a dribble-a-thon with UVM soccer teams, a run-a-thon with UVM running teams, and a 3rd annual Lose the Shoes soccer tournament. The class will also be supporting the annual Batey Libertad Coalition soccer tournament at Batey Libertad on Saturday, November 29th, and returning to Burlington, VT to host a World AIDS Day event on December 1st.

Over the January winter break, John Hayden of UVM's Plant and Soil Science Department and Seeds of Self Reliance will lead a class to continue the community gardening project with the Batey Libertad community. The class will also be helping to start a new community garden in Saman, a barrio of the city of Montellano in the province of Puerto Plata. More info. on last year's class is available at: http://dominicancommunitygardens.org.

To round out the academic year, Mckew Devitt of UVM's Ro ma nce Language Departmen t will return for his 4th trip to Batey Libertad to continue work on language literacy and service-learning. The March '08 class built a home for a family at Batey Libertad.

Big news from Lena in Zambia

2008-10-24T11:53:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest blog from Lena Forman, a former volunteer for Futbol para la Vida in the Dominican Republic and now heading up a Grassroot Soccer program in Zambia. We're hoping she'll bring back all this experience to the DR!!! Go Lena!

Muli bwanji!

I know for many of you it is starting to get cold as the fall sets in but in Zambia we are just starting the rainy season. When I first arrived we used to joke about how each day was exactly the same when it came to weather. There was always a cloudless blue sky during the day and an amazing sunset in the evening. However, just about two weeks ago that all started to change. It started off when we noticed some clouds in the sky during the day. A few days later we watched as some mean looking dark clouds rolled in and covered the whole sky like a sheet. Then there was the thunder and you could only anticipate what was going to happen next. All of a sudden the sky opened and it very quickly when from drizzle to rain to downpour. Not only that but at one point there were small balls of hail falling from the sky! You couldn't leave where you were because you would get soaked (or 'socked' as Zambians say) instantly. This lasted for maybe about an hour and then slowed up and started to pass and everyone resumed what they were doing. Since that first rain about 2 weeks ago it has probably rained at some point on 5 different days. Apparently the rain has come early this year as it usually doesn't start until the last week in October (so right around now) and it will last until March. I'm told that life is pretty different during the rainy season because it is often difficult to plan things because you never know when it's going to rain or if people will show up because of the weather. Also, when it rains, it pours! It's going to be a pretty wet next few months for sure!

The big news…..I recently found out that I will be heading up a big GRS-Zambia project that was just approved for funding that we (the local Zambia crew) were completely unaware had even been applied for. Most of the work that Grassroot Soccer does in Zambia is centered around Lusaka. However, there was a project that was started a few years ago out in some refugee camps to the west and northwest of Lusaka that were well received, successful, and effective. GRS, along with another Lusaka-based organization called Breakthrough Sports Academy (BSA), went into the camps and trained people on teaching health education (training peer educators in the GRS curriculum) and also trained people to become soccer coaches and how to organize soccer leagues (the work BSA does). The project started in 2005 and ended in July 2007.
That's where I come in. The grant is from UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and is for $135,000 to go back to the camps and see what is still going on in terms of Grassroot Soccer and the soccer leagues that were formed. I will be traveling to two camps called Mayukwayukwa and Maheba (pronounced Maa-you-kwa-you-kwa and Ma-hey-ba…it's not as hard as it looks). These camps were created in the mid 1970s soon after Angola (the neighboring country to the west) broke out in civil war after gaining independence from Portugal. This civil war lasted for 27 years and finally ended in 2002. However, many of the refugees that fled from Angola into Zambia have spent the majority of their lives in Zambia and a large population of them were born and grew up there at these Zambian camps. After 2002, the IOM (International Organization for Migration) helped to repatriate (bring back to their home country) tens of thousands of Angolans in Zambia back to Angola. However, many have chosen to stay in Zambia because it has become their home after all these years. There are also refugees living in these camps from countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. One issue is that since many of these refugees have spent the majority or all of their lives in these Zambian refugee camps they face challenges when it comes to languages and culture in their home country if they return. They also are not Zambian citizens even though they may have been born in Zambia. Even if they are married to a Zambian they are still not a Zambian citizen (like in the US). These camps have been set up by the Zambian government and are monitored by the UNHCR and the High Commissioner.

So where exactly do I come in? Like I said I will be heading up this project to go back to these camps and evaluate where things are at (if there is anything at all) from our previous project. The last time we were in camp was July 2007 but we found out recently that apparently the soccer league that was set up during the last project is still somewhat running which is good to hear. My team that I will be working and traveling with on this project will include one other GRS staff (a Zambian) as well as one or two people from Breakthrough Sports Academy (BSA). We are not sure exactly who it is that will be joining me yet though. Within the next couple weeks we will be leaving for Mayukwayukwa where the plan is to live for about 4-5 weeks and do a site assessment and then decide what should happen from there. Although there were about 30 people trained during the original project we have no idea who is left or even still lives in the camp from this original group. The thought is that after the assessment we will run a TOT (Training of Trainers) and teach, or re-teach, the GRS curriculum so that these new peer educators can teach their community. The idea is that the GRS curriculum would coincide with the soccer league. For example, once a week a team of soccer players would go through one of the GRS activities with a trained GRS coach and then after they would play in their soccer match who is being coached by a BSA coach. So in those first 4-5 weeks we would try to set this up. Then, after returning to Lusaka, every 6 weeks we would return to the camp for about 10 days to do follow up visits and see how everything is progressing, see what is needed, etc. The same kind of idea would happen with Maheba except on a different schedule/different weeks. The camps are also pretty remote. For example, to get to Mayukwayukwa it is a 7 hour bus ride west of Lusaka to a city called Kaoma and then another 2 hours west in a car to get to the camp. My understanding is that the closest internet could be Kaoma and there is very limited cell phone service. This, however, is what I've heard from people who were there last year and things like cell phone coverage may have changed a bit by now. I have attached a map of the area so you can see where I'm going. Mayukwayukwa is in the Western Province and Maheba is in Northwestern Province.

I am very excited about the project because it seems like such a great opportunity and interesting project to get involved in. It's also pretty cool that I get to live at the camps for an extended period of time with multiple follow-up visits because I will really get an opportunity to get to know the people who live there. There is a lot that needs to get sorted out before we go though (for example I am trying to set up a meeting with the actual High Commissioner in Lusaka to inform him/her that we will be in the camps because they monitor the camps and basically we have to get their stamp of approval). Also the proposal plan and budget are very loose which gives me more flexibility in the project and basically complete control over what we decide to do (kind of a scary thought because I really don't know what I am doing right now!).
Some other interesting information about the project…in terms of the soccer part of the project, the league has been a huge success in the communities. Often a huge population of the community will actually close up what they are doing on game day and all come out to watch the matches that are going on. Also for those who are participating in the league many parents reported that they were happy because at the end of the day instead of going out after dinner and getting into trouble, their kids were staying in because they were tired from soccer practice or games. On the health education side, a study was done with Angolans who had returned to their communities in Angola where surveys were given to both those who were former refugees and those who never left Angola. It was found that those who were former refugees had more knowledge when it came to health education and making healthy life choices. Also, it was found that returnees often face stigma because they are actually returning from a country where the HIV prevalence is higher (2006 USAIDS estimates that Zambia's prevalence to be 17% and Angola's 3.7%). However, because the returnees are more knowledgeable about HIV they are able to deal with that stigma better and educate others about the facts around HIV/AIDS which helps them to reintegrate into their communities better.

Okay so I know that was a lot of information all at once which is a bit of what I have felt too because I knew nothing about any of this until about 2 weeks ago (but I am finally starting to understand). I hope all the different parts make sense because I know it is pretty confusing. If you have any questions let me know. I hope to send off another email before I leave for the first camp.

Oh yeah and today is Zambia's Independence Day (24th October)! Zambia turns 44 years old today so Happy Independence Day!

Usale bwino! (Stay well!)
Lena

Benefit Dinner for Ear Surgery a Big Success

2008-10-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

On Friday, October 24th, the University of Vermont's Gund Institute for Ecological Economics hosted a benefit dinner and silent auction to raise money for ear surgery for Negrita, a 6 year-old Haitian-Dominican of Batey Libertad. The event was a big success, raising money for a procedure necessary to save Negrita's hearing. A huge "abrazos" from the Batey Libertad community to Carol Franco and Ida Kubiszewski for organizing the event and cooking up some delicious Dominican food, and to all the students and faculty for your generous donations.

If you're still interested in donating, checks can be made out to "Batey Libertad Fund" and sent to: Jon Erickson, 344 Aiken Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405. Please write "Negrita" in the memo.

Former FPV volunteer to continue GRS program in Zambia

2008-10-10T11:43:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest from one of our former Futbol para la Vida volunteers, now in Zambia with Grassroot Soccer. Thanks for the update Lena!

Hello everyone!

It has been a while since I last wrote and a lot has happened since I arrived in Lusaka, Zambia just over 2 weeks ago. I don't know if all of you read it but I posted a blog on the Grassroot Soccer website after my first day in Lusaka with some of my first impressions.

So since I arrived we have been very very busy with learning about the different programs that are running in Zambia, meeting my new co-workers and friends, seeing Grassroot Soccer on its many different levels out in the field, moving houses, and attending a funeral.

First off, the money is called "kwacha" and the exchange is about 3500 kwacha = $1. There are no coins, just bills. Gas is called petrol. When you move (as in where you live) it's called "shifting". Cookies are biscuits. You drive on the left side of the road. Power can go off randomly. White people are "muzungus".

The GRS office in Zambia is a small one compared to the one in South Africa. There are 3 Americas (me, Stuart, and Elise) and 5 Zambians. Currently only 3 of them are in the office because 2 of them are actually working on some GRS projects in the country of Malawi but will be back later this year. The 3 in the office now who I have come to be very close with in just these couple of weeks are Gesh, Fridah, and Peter. Not only are they my co-workers but they are also my closest friends and amazing people. I've learned so much from them in this short time and am continually impressed by the work they are doing. They are the main master trainers (along with the 2 in Malawi) who train the people who will be the ones delivering the curriculum to the kids. For example, at the end of last week we ran a 3-day development course for 30 teachers (mostly phys ed) who are teaching the GRS curriculum to their kids at their respective schools. These were teachers who were trained back in 2005 in GRS but this course acted as a refresher course for them to review the activities and how best to teach them as well as be updated on changes to the curriculum. We were also able to provide them with a new set of the materials they need to play the activities (a soccer ball, tennis balls, cones, Fact/Nonsense cards, etc). They were a really fun group to get to know and a good way to jump right GRS business. Since I'm not yet qualified to teach the activities I helped more with making sure things were running smoothly during the day by timekeeping, checking on the food for our breaks/lunch, participating in some activities, and teaching some new energizers/ice breakers. (If anyone has any good energizers/ice breakers please please email them to me because we are looking for some new ones!) A new food that I got to try during this session was a staple in Zambia called nshima which is pounded maize/corn. It's a lump of food eaten with your fingers along with beans, meat, and rape (a greens dish with an unfortunate name). I think it's good but it definitely fills you up because you essentially end up with this dough ball in your stomach. Each day after we ate this for lunch we couldn't even eat a real dinner because we still weren't hungry even later at night.

We have started to sort out who will be working on what projects for us interns. These are still tentative because we just found out about a few new grants that we have been awarded that will change this structure a bit. As of right now I will be working with the peer educators from another organization called Africa Directions (AD). AD runs all different kinds of activities for youth from sports to drama and more. Young adults (mainly 19-25 +/-) run these activities and GRS has teamed up with them and trained many of them in the GRS curriculum to become peer educators. Currently the AD peer educators are finishing up working with a group of young boys between 9-12 years old who participate in a program called Zambia Street Football Network (ZSFN). These boys play on teams within this league which meets every Sunday morning and what happens is that each week teams run through a GRS activity with the AD peer educators and then after play with their respective teams in the soccer league. I got to see this in full action for the first time this past Sunday and it was really fun, especially to see the young boys learning while having fun and running around.

I will also be taking over the finances for the GRS Zambia office (something I need to get trained in!) as well as helping assist with the teacher's program that I mentioned above. This would include going on site visits to see the teachers running the programs in their classrooms and checking in on them. Just so you have a sense of where GRS and these programs get some of their funding this program is being sponsored by MAC, the cosmetics company, which has a fund called MAC AIDS.

Other big news is that we have "shifted" to our new house. When I first got here we were living in a cottage on the property of another person in an area of Lusaka called Kabulonga. The property had 2 full houses and a cottage, a pool, a pool house, 3-4 gardeners, and a guard at the gate with an electric fence. All the nicer properties in Lusaka have big gates. Our new house that we have shifted to is really nice as well (but no pool haha). We have moved to an area called Ibex Hill and we have the whole property to ourselves which consists of our house and a smaller cottage in the back which is actually going to become the new GRS office in the next month or so (significantly cutting down on our transport to work!). The house also has a nice garden in the back and a really nice yard. There is currently a gardener hired by our landlady who has been helping to get the house ready for us to move in but I don't think we are planning on keeping him on because we're here to put our resources into fighting HIV/AIDS, not keep our lawn manicured. However, then we are also taking a job away from someone. We have also struggled because we have hired a guard named Thomas who stays from 6pm-6am. The three of us living here feel so strange having a guard who has to sit by our gate for 12 hours through the night just to watch over us and our house. It has nothing to do with him because he couldn't be a nicer person but it's just something that none of us have really experienced on such a personal level before. However, it's more than normal/expected to have a guard, especially as muzungus, and it is for safety reasons it just feels strange.

The funeral. Since I arrived, the uncle of one of my co-workers as well as the uncle and the brother of another co-worker have passed away. This past Monday I attended the funeral of the brother of my friend and co-worker Gesh. We had known that his brother was sick because Gesh had been going to visit him often after work at the hospital so it wasn't completely unexpected but still very very sad. Gesh was 1 of 10, and now 9, siblings who have already lost both of their parents. However, as Gesh explained to us, uncles, aunts, cousins are all mothers, fathers, and siblings to each other. The funeral was almost a full-day event starting with a service and then a burial. The service was at an outdoor church/structure in his compound (community) and when we got there we found out that it was actually a combined service for both Gesh's brother and another man. There had to have been over 300 people there with women sitting on one side in their chitenge (traditional fabric), a big choir in the middle, and the men on the other side. There was so much singing (mostly in Nyanja, the local language) and we tried to join from the booklets that were distributed. Unfortunately I couldn't understand what I was saying but the songs were very beautiful. The part that hit me the most during the service was part way through when the related women came in wailing follow by the caskets of the deceased men and also when Gesh's eldest brother read a brief bio about their brother and said that he was born in 1980 (which made him 28 years old when he died). We think that his brother may have died of AIDS because we knew that one of Gesh's brother had HIV and this brother had been sick for a while but it's not something that you can just straight out ask about. That really hit hard and made me realize why I'm really here. After the service we drove to the cemetery for the burial and watched as the casket was lowered in to the ground and the friends and family continued to pile the dirt in, passing the shovel and sharing the labor. The cemetery was so big and as we drove by I couldn't help but notice the dates on the tombstones…1986, 1982, 1973, 1987…everyone seemed so young and it made me wonder why all these people had died at such a young age. It was a very real experience sitting there in the hot dusty Zambian sun in the middle of a huge cemetery as I watched one of my closest friends bury his not yet 30 year old brother. I can only hope that the work that we are doing with Grassroot Soccer is lessening these cases. I can see why Gesh is so passionate about his work and good at what he does.

I know that there is much more I could share but I think this post has reached its limit. I hope I didn't lose you part way through. Thank you for those who responded to my previous emails. It is always nice to hear the updates in your lives. Also be sure to check out the video Lusaka Sunrise on YouTube to see where I am currently living (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyplef2Hi6Y). (I know the guy Ebby who is interviewed during it.)

Until next time…
Lena

(next time I write I will have a Zambian name also…it is still being debated by my friends... :-)

GRS field notes from South Africa ...

2008-09-17T11:29:00.000-07:00

Here's the most recent update from Lena Forman (UVM '08) who's volunteering for Grassroot Soccer in South Africa -- our main partner in developing the Futbol para la Vida HIV/AIDS prevention education program with partner communities in the Dominican Republic. Lena helped to develop the web page of FPV and started our annual University of Vermont barefoot soccer tournament and fundraiser during her studies in Community Development. Go Lena!

Hello everyone!

I hope all is going well since I last wrote! A lot has happened in my world since then for sure! Since my last email I have had the opportunity to explore Cape Town more including visiting some townships in the area, we started learning more about Grassroot Soccer (GRS) including the curriculum, we met trainers from all over South Africa as well as some other African countries, and, lastly, we learned where we are being placed for the rest of our time as a field interns.

Firstly, I got to experience one of the most beautiful places I've ever been two Saturdays ago when me and most of my fellow interns hiked up Lion's Head. I did take pictures but my photos don't do it justice so if you would like to see what and where I'm talking about you should do a Google search for "Lion's Head Cape Town". It was a really nice hike and even included climbing up some chains and ladders to get to the very top (you'll see what I mean when you find a photo). We also visited both the townships of Khayelitsha and Langa. A township is a community that was created by the South African government during apartheid where people who were not white Afrikaans were sent to live. The conditions were bad and still continue to suffer although some areas are getting better. In a township you can see anything from a lot of tiny tin shacks to a nice cement block home with a fancy car in the driveway. We also went to Robben Island where political prisoners like Nelson Mandela spent much of their imprisonment during apartheid. Our tour guide was actually a former Robben Island prisoner himself so it was really interesting to hear talk about his own experiences as well as give the tour.

Last week we had a training in which current GRS coaches/trainers from Cape Town (SA), Port Elizabeth (SA), Bloemfontein (SA), Lusaka (Zambia), and Nairobi (Kenya) came to Cape Town and we had a week-long training where we learned more about Grassroot Soccer, heard about their personal experiences with the program (because they are all top trainers in their respective communities), and learned from each other. These were some of the most amazing people that I have ever met! They are so passionate in what they are doing and are so smart and articulate in their thoughts and ideas. All of us field interns felt so inspired by them and their energy. I can't begin to explain how much I learned from them during the week and how close our two groups came to each other. We had so much fun together both during our training sessions and after just hanging out. To see one of the amazing women that we met (named Titie) you can watch this 20 minute video that was made about GRS and features her (http://www.globalonenessproject.org/videos/agameforlife). During our week of training together we learned about the history of GRS, the different project initiatives that are happening all over Africa that GRS is involved in either directly or through partnerships, we learned what it takes to run a successful program, we did a diversity training as well as a gender sensitivity training, we learned bits of some of the local languages, and we learned about HIV/AIDS in Africa and the social context as well as had a doctor speak with us about exactly how HIV/AIDS affects the body and how it is spread and was open for all of our questions.

This week (going on our 3rd week here in Cape Town) we are attending a Training of Trainers (TOT) in which new trainers from partnering organizations (not the trainers that we spent the past week with) along with us are being trained in how to deliver the curriculum to kids. The only difference with us, however, is that us field interns will mostly likely not be delivering the curriculum directly to kids. We are here as a support to those local trainers who will run the program with the kids and to help out with much of the organizational work as well as working on other GRS projects. We are going through this TOT though so that we can all fully understand exactly how the program works because the actual curriculum is really the main component of the organization and the program that it runs.

As for what GRS has in store for me in the future, this past weekend we all finally got our placements for the rest of our year here and I found out that I will be headed to ZAMBIA!! Me and my fellow field intern Stuart are going to be the only two from our intern group working outside of South Africa and will be living and working in and around Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. Zambia is one of the flagship sites of GRS so there is a GRS office that we will be working out of along with the other current Zambia staff. We were fortunate enough to meet Gesh, one of the main Zambian trainers, during the training last week and got to know him very well. I am really looking forward to working with him and his crew in Lusaka because I can only imagine what it will be like if the rest of the staff are like him. From what I've heard so far about the role Stu and I will be playing, it looks like we will be helping to manage some of the local programs that are happening in the area as well as helping to set up a VCT tournament in Lusaka. 'VCT' stands for 'Voluntary Counseling and Testing' and the way that these tournaments work is that it runs like a regular soccer tournament except that instead of getting points just for winning games, participants also get points for taking an HIV test where qualified people are administering the counseling and procedures that go along with an HIV test. We will find out more details soon and will be staying in Cape Town for a few more weeks while our housing situation gets set up in Zambia.

Some of my other fellow field interns are going to be headed to Port Elizabeth, others will be staying in Cape Town, and the others are going to be living in Kimberley (central South Africa) and traveling to many of the DeBeers mining townships (I think there are about 6) where the GRS curriculum is being delivered.

Oh, and one last thing (sorry I know this email is really long already), this past weekend we had a GRS 6v6 soccer tournament and braii (South African bbq) to close up our training with the African GRS trainers who we had all gotten so close with. My team was the Orlando Pirates and we won the whole tournament!! Not only that but I scored 3 game-winning goals including the game-winning goal in the final match! (I'm not gonna lie, they were all pretty nice goals too.) It's pretty crazy, especially for those who know me in the soccer world because I'm a defender, not usually a goal scorer haha. Anyway, because of that I got the 'player of the tournament' award which was really exciting J

Ok, I think that's enough of an update for now. Please write me and let me know how things are going for all of ya'll!

in soccer,
Lena

Libertad Fellow starts internship with Grassroot Soccer in Africa!

2008-09-05T11:00:00.000-07:00

Lena Forman (UVM '08) -- volunteer-extraordinaire for Futbol para la Vida (FPV) and Fundacion de Libertad over the last few years -- recently started an internship with Grassroot Soccer in Africa putting to good use her Community Development major at UVM and all of her hard work on FPV (not to mention some great soccer skills!). Lena is one of many UVM grads and Libertad volunteers who have gone on to work with Grassroot Soccer. Below is her first report from the field. Go Lena!

Molo everyone! Hope you're all doing well! Greetings from Cape Town, South Africa! ('Molo' means 'hello' in the South African language Xhosa.) I just wanted to let you all know that I have arrived safely. I've now been here for just about 4 days and it has been great so far.

About 21 hours after I left New York I finally arrived in Cape Town. This city is absolutely beautiful! That's what everyone kept telling me before I left but you really don't believe it until you see it. On one side you have the Atlantic Ocean and many many beaches and on the other side of the city you have Table Mountain and other mountains that you can see rising behind all the buildings. My group and I are staying in the middle of the city for the next 3 weeks at a backpackers/hostel right on one of the main busy street in Cape Town. We are surrounded by so many restaurants and cafes and stores with every kind of food and goods you could ever want or need.

On our first day we started off with something called The Resiliency Race which was almost like the show The Amazing Race. We broke into groups and had to try and complete a bunch of tasks all around the city worth different amounts of points to start to get familiar and comfortable with it. Some things included finding certain buildings or monuments, using a cab or minibus, going above 1000 feet, ask people to teach you certain words in Afrikaan and Xhosa (two of the main languages in South Africa…Xhosa is a click language). We also had to try to get an HIV test or see if we could find a place to. Overall it was a great way of learning our way around the city and finding out what kinds of resources are available to us here. A couple days later we visited the U.S. Consulate where we had a security briefing and got to ask questions about anything we were curious about. After that we drove to Boulder's Beach in Simon's Town and walked along the beach where we got to see penguins!! Who would've thought?!

We also have had a full-day session about eco-shock/culture-shock and things to help us along those lines in the next year. South Africa has such an interesting history and race relations (which I look forward to learning more about). It is so interesting to see how diverse Cape Town is. There are blacks (black Africans), whites (usually Afrikaan from Dutch descendents but also whites who are from British descendents), colored (mixed white and black), Asians, and Indians. I know outside the city this can be very different but I have been really amazed by the look of the city. It has also been really interesting to compare my experiences in West Africa (Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Burkina Faso) to what I have seen here so far. Very little of what I saw in West Africa can be compared to Cape Town. However I know that it has only been a few days and I have been in a very select part of the city and have yet to go out into the townships and other areas which I look forward to doing.

In terms of the rest of the year, we still do not know where each one of us will be placed because the locations are still being finalized. Most of us will be staying somewhere in South Africa (mostly not in Cape Town) but a few will probably be sent to Zambia. We will not find this out, however, until toward the end of our training in 2 weeks. All of us have been so curious and we keep trying to guess what they're going to do with us but we really don't know. My group is really great…all very motivated and interesting people who are passionate about why we are here and also have a great love for soccer.

Well that's the update I have so far. I really just wanted to write to let everyone know that I made it here in one piece and say hi!

Sincerely,
Lena

"Futbol para la Vida" Training of Trainers in Guatemala

2008-07-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

Futbol para la Vida (FPV) and Grassroot Soccer (GRS) are collaborating this month with Mercy Corps to conduct a training of new HIV/AIDS educators in Guatemala. The 5-day training will be conducted by Zak Kaufman, FPV co-founder and Director of Research and Advocacy for GRS, and Yanlico Munesi Dusdal, regional coordinator for FPV in the Valverde and Santiago Provinces of the Dominican Republic.

Mercy Corps has previously partnered with Grassroot Soccer to delivered sports-based HIV/AIDS prevention education programs for youth in Liberia and Sudan. This will be their first Spanish-language GRS-inspired program and will support not only an HIV prevention program in Guatemala, but will also result in a new translation of the GRS/FPV coaches manual.

To learn more about Mercy Corps programs on HIV with youth in Guatemala, check out the following video on YouTube:

3rd Annual FPV Program at DREAM Camp

2008-07-18T10:01:00.000-07:00

This July marks the third summer that peer educators from our Futbol para la Vida (FPV) program are running an HIV/AIDS prevention education component to the annual Guzman Ariza Summer School and Camp of the Dominican Republic Education and Mentoring (DREAM) Project. This year's peer educators include Milanda and Nico from Batey Libertad, and Fefe from Barrio Saman.

The annual camp is grounded in principles of peace education from the Montessori teaching method, serving 250 youth in the northern coastal town of Cabarete. In this tourist area of the Puerto Plata Province the school drop-out rate is higher than the national average, with an estimated 85% of high school age youth not attending school. Low school participation is one of the main factors contributing to lacking knowledge and inaccurate perceptions about HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (see blog on FPV research).

The Futbol para la Vida program is modeled after the Grassroot Soccer curriculum, using games, role play, and peer mentors to provide youth with accurate information about HIV/AIDS, prevention strategies, and encourage compassion and caring for the victims of AIDS. FPV programs are run throughout the Valverde and Puerto Plata provinces of the Dominican Republic, with training of trainers run with many partnering non-governmental organizations and local communities.

A newsletter created by camp volunteers and students is available here. For more information on volunteer opportunities or other ways to support the DREAM Project, please see their web page at: http://www.dominicandream.org. Other stories on Futbol para la Vida are available on this blog, as well as general information at: http://www.futbolparalavida.org.

Surgery Needed to Save Negrita's Hearing

2008-06-16T20:03:00.000-07:00

Emily (nicknamed Negrita) was 18 months old when Pat and Jon Erickson, faculty members at the University of Vermont, met her. They were leading a UVM course to the Dominican Republic, Emily was busy being almost two. Emily lives in Batey Libertad, a small town located in the lush Cibao valley, populated with Haitian workers, Dominican workers, busy Mom's, farmers, cows, dogs, cats and the occasional student from the United States. The community lacks basic necessities such as consistent health care and stable employment. Emily, now six, has experienced more than her fair share of problems, suffering with severe ear infections for all of her six short years. Through the generosity of people both in the community and in the United States, and with electronic consultations from physicians, (including Dr. Paul Farmer, Dr. Jim Fisk, Dr. Tommy Clark and Dr. Ara Fernandez) Emily is really one of the fortunate. She has had basic health care. However, she needs specialized care to preserve her hearing. Luckily for Emily, Dr. William Brundage heard about her case and has offered to help. Dr. Brundage is Assistant Professor of Surgery and Chair of the Division of Otolaryngology, at the University of Vermont. We hope to bring Emily to Vermont later this fall so she can have the surgery she needs at Fletcher Allen Medical Center. Emily will live and recover with the Erickson's while she is in the United States. Of course, there are many, many children all over the world like Emily. Many people ask us, why this child? We believe it is important to help everyone you can, wherever you can, when you can. Emily, Pat, Jon, and all the many, many wonderful people involved with Batey Libertad simply found each other.

Pat y Jon

To inquire about Emily, or to offer your help, please e-mail Dr. Pat Erickson at Patricia.Erickson@uvm.edu

Dartmouth Alternative Spring Break Trip to Samán

2008-06-12T09:24:00.001-07:00

During March 2008, 11 Dartmouth College students and two faculty spent 10 days living and working in Barrio Samán, a predominantly Haitian village in the north-coast town of Monte Llano. Many of the town's inhabitants used to work in sugarcane, but the recent decline of the sugar industry has left many of them without work and struggling to make ends meet. This, the first student trip to Samán, proved an extraordinary success and positive experience both for the community and for the students.

With money raised from two Haitian Art Shows at Dartmouth (the art largely came from painters who live in Samán), the students and community members worked together to build a Community Center and a small Community Park. While Samán has numerous groups and organizations, they have lacked a communal space to come together for meetings. Until now, meetings for the Samán Fútbol Club, the women's group (Mujeres Luchadoras), and the Samán Development Organization (ODS) had all been held outdoors. The Community Center will serve the village for years to come as a space open to all sorts of events - from meetings to informal gatherings to health and education workshops to funerals and birthday parties. The park, meanwhile, provides a communal outdoor space for people to relax and for kids to play. During the trip, students also led HIV prevention and life skills classes for youth in a nearby batey and conducted a health census in Samán.

Building on the trip's success, a group from Dartmouth will be returning in March 2009 to work on the next community projects identified by ODS, and a group from the University of Vermont will be helping to start a community garden in January 2009. This trip truly helped grow the relationship between Dartmouth and Samán, which began in Winter 2007 through the Fútbol Para la Vida program, and created the capacity for other groups to collaborate. The trip was supported by the William Jewett Tucker Foundation.

Essex Soccer Gear Drive to Benefit Batey Libertad Coalition

2008-06-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

The Essex United Soccer Club of Vermont, in conjunction with the US Soccer Foundation’s Passback Program, will be holding its second annual gear drive at the Essex United Tournament June 21-22, 2008 at the Tree Farm Sports Complex in Essex to benefit the Batey Libertad Coalition. Roughly 100 soccer teams from Vermont, New York, Canada, and New England will compete. Last year's gear drive resulted in over 1200 pieces of soccer gear, which were distributed in Batey Libertad and surrounding communities.

The Batey Libertad Coalition is an organization of Vermont, Dominican, and Haitian students and soccer players that have been working together since 2003 to support soccer development at Batey Libertad and other batey communities in the Dominican Republic. Soccer has become a vehicle for developing youth leaders in these marginalized communities, to address racial discrimination between Dominicans and Haitians, and to empower kids to combat HIV/AIDS through Futbol para la Vida, an innovative activities-based prevention education program run by peer mentors and modeled after the Grassroot Soccer curriculum.

Visit Essex United at the Tree Farm to see some great youth soccer and stop by the Passback Tent to drop off your new or gently used gear! You can get further tournament information at www.essexunitedsoccer.org.

New FPV graduates from Maizal and Cruce de Esperanza

2008-06-03T18:08:00.000-07:00

Over 30 students at the public schools of Cruce de Esperanza and Maizal in the Valverde Province of the Dominican Republic recently graduated from Futbol para la Vida. These schools are both new additions to the growing network of schools, communities, and childrens camps with FPV programs, a Grassroot Soccer inspired HIV/AIDS prevention education project. The courses, each run once a week throughout May by peer educators from Batey Libertad, culminated in graduations on May 30th at Cruce de Esperanza and June 2nd at Maizal. The graduations were planned and run by the children, and included teaching HIV/AIDS facts and prevention strategies, demonstration of FPV activities, and performance of skits to friends, family, and teachers.

Congratulations to our newest FPV graduates from Escuela Cruce de Esperanza -- Yhajaira, Patricia, Fiordaliza, Jonathan, Freilin, Frank, Roneidi, Kintorigo, Natanael, Wilson, Madelin, Greissy, Esthefany, Yudith, Geidy, Jocelyna, Adabelis, and Clarisa -- and from Escuela Maizal -- Genesis, Grisbe, Miguel, Mireliza, Lisbeth, Jeniffer, Isiora, Yamilex, Meralin, María, Griselot, Franchesca, Yaribel, Basilio, and Miguel. And thanks to all of the participating peer educators, including Yanlico, Nico, Ramon, Milanda, and Willy.

RFK Memorial lays out plan to "Move Forward on Statelessness"

2008-05-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

A recent report released by the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights is capitalizing on the winning campaign slogan of "moving forward" by re-elected President Leonel Fernandez. The report entitled "Dominican Republic: Time to Move Forward on Resolving Statelessness" reviews the current situation of legal limbo of hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children being denied citizenship in the Dominican Republic against Dominican law. A growing number of Dominican citizens are under investigation for deportation because of their Haitian ancestry.

In March 2007 the Dominican government issued Circular No. 17, a directive requiring registry offices to investigate any birth certificates that had been issued “irregularly” to children of foreigners “who had not proved their legal residence or status in the Dominican Republic.” In practice this circular is being used to de-nationalize Haitians’ descendants, as registry offices are equating being of Haitian descent with fraud.

These investigations lack due process, and recent experience at Batey Libertad and other communities working within the broad consortium of Fundacion de Libertad confirm the systematic denial of citizenship, for example, the denial of national identification cards (cedulas) to Dominican born and raised young men and women.

The report released by the RFK Memorial outlines recommendations to the Dominican government, the international community, and donor nations, including compliance with the DR's "... international legal obligations ensuring that any document investigation is conducted following due process without retroactive application of the law and avoiding the creation of statelessness."

NY Times highlights recent crackdown on Dominicans of Haitian descent

2008-05-25T20:42:00.000-07:00

Off the heals of recent reports of the United Nations and the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, the New York Times today published a story entitled "Dominican Crackdown Leaves Children of Haitian Immigrants in Legal Limbo". The article highlights the story of Angel Luis Joseph, a Dominican of Haitian descent who's denial of legal papers by the Dominican government has precluded the possibility of a lucrative baseball contract with the San Fransisco Giants. While Angel's story has received some press due to its plot of rags-to-almost-riches, it echoes an increasingly entrenched denial of legal papers to Dominican children, men, and women born with Haitian names or Haitian skin.

L.A. Times on "Roots of Haiti's Food Crisis"

2008-05-13T18:56:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Times today published a story on the "Roots of Haiti's Food Crisis", highlighting the roots of Haiti's food insecurity. Over 30 years of heavily subsidized U.S. rice imports have created a fundamental dependence on rice and a now decades-old shift away from traditional food stocks. Today, with more than 70% of Haitians living on less than $2 a day, the recent price increases in rice imports have lead to food riots in the capital. David Coia of the USA Rice Federation reports that:

... last year [the Federation] sold $111.5 million worth here, making Haiti the fourth most important market for U.S. producers ...

Rising import prices, combined with shrinking arable land, will continue to stimulate Haitian migration, a trend that's part of worldwide growth in south-to-south migration. And according to farmers interviewed:

There's no turning back the clock ... in a countryside ravaged by floods, soil erosion, misguided trade policy and ongoing landownership disputes.

Johns Hopkins "Lose the Shoes" Fundraiser to Benefit Futbol para la Vida

2008-05-11T14:06:00.000-07:00

On April 26th, Johns Hopkins University hosted its first PUGG Lose the Shoes 3 v. 3 Barefoot Soccer Tournament in conjunction with the annual JHU Spring Fair. Thousands of people enjoyed the weekend full of great music, food, the famous beer garden, and this year ... some awesome barefoot soccer. Over 125 people came out to play or watch -- from soccer fanatics to public health advocates -- and the group raised over $2000 for Grassroot Soccer and our very own Futbol para la Vida progam.

Thanks so much to Johanna Chapin -- a visiting futbolista with Las Chicas of Batey Libertad during her time at PUCMM -- for organizing the event and raising funds and awareness for our HIV/AIDS prevention education program. Congratulations to Johanna and all the organizers and participants.

2nd Annual "Lose the Shoes" Tournament and Fundraiser for FPV

2008-04-05T20:19:00.000-07:00

While the long Vermont winter precluded barefoot soccer, 25 teams enthusiastically participated in Saturday's 3 v. 3 indoor soccer tournament and fundraiser at the University of Vermont. Over a 100 participants raised nearly $1500 in support of Futbol para la Vida, an HIV/AIDS prevention education program run by peer educators from Batey Libertad, Saman, and Batey Caraballo. This was UVM's second Lose the Shoes tournament, part of a nationwide network of fundraisers by colleges and universities in support of Grassroot Soccer and affiliate programs such as UVM's very own Futbol para la Vida.

During a short intermission between round robin play and the playoffs, UVM students who are currently leading a Grassroot Soccer inspired program in St. Lucia demonstrated a number of GRS games to the participants, including "Hide the Ball" seen in the photo to the left. All and all the event was a huge success, and we look forward to the upcoming Fall travel-study class to the Dominican Republic to keep this newest tradition alive.

Special thanks go out to all the businesses and clubs that donated equipment, team prizes and raffle items, including Chaco, Ben & Jerry's, Dino’s Pizza, Burlington Bakery and Café, Cynthia’s Spa, Bove’s, Green Mountain Coffee, Essex United Soccer Club, The Soccer Center, Shaw’s, Vermont Cares, and WRUV. Thanks are also due to the tireless efforts of Lena Forman (UVM '08) who organized both the Fall and Spring tournaments, and to her team of volunteers including Michele Mannino, Courtnay Pilypaitis, Carolyn Smalkowski, Tristam Coffin, Emily Piazza, Matt Linder, Liza Martin, Erica Bryan, Risa Monsen, Heather Bromberg, Dylan Butler, John, April Orleans, Chris Wardell, and Gregg Bates.

Ethan Zohn joins UVM community as 3rd Annual Libertad speaker

2008-04-04T14:56:00.000-07:00

Ethan Zohn, winner of Survivor:Africa and co-founder of Grassroot Soccer, was the Third Annual Libertad speaker at the University of Vermont on Friday, April 4th. During an inspirational talk drawing on his own life experiences since winning Survivor:Africa, Ethan asked the crowd at Rowell Hall, “what makes you the person you are today” and “is that person someone who is preoccupied with their own life, or do you want to use your power and knowledge of who you are to make a different for others”. He challenged students, staff, faculty, and community members in attendance to think about what they would want to be on the “highlight tape” of their life, discussing the value of good character and giving back.

Ethan has used his own "15 minutes of fame" and winnings from Survivor to co-found Grassroot Soccer, an NGO that uses the power of soccer and role models as a tool in the fight against AIDS in Africa. During the second half of his talk Ethan described the GRS model of empowering youth with the knowledge, skills, and peer support to live HIV free.

The Futbol para la Vida (FPV) program in the Dominican Republic is modeled after GRS and run by peer educators at Batey Libertad, Saman, and Batey Caraballo in dozens of communities throughout the island. FPV volunteers will be joining Ethan for a day during Dribble 2008, a Fall fundraiser for Grassroot Soccer featuring Ethan dribbling a soccer ball from Boston to Washington, DC. To support GRS, FPV, and AIDS awareness, please visit Ethan's fundraising page at www.GrassrootSoccerUnited.org.

Ethan's talk was the third in the Libertad Speakers Series at the University of Vermont. Michele Wucker, author of "Why the Cocks Fight: Dominicans, Haitians, and the Struggle for Hispaniola", kicked off the annual event in 2005, followed by Julia Alvarez in 2006, award winning writer of "How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents" and "In the Time of the Butterflies".

Thanks to Ethan for visiting UVM and for his ongoing support of Futbol para la Vida. A special thanks to Lena Forman (UVM '08) for organizing Ethan's visit and the annual "Lose the Shoes" barefoot soccer tournament and fundraiser the following day.

A Fantastic and Life Changing Trip to the Dominican Republic

2008-03-31T12:37:00.000-07:00

The following is a reflection by one of the recent students in a University of Vermont service-learning course to the Dominican Republic led by McKew Devitt of the Romance Languages Department.

The trip to the Dominican Republic this March was something that we -- those who participated -- will remember for the rest of our lives. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my spring break. Not only was this trip a boatload of fun, it was an extreme eye opener to the problems that are occurring not only in the Dominican, but all around the world today. We saw poverty in the shape of shantytowns that were like nothing I had ever seen in the United States, kids with snot running down their faces, and we saw shameless discrimination against Haitians that creates a lot of the tension within the country today. But we also saw a lot of really cool things happening, especially on Batey Libertad. While building a house and working in the community garden, I was so impressed with everyone working together to accomplish a common goal. Kids worked alongside adults, Haitians and Dominicans worked alongside us students, and everybody was helping and communicating with each other, even if there was a language barrier. I believe these projects were the most important things we did on the Batey because it allowed us to really connect with the people who live there, and gave us the opportunity to get to know their culture and lifestyles.

At the end of the trip, I had gained a great appreciation for the people of Batey Libertad. Although they have to deal with much harsher living conditions and they don’t have many possessions, these people never cease to have a large smile on their face. They are extremely welcoming and were always willing to give us a hand with different projects. It really gave me a sense of community, and made me feel good to be working with them. I believe that our culture could really learn from theirs.

Overall, the trip was the most amazing trip I’ve ever been on. I really hope to continue being involved with the Batey Libertad community, and to keep lifelong connections with the people in the Dominican Republic.

~ E. Claire Goodwin, Class of 2011

March 2008 UVM Service-Learning Trip

2008-03-31T10:26:00.000-07:00

The March 2008 University of Vermont service learning trip was a great success! We had ten students on this trip, 9 girls and 1 guy (he was very busy dancing on Merengue night!). We did a lot of traveling on the guagua with Ramón and got to see many different sides of the Dominican Republic: from the dry land surrounding the border near Dajabón to the lush green mountains near Jarabacoa, and the beautiful blue waters in Cabarete. Our main objective on this trip was the construction of a house for a Dominican family. The first day at Batey Libertad we got a chance to meet Vidal, the father, and his two daughters. We started work right away by moving concrete blocks that would become the walls to their new house. One of the main jobs that we ended up spending most of our time on was digging up very hard, dry dirt, breaking it up into smaller pieces and leveling it out in the floors of the rooms to raise their height by about half a foot. The whole group pitched in and we finished the 'dirt' project in no time. Although we weren't able to see the completed house while there, we definitely enjoyed a feeling of accomplishment and joy in having such a positive impact on this family's life. Some of the students have written their own comments about the trip that I would like to share.

Here's what senior Carrie McLean had to say:

We spent a total of 4 days and 2 nights at the Batey Libertad. A lot of time went into working in the garden and on Vidal's house. The garden is looking like it's in good shape! It has come a long way from the pictures we saw in January. Plenty of habichuelas, corn and cilantro...lots of cilantro! I'm sure everything will grow well, especially with the pollywogs we added to the soil when we watered all of the plants. It was great to see that some of the kids at the Batey had their own plots, and they were beginning to look pretty green! I have some great memories of lugging buckets of murky water, swimming with pond life, and kids running around me with tons of enthusiasm to help out. One of my most entertaining memories from the garden has to be the cow who had just given birth. She was walking around with a large placenta still attached...just mooing away with a yippy little dog chasing her around. Possibly after that placenta? We had a lot of great interactions in the garden and I really hope that it will take off. It seems like there is a lot of potential for the garden to turn into a tool for building community on the Batey.

This next one is from sophomore Carey Dunfey:

In trying to find the best way to coherently organize all of my thoughts and reflections from the trip to the Dominican Republic, I stumbled upon this quote from Mitch Alborn's book Tuesdays with Morrie: "So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning." Upon returning to the states, this is exactly what I feel I have learned in the Dominican Republic. I saw happiness in the faces of struggling, working parents and trust in the innocent eyes of children. Material goods are not what is important here, community and making each day better and more fulfilling than the last are. I have seen that the things that are the most important in life are not what we own or what we have done, but are the day-to-day experiences we share with others, whether people we have known for 10 years, 10 days, or 10 minutes. I shared the trip with people basically entirely of the latter two and have been truly impacted by that experience. I have learned, even in this short time, the powerful connections that can develop between people and community, no matter how diverse the ages, cultures, ethnicities, or past experiences. I have also learned that no matter how little or insignificant the things we do in life may seem, everything that we do with complete good intentions should improve ourselves and the people around us. I will carry this experience with me forever, although I hope for a chance to return and relive it.

This next entry is from Vanessa Patten, also a sophomore:

The Spring 2008 trip to the Dominican Republic was an incredible experience. I learned so much about an entirely different way of life and also a little bit more about myself in just ten days. There are far too many things to say about the trip in the short amount of time I have to write this, but I will do my best to summarize my thoughts. The trip offered an incredible first hand look into a very different lifestyle. We were able to live The Spring 2008 trip to the Dominican Republic was an incrediblewith families at Batey Libertad and experience their language, food and home-life. Despite the language barrier we were able to form friendships with the people from this town, which is probably the part of the trip with the longest lasting impact on me. The plights of the people in this community, and of the Haitian workers in general, became so much more real when we met these people first hand and saw the conditions that they live in every day. We were able to see that despite all of this these people still lead very normal and happy lives. We witnessed their music and dance and passion for soccer first hand. In our short time on the Batey I feel like the people of the community had more of an impact on us than we did on them. Despite this we inspired an energy that I hope remained after we left so that the work to improve the Batey can continue. The garden is growing larger and greener with every group from UVM that goes down. New additions like the new community center will hopefully serve to bring the community together and not maintain the separation between the Dominican and Haitian residents. I am so excited to hear about future trips and projects that are started on this Batey and others. I cannot urge other students any more strongly to participate in this trip. These ten days, although they felt short, were full of so many new experiences and memories that I could never mention them all in this entry. From building the house and working on the garden in the Batey, to Chinola juice with breakfast at the hotel and of course surfing on the beach and learning to dance with Ramon ... there were just so many incredible experiences that we shared as a group. I miss everyone from the trip and am so grateful to have met them all and to have been able to share such amazing memories with them! Remember.... "never doubt that a small group of committed individuals can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has."

And one more, from Continuing Education student Jo Stead:

Visiting Batey Libertad was for me an unforgettable experience. I met people there who were friendly, kind and hospitable in spite of living conditions most of us would consider substandard. Hopefully, through a program to raise AIDS awareness, by raising money to construct better housing, by supporting and encouraging the development of a community garden, and the staffing of a health clinic, living conditions at the batey will continue to improve and that Batey Libertad will serve as a model for improving the living conditions of people wherever such needs exist.

Dr. Jim Fisk volunteers at Batey Libertad!

2008-03-12T15:52:00.000-07:00

Dr. Jim Fisk, a pediatrician from New Mexico was incredibly giving of his time and expertise during his first trip to Batey Libertad, March 6-9, 2008. Dr. Jim saw patients from the community for three days this March, which was the first medical clinic this year on the Batey. His efforts were appreciated by all in the community and by all of the people stateside working hard to raise the standard of health and bring basic medical care to this area.

Dr. Fisk's association with the project began four years ago through Dr. Tommy Clark, founder of Grassroot Soccer. Grassroot Soccer is a project that educates youth about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and implements prevention strategies using the sport of soccer as a catalyst for change. Batey Libertad was the site of the first Grassroot Soccer affiliated project in the Dominican Republic. Dr. Tommy Clark recently sent this missive about Dr. Fisk.

I know Dr. Jim Fisk from my days as a pediatric resident at the University of New Mexico. Every medical student loved being on with Jim who was an attending. He was always so much fun - interested in the patients, interested in the residents, interested in the Developing World medicine, art - everything really! He was voted "favorite attending" year after year after year. An incredible guy!

Many thanks to Dr. Clark for the introduction and especially to Dr. Fisk for his compassion, kindness and hard work with the people of Batey Libertad.

Abrazos!

Pat

UVM Alum's Video on Grassroot Soccer Featured on YouTube

2008-02-28T12:19:00.000-08:00

Lusaka Sunrise, a video about the Grassroot Soccer HIV/AIDS prevention education program in Africa, was a "Featured Video" on YouTube this week. The short was filmed and produced by Silas Hagerty, founder of Smooth Feather Productions and former student of a University of Vermont travel-study course to Batey Libertad.

The Fútbol para la Vida program at Batey Libertad, Saman, and other partner communities in the Dominican Republic is part of the international Grassroot Soccer network. The first GRS-inspired film produced by Silas and 'lil Jon Erickson entitled Freedom for a Day highlighted the university's pilot project of the GRS curriculum with the community of Batey Libertad.

Below please enjoy both Lusaka Sunrise and Freedom for a Day below. Congratulations Silas!

Lusaka Sunrise

Freedom for a Day

Libertad Fellow and FPV Volunteer named to 2008 All-USA College Academic First Team

2008-02-28T08:55:00.000-08:00

Libertad Fellow and Fútbol para la Vida regional coordinator Zak Kaufman was recently named to the 2008 All-USA College Academic First Team in recognition of his work with Fútbol para la Vida on HIV/AIDS education in the Dominican Republic, and fundraising and capacity building with Grassroot Soccer. Zak was one of 20 students recognized nationwide by USA Today's annual honor to outstanding undergraduates.

Zak is majoring in health and society in Latin America and the Caribbean at Dartmouth College and is writing a thesis based on a formal evaluation of the Fútbol para la Vida program. Zak has also raised over $100,000 for AIDS awareness and prevention in Africa through the organization Grassroot Soccer, and founded the campus group Dartmouth Ends Hunger.

From an interview with Dartmouth.com, Zak says, “I think learning really only begins in the classroom. The most rewarding times have been when I can connect classroom work with service and research.”

During 2007 as a Libertad Fellow, Zak worked with the communities of Saman, Batey Caraballo, and Cabarete to establish a Fútbol para la Vida program on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. He also worked with Project Esperanza in Puerto Plata, a service-learning program of Virginia Tech, to create a Fútbol para la Vida camp for street kids in the DR's third largest city. This March, Zak and fellow Dartmouth student Elise Braunschweig will lead a service-oriented spring break trip with other Dartmouth volunteers to build a community center and park at Saman, a Haitian barrio in Montellano that is leading the expansion of the Fútbol para la Vida program in bateyes throughout the Puerto Plata province.

Congratulations Zak, and keep up the good work!

Evaluation of Fútbol Para la Vida HIV/AIDS education program

2008-02-26T13:49:00.000-08:00

A formal evaluation of the Fútbol para la Vida HIV/AIDS prevention education program was recently completed by Zak Kaufman of Dartmouth College. Zak developed the FPV program in the Montellano region of the Dominican Republic together with the communities of Saman, Batey Caraballo, and Cabarete, and is currently working for Grassroot Soccer on various capacity building projects. The following is an abstract summarizing this research.

Background: The Dominican Republic´s HIV epidemic is disproportionately concentrated in bateyes, predominantly Haitian communities, where prevalence rates are five-times the national average. This study evaluates an adolescent-targeted HIV prevention program in six bateyes in order to determine whether it significantly improves adolescents´ HIV-related knowledge, self-efficacy attitudes, and personal communication patterns. The Fútbol Para la Vida (FPV) program uses Grassroot Soccer´s sports-based HIV prevention and life skills curriculum, which has been shown effective in Zimbabwe, Liberia, Sudan, and Ethiopia.

Methods: From July through December 2007, structured interviews were conducted with 139 adolescents (65 females; 74 males; mean age = 13.8 years) prior to, immediately following, and four months following FPV interventions. Within this sample, 98 adolescents made up the intervention group, while 41 made up a matched control group. Participant Observation was conducted during five programs, each consisting of ten hours of instruction. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted with Trainers and local HIV/AIDS experts.

Results: From pre to post, the intervention group (n=98) significantly improved on responses to six HIV knowledge questions (t=13.80, p<.0000) and three self-efficacy questions (t=11.22, p<.0000). Moreover, the proportion of participants who reported speaking with a friend or family member about HIV increased from 35 to 56 percent and 24 to 53 percent, respectively. With few exceptions, these improvements were sustained over four months. No significant improvements were found for the control group (n=41). Quantitative data, participant observation, and in-depth interviews all suggest that the sports-based model is optimal for adolescents aged 12-14. See figure below for overall correct response rates by group.
Conclusions: Following participation in the FPV program, adolescents report feeling greater control in protecting themselves from HIV, while demonstrating greater knowledge about HIV transmission, testing, and risk reduction. Communication data suggests that adolescents' new knowledge is being shared with both family members and friends, such that the programs influence extends beyond the individual participants. This study suggests that the Grassroot Soccer curriculum could effectively become incorporated into larger-scale prevention programs in the Caribbean.

The full research results can be downloaded at: http://grassrootsoccer.org/docs/Kaufman_Thesis_Final.pdf

2nd Annual Magnolia's Burlington Benefit Concert, Thursday, Feb. 28th, 8 p.m.

2008-02-25T12:16:00.000-08:00

Please join us on Thursday, February 28th, 8 p.m. at Magnolia Cafe and Bistro in Burlington, Vermont for our second annual benefit concert and fundraiser for Batey Libertad [map & directions]. This year's fundraiser is being organized by the March '08 University of Vermont service-learning class to the Dominican Republic, and will feature the music of UVM's very own McKew Devitt and the Hit Paws ... yes, the professor leading the trip!

The March class is raising money to build this family a home at Batey Libertad. UVM service-learning classes have been working with the community of Batey Libertad since January 2005 on infrastructure needs, including other family house projects as well as building a community center, health clinic, and literacy center. Home building extends the work of Education Across Borders, an NGO that has been helping with house projects for a number of years, as well as sponsoring local students to finish high school and attend college. The March '08 class will be working with EAB students to formalize a language and computer literacy program at Batey Libertad geared toward school-age and adult learners alike. The students will also be rolling up their sleeves and continuing the work of the January '08 class on a new community farm.

A little bit of fundraising can go along way. Below are some before and after pictures from the March '07 house project completed with Batey Libertad and UVM students. Please turn up at Magnolia's for some music, food, and good company and help us with another happy home.

Before:

During:
After:

FPV Ambassador Emmanuel Sanon

2008-02-21T18:20:00.000-08:00

Futbol para la Vida ambassador Emmanuel "Manno" Sanon passed away today in Orlando after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Manno was born on June 25th, 1951 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, son of Darius Sanon, from Jacmel, and Cherisna Fortune Sanon, from Kenscoff. A schoolboy football sensation at Don Bosco, he made his debut for the Haitian national team at 18 years old in the 1970 World Cup qualifying, and his goal scoring exploits over the next decade left him as Haiti's career top goal scorer. He had a successful international career in Europe and the USA where he played against the top football stars of the day.

Manno's goals in the 1973 CONCACAF tournament helped Haiti become the first Caribbean nation to qualify for a FIFA World Cup. At the 1974 World Cup in West Germany Manno scored goals against Italy and Argentina, with the first goal voted as the goal of the tournament. His goal against Italy was well remembered and replayed frequently during the festivities at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and France Football named him as one of the Top 100 World Cup players. His autobiography "Toup Pou Yo" recorded the 1974 World Cup from a personal angle, and he was named the Haitian Athlete of the Century in 1999.

After retirement in 1983, Manno coached youth teams in San Diego, Texas, and Orlando, as well as the senior Haitian national team. He started the Foundation Emmanuel Sanon FONDESA, dedicated to empowering young people to reach their potential by supporting community-based programs promoting health, education, and welfare. He also worked with other international humanitarian organizations, most recently visiting Haitian bateyes in the Dominican Republic in late 2007 with Futbol para la Vida, an HIV/AIDS prevention education program of the international Grassroot Soccer network.

Emmanuel Sanon is survived by his wife and four children. In lieu of flowers, donations should be sent to FONDESA at mannosanon@aol.com.

Obituaries can be found at:

Sports Illustrated
USA Today
Miami Herald
Charleston Daily Mail
Fox Sports

Call to Dominican presidential candidates to address rights of Haitian migrants

2008-02-07T20:16:00.000-08:00

A February 7th article in Dominican Today highlighted a recent request by the Jesuits Refugees and Migrants Service to presidential candidates in the Dominican Republic to address the rights of Haitian migrants.

The article argues that although the country benefits from cheap Haitian manual labor, "the State doesn’t assume its responsibility to guarantee a dignified treatment in its territory; much on the contrary, it has chosen to leave the Haitian immigrants in a state of irregularity and unprotected."

The plight of Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic has received much international press over the past two years, including articles in the New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, and Science.

Student reflections on service-learning at Batey Libertad

2008-01-31T09:05:00.000-08:00

At the conclusion of University of Vermont service-learning classes to the Dominican Republic and Batey Libertad, we often ask the students on the Vermont end of the exchange to reflect on their experience as well as present the results of their community collaborations with the university and broader Vermont community. Below is a reflection from one of the students from a November 2005 trip that really captures the impact that Batey Libertad makes on its visitors. Thanks Nikki!

I LEARNED THAT … happiness has nothing to do with how many things you have been given but by how much love you are able to give. I learned the most on this trip from the young children who, supposedly, have the least life experience. I learned that the bonds we share as people with beating hearts and helping hands are far stronger than the bonds created by lifestyle, money, education and geography. I learned the value of community enrichment and dependency and how incredible it feels to be supported by so many fellow people. I learned that I can go to a pharmacy and buy glucose pills for a diabetic woman and follow up with her every day to make sure she’s taking her meds and be more fulfilled by this 10 minute interaction than a lifetime of working solely for grades or money.

I LEARNED THIS BY … sitting down and truly listening. I listened to the conversations the kids had with each other. I listened to Papito direct the young adults to retain their proper roles on the Batey. I listened to sick women describe the pain of their ill children and husbands. I listened to grandmothers scolding their grandchildren, aunts and uncles rounding up their nieces and adolescent boys telling younger kids the importance of safe sex and HIV awareness. Like a sponge I absorbed these words and songs and replayed their impact in my head. It’s so simple – you learn about who people are by listening to what they have to tell you. It took this batey to make something so simple become so clear.

THIS LEARNING MATTERS BECAUSE … what I’ve learned on this trip cannot be taught in a classroom or from a podium or through a textbook. This learning matters because it is the type of learning that changes you. This experience has changed my mind, changed my heart and has absolutely changed my life. The greatest process of life is self-evolution. Finding that I have the capacity to love someone I barely know and want to be around a community I’ve been with for a few days is something that shakes me. Knowing that I have the means and opportunity to fulfill these capacities is the beginning of an involvement that will continue to flourish. This learning matters because it has made me think and wonder and analyze and struggle with more issues than any other class.

IN LIGHT OF THIS LEARNING I WILL …never be the same. I will return – a lot. I will start to factor this community into my mental deliberations. “What else can I do? How else can I help? Where else can I take what you have given me?” I will recall the moments I spent listening to put my own life into perspective. I will ask more questions. I will take more risks. I will make an effort to remind myself of the way it felt to be on the Batey -the hospitality, the warmth, the concerns, the truths, the embrace and the calm. I will certainly encourage others to be involved in this type of learning or at least consider the idea of going abroad and learning about the world we all live in. I just will, without hesitation. Have I ever said that? Maybe. Have I ever meant it as much as I do this moment? Never.

FPV Alive on the North Coast

2008-01-28T06:20:00.000-08:00

In 2007, nearly 300 youth aged 10 to 18 graduated from the Grassroot Soccer-inspired Fútbol Para la Vida HIV prevention program in the Monte Llano region alone. It began in February 2007, when an initial Training of Trainers was conducted in Puerto Plata, where 16 new peer educators were armed with the capacity to train youth in their communities. See the TOT graduation photo.

Since, successful programs have been run in Barrio Samán, Batey Caraballo, Batey Cangrejo, Los Algodones, Puerto Plata, La Unión, PanchoMateo, and Muñoz. These are all communities predominantly populated by Haitian families – many with children born in the DR who have been denied birth certificates. Soccer is strong in all these communities, so the program has been well received both by youth and adults. Here is a picture of the community-wide graduation in Los Algodones.

Thanks in large part to the hard work of Freddy Jean Piet and Wilfrid Pierre, Monte Llano has become a second hub for the FPV program. Programs are still rolling and efforts are underway to integrate the FPV curriculum into the public schools in Monte Llano.

Grassroot Soccer introduced in St. Lucia

2008-01-25T09:53:00.000-08:00

Over the January '08 winter break, a group of University of Vermont students traveled to the Caribbean island of St. Lucia as part of a class on Sustainable Development in Small Island States led by Charles Kerchner. One of the service-learning projects that evolved was the demonstration of the Grassroot Soccer curriculum on HIV/AIDS prevention education at local schools and to representatives of public education on the island.

The group was following the lead of other UVM students who have been behind the creation of the Grassroot Soccer inspired Futbol para la Vida program in the Dominican Republic. The demo and discussions were a huge success, and plans are in the works for a follow-up training-of-trainers of peer educators through a local youth sport initiative.

For some local press coverage of the trip, see Caribseek and the island's cable news network.

Congratulations to all the students and local supporters involved!

UVM Students Jumpstart Community Farm

2008-01-21T09:28:00.000-08:00

An eager and energetic group of UVM students from January's 'PSS 196 Community Gardening in the DR' class rolled up their sleeves (and pantlegs due to rains) and pitched in as partners with 'Seeds of Self Reliance' and local community members to launch the new gardens at Batey Libertad. Undaunted by the rain and wet heavy clay soils, students spent 3 days and 3 nights learning about life in the Batey and helping to set up the gardens. In that short time, much was accomplished including, organizing a community meeting to exchange ideas on how the farm should be structured, removing and recycling debris from a burnt house, testing soils for pH and nutrients, fixing fence, picking up trash, collecting organic matter from the adjacent countryside to make a compost pile (wheel barrows of pig and cow manure, over 50 sacks of rice hulls, old banana stems, etc.), building a compost and seedling shed, hand digging 200 feet of drainage ditch, creating a double dug vegetable bed, laying out an herb spiral and planting over 150 fruit, forage and hardwood trees. WOW!

This amazing group of students also managed to expand their horizons, change their world views, make new friends, move two tons of children from place to place, and engage in cultural exchange through music, song and dance. I was thrilled and proud to be the class instructor, it was a fantastic experience for me also!

Two of our students, David and Forest have volunteered to stay on in the community until mid March to keep the momentum going. They will be living right above the garden in the apartment attached to 'the locale'.

Stay tuned for updates.

Batey Libertad community center and health clinic

2008-01-16T19:14:00.000-08:00

"El Local" is the community center and health clinic of the Batey Libertad community. Construction was completed in March of 2006 through the hard work and fundraising of Batey Libertad and two University of Vermont service-learning classes in 2005. In March of 2007, the community celebrated the building's one-year anniversary with a fiesta and thank you to UVM and the Lintilhac Foundation, a Vermont-based organization that has supported Batey Libertad projects over the last three years through donations, hosting fund-raisers, and supporting UVM's annual Libertad speaker at the Burlington, Vermont campus (Photo: Phil Lintilhac accepting a thank you plaque from Papito, Tony, and Maritza).

During a November 2007 UVM trip, students and community members rolled up their sleeves and built benches and tables, installed a solar photovoltaic lighting system, finished a volunteer apartment above the health clinic, and prepared newly acquired land behind El Local for a community farm. With consistent lighting in the evening, the community is hoping to establish a place for homework, tutoring, and adult literacy classes. The volunteer apartment is already being put to good use, with two UVM students staying on after a January class to help establish the community farm. March 2008 will bring the second anniversary of El Local and a UVM class to help formalize the Batey Libertad literacy program and finish the computer learning center.

NY Times Highlights Plight of Haitian Migrant Workers

2007-12-31T09:32:00.000-08:00

A December 27, 2007 story in the New York Times highlights the plight of Haitian migrant workers in the Dominican Republic as part of the global trend of immigration to poor nations from poorer ones.

As one Haitian migrant explains in the story:

“We are forced to come back here — not because we like it, but because we are poor,” he said. “When we cross the border, we are a little better off. We are able to buy shoes and maybe a chicken.”

Screening of "The Price of Sugar" and UVM student panel

2007-11-26T15:24:00.000-08:00

Fundacion de Libertad is pleased to announce a screening of "The Price of Sugar" on Wednesday, November 28th, starting at 5:00 p.m. in Room 101 of the Fleming Building on the University of Vermont campus. The movie will be followed by a panel discussion on sugar cane plantations and HIV prevention in the Dominican Republic by a recently returned University of Vermont class from the DR. This new film follows a charismatic Spanish priest as he organizes some of the western hemisphere's poorest people, challenging powerful interests profiting from their work. When he arrives in the Dominican Republic, he's warned against entering the sugar plantations where most of his parishioners live. Breaking a centuries old taboo, he discovers shocking examples of modern-day slavery intrinsic to the global sugar trade.

Narrated by Paul Newman, this picture raises key questions about where the products we consume originate, at what cost they are produced and ultimately, where our responsibility lies. For a preview, push play below.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with a November University of Vermont (UVM) travel-study course that has just returned from working in the Dominican Republic on expanding an HIV/AIDS prevention education program (Futbol para la Vida) in the very communities discussed about in this film. UVM classes will be returning to the DR in January and March of 2008 to work on new initiatives in community gardening and literacy.

Co-Sponsored by:
UVM Department of Plant and Soil Science
UVM English Department
UVM travel-study classes to the Dominican Republic, and
Futbol para la Vida

Community of La Canela graduates first students from Futbol para la Vida

2007-11-24T20:09:00.000-08:00

The community of La Canela, a suburb of Santiago, graduated their first group of students this month from their Futbol para la Vida HIV/AIDS prevention education program. The program was built from a collaboration with the community of Batey Libertad that has grown from recent years of both men's and women's soccer games. Libertad FPV trainer Yanlico recruited this first class at La Canela, ran them through 6 weeks of Friday classes, and organized a graduation and community celebration in which the visiting University of Vermont class was able to participate along with special guest Emmanuel "Manno" Sanon.

La Canela joins a growing network of communities radiating from Batey Libertad in the Cibao Valley and Saman in the Puerto Plata region that are addressing HIV/AIDS prevention among Dominican and Haitian youth through FPV programs based on the Grassroot Soccer curriculum. Below are some pictures from the graduation. Congratulations La Canela!

A happy graduate with her proud father (left) and

FPV ambassador Manno Sanon (right)

Graduates, UVM students, friends & family

Future FPV trainer (?) with Yanlico (left)
and Manno Sanon (right)

6th Tournament of the Batey Libertad Coalition

2007-11-24T15:43:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, November 18th, a University of Vermont class together with the Batey Libertad Coalition (BLC) held the 6th BLC Soccer Tournament at Batey Libertad. Special guest Emmanuel "Manno" Sanon -- World Cup Footballer and Haitian Athlete of the Century -- was in attendance to give the Batey Libertad men's team a pep talk that carried them through the finals, where they held on to a 1-0 lead against "Plantaciones del Norte". Many of the UVM students hadn't found their "Haitian stomachs" just yet, illing from some home cooking the day before, but three Vermonters did take the field. Father-son duo Lucas and Gary Hawley joined forces in the final, and UVM medical student Ryan Sexton helped Batey Libertad reach the finals with a penalty kick during a qualifying round shoot-out.

The Batey Libertad Coalition is a partnership between Haitians, Dominicans, and Americans to use the sport of soccer as a catalyst for social change at Batey Libertad and the surrounding communities. The BLC was founded by a group of University of Vermont students and soccer players from Batey Libertad whose shared love of the "beautiful game" has helped to organize community resources, inspire the next generation of community leaders, and break down racial prejudices between Dominicans and Haitians. Batey Libertad has both men's and women's soccer teams, as well as programs for young boys and girls. Today they are a soccer powerhouse in the Esperanza-Mao-Santiago region, and have helped organize and outfit other teams in the surrounding area with equipment collected by US soccer clubs and school programs. BLC Vermont partners include Essex United Soccer Club, Capital Soccer Club, and Far Post Soccer Club, and during 2007 benefited from equipment drives at high schools and universities in New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Illinois.

For more information on the Batey Libertad Coalition, how to organize a soccer equipment drive, or raise money for Batey Libertad programs through annual juggle-a-thons, please get in touch with John Antonucci of Capital Soccer Club, UVM alumni and co-founder of the BLC.

World Cup Footballer, Manno Sanon, Visits Batey Libertad

2007-11-24T08:16:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend of November 17 and 18, the community of Batey Libertad was treated to a visit from a Haitian national hero ... in fact ... the Haitian Athlete of the Century! Emmanuel "Manno" Sanon -- who lead Haiti to the 1974 World Cup -- shared his coaching and playing experiences with the soccer teams, attended a graduation of a "Futbol para la Vida" HIV/AIDS education program, and hosted a soccer tournament at Batey Libertad. Footballers and fans alike spent hours with Manno, discussing soccer, autographing t-shirts, or just reflecting on the future of Haiti and the powerful voice of the Haitian diaspora in the Dominican Republic.

Manno's name was forever preserved in soccer lore when he scored one of the most memorable goals in World Cup history against Italian keeper Dino Zoff. Scoring nearly half of the national team goals during his four years playing with Haiti, Manno went on to play professional soccer in Europe and the USA, has had an illustrious coaching career in the USA, and most recently coached the Haitian national team in the 1999-2000 season, including their first CONCACAF Gold Cup appearance. Manno today lives in Orlando, Florida with his wife Susi, and has been busy running the Foundation Emmanuel Sanon (FONDESA), a 501(c) non-profit and charitable organization that provides activities for youth of North American, the Caribbean, and Europe. Manno has recently become the ambassador for Futbol para la Vida, our HIV/AIDS prevention education program with youth of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Together with a University of Vermont class, Manno hosted the 6th Soccer Tournament of the Batey Libertad Coalition. The tournament included Batey Libertad and three teams from neighboring Haitian communities. Fighting through the rain (at times torrential) the Batey Libertad men's team won the tournament, with Manno presiding over the team trophy presentation. Vermont players included the father son duo of Lucas and Gary Hawley, and UVM medical student Ryan Sexton, who scored a critical goal during a qualifying round penalty kick shoot-out.

Read more about the illustrious career of Manno Sanon at:
http://www.haitifoot.com/manno_sanon/manno_sanon.php.

For more about the work of his foundation, see:
http://www.haitifoot.com/fondesa.php.

And relive Manno's infamous goal at the 1974 World Cup by clicking Play below:

Oct. 25th Benefit Concert and Silent Auction, Burlington, Vermont

2007-10-20T18:23:00.000-07:00

On Thursday October 25th from 8pm-12am, Magnolia's Bistro of Burlington, Vermont opened its doors to the community for a concert and silent auction to benefit Futbol Para La Vida. Futbol para la Vida (soccer for life) is an HIV/AIDS prevention education and youth leadership program in the Dominican Republic. FPV developed from a 2005 pilot project between the community of Batey Libertad, the University of Vermont (UVM), and Grassroots Soccer. You can read more about the program at the September 2007 posting on this blog, or listen to a National Public Radio story at Only a Game.

The evening was a huge success, with money raised at the door and through a silent auction directly benefiting HIV/AIDS prevention education in the Dominican Republic. A huge thanks goes out to July and Shannon of Magnolia's for great food and hosting the event, Kelly Ravin and friends (of Lucy Vincent) for some fantastic music, Tristam Coffin of UVM for organizing and advertising, the November '07 UVM travel-study class for collecting items for the auction and getting out the word, many Vermont businesses for auction items -- including Smuggler's Notch, Magnolia's, University Mall, and Magic Hat Brewery -- and of course everyone who showed up (in spite of missing the Red Sox game).

"Lose the Shoes" Soccer Tournament and Fundraiser at UVM

2007-10-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, October 14th, the University of Vermont (UVM) hosted a "Lose the Shoes" barefoot soccer tournament and fundraiser for "Futbol para la Vida", Libertad's HIV prevention education program in the Dominican Republic. Although temperatures we're in the low 40s, more than 100 UVM student's turned out to play. FPV is part of the international Grassroot Soccer network, and "Lose the Shoes" tournaments occur throughout a network of U.S. colleges and universities in support of Grassroot Soccer and affiliated programs through the College Kick AIDS Campaign.

This Fall's tournament was organized by the November '07 UVM travel-study course to Batey Libertad. Twenty-five teams competed in a 3 v. 3 format on the green of Redstone Campus, with prizes and raffle items donated by local Vermont businesses. For more information on this event, or to help with planning future UVM soccer fundraisers, please get in touch with tournament organizer Lena Forman at lena.forman@uvm.edu. Thanks Lena for an awesome event!

Team "Uno Mas" ... team spirit award:

Goal!!!!
The winning team sporting their new Batey Libertad Coalition shirts:

Sep. 29th Burlington AIDS Walk and Fundraiser for Futbol para la Vida

2007-09-25T14:20:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, September 29th, University of Vermont students, faculty and friends marched in the annual AIDS Walk in Burlington, Vermont. Organized by Vermont CARES, our team walked to raise money for the "Futbol para la Vida" HIV/AIDS prevention education project of Fundacion de Libertad. Futbol para la Vida is a member of the international Grassroot Soccer network, and includes programs that are currently running in dozens of bateyes in the Dominican Republic, run by peer educators from the communities of Batey Libertad and Saman/Caraballo (see September blog below). With much support from the upcoming November travel-study class from UVM to Batey Libertad, and with a huge thanks to Vermont CARES for letting us ride on their coattails, we raised over $2000 ... and still counting.

Thanks so much to our dozens of sponsors and to everyone who showed up for the walk on what turned out to be a perfect fall day in Vermont!

Here's a tally of what we've raised so far, with links to our secure fundraising page if you're interested in contributing.

Community Gardening in the DR ... info. meeting at UVM

2007-09-24T22:11:00.000-07:00

Community Gardening in the Dominican Republic
PSS 196, 3 credits, Jan 2-13, 2008
University of Vermont
Instructor: John Hayden

Are you interested in traveling to the Dominican Republic and having a life changing experience working alongside Dominicans and Haitians in a service learning class geared toward sustainable agriculture? Want to find out more? Come to an informational meeting on October 3 at 7 pm in 105 Aiken.

In this class students will work on gardening/farming projects while getting to know two different communities in the Dominican Republic. We will start with 3 day visit to the small mountain town of Rio Limpio and work with an organization called "CREAR" (Centro Regional Estudios de Alternativas Rurales).

This organization trains people in sustainable agriculture techniques applicable to small scale landholders. They have introduced organic agriculture and conservation farming as an alternative to the slash-and-burn practices of the region's farmers. We will attend workshops on "double digging" and "composting" and work on projects near the village of Rio Limpio. We will also visit organic and biodynamic farms in the area.

Our next project will be at Batey Libertad, a community in the Cibao Valley of the Dominican Republic. The Batey is settled mostly by migrant Haitian workers or people of Haitian descent. There they struggle with nutrition, health and environmental issues within their community. A group of individuals are interested in starting a community farm to improve their nutrition, health and economic situation. We hope to help "jump start" their project by supplying seeds, tools and elbow grease.

Our final visit in the DR will be at a shade grown organic coffee plantation where we will learn more about the ecological, social and economic benefits of sustainable agro-forestry techniques.

Please join us Wednesday October 3 at 7 pm in 105 Aiken to find out more about this class!

University of Vermont Service-Learning Courses and Network

2007-09-22T08:19:00.000-07:00

The University of Vermont (UVM) hosts annual travel study classes to Batey Libertad and other communities within the Fundacion de Libertad alliance. Trips are organized around service-learning projects that have emerged from community priorities and in cooperation with NGO partners such as Grassroot Soccer, the Dominican DREAM Project, and the Batey Relief Alliance. The first class in January of 2005 initiated the Grassroot Soccer HIV/AIDS curriculum and raised money to help build a local health clinic and school/community center at Batey Libertad. Subsequent classes completed construction of "el local", created a computer center for teaching basic computer literacy, provided laptops to high school and college students who are sponsored by Education Across Borders, supported activities of batey women's groups, organized community health clinics, built homes for families at Batey Libertad, and helped to expand the Futbol para la Vida HIV/AIDS prevention education program to many new communities.

The UVM program also supports other service-learning initiatives in the DR, including a June 2007 trip from Urbana High School of Illinois who built a family a home at Batey Libertad; a July 2007 HIV/AIDS program for street kids in Puerto Plata organized by Project Esperanza of Virginia Tech; and an upcoming March 2008 alternative spring break trip from Dartmouth College that will be building a community center in Saman (the north coast center for Futbol para la Vida HIV/AIDS education programs).

The 2007-08 academic year will include three new UVM service classes. During the November 2007 Thanksgiving break, Jon and Pat Erickson will lead a trip to Batey Libertad to support new HIV/AIDS programs, a community health clinic, the formalization of a language literacy and tutorial center, and the beginnings of a new community gardening project. Over the January 2008 winter break, John Hayden of Plant and Soil Sciences will lead a trip to establish community garden plots at Batey Libertad, leaving behind a student volunteer to coordinate a community farm and literacy program during the spring semester. Then over the March 2008 spring break, McKew Devitt of the Department of Romance Languages will bring a group of students to work on the literacy program, a new community library, and replace more "tin can" shanties with ventilated block constructed homes.

For more information on service-learning trips and community collaboration opportunities, please contact Jon Erickson at jon.erickson@uvm.edu, or 802-656-3328.

Community Health and Patient Advocacy

2007-09-14T21:45:00.000-07:00

Healthy communities start with healthy people. At Batey Libertad, financial and social barriers to health care is a fact of life. However, in 2005-06 the community of Batey Libertad teamed up with students and faculty from the University of Vermont to construct a community health clinic. In the course of less than a year, what started as Dr. Pat helping out with "Mom medicine" on Papito's porch, expanded into a new building (attached to a new local school and community center) stocked with meds from MAP International and donations from Vermont practices, and with consults held every few months with U.S. doctors and medical students, Dominican physicians and nurses, and other community health volunteers.

To date in 2007, there have been four multi-day clinics, organized by community members with consults from both local and American docs. In June, doctors and medical students from the Stritch School of Medicine of Loyola University ran a health clinic during a 10-day medical mission coordinated through Creighton University’s Institute for Latin American Concern (ILAC). ILAC has also trained "Cooperadores de Salud" or health promoters at Batey Libertad who conduct "charlas" or chats with the community on preventive care, as well as identify candidates for surgery performed during medical missions at ILAC's Santiago facility. The Libertad clinic has also benefited from advice and a site visit from the Batey Relief Alliance, an NGO that helps develop health care and development programs within batey communities.

Volunteers at Batey Libertad, more often than not, also find themselves filling in as patient advocates for the poor and racially marginalized in the Dominican health care system. Community clinics serve to address the day-to-day maladies of batey living, but also to identify patients who need more critical care and help find them the attention they deserve in the health care system. Fundraisers at the University of Vermont and direct patient sponsors have supported dozens of critical care patients, including those affected by tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis-C, and diabetes, as well as aiding malnourished children and elder residents of Batey Libertad.

The community recently completed the construction of a volunteer apartment above the health clinic in order to house doctors, students, educators, and other collaborators into the future. If you'd like to inquire about opportunities to volunteer in community health efforts at Batey Libertad, please e-mail Pat Erickson at patricia.erickson@uvm.edu.

A Stroll through Batey Libertad

2007-09-14T20:29:00.000-07:00

Take a virtual stroll through the streets of Batey Libertad. Here's a short video clip, filmed with a camera held "not so discretely" on hip, set to a re-make of "Satisfied Mind" courtesy of The Mammals.

HIV/AIDS Prevention Education

2007-09-14T19:08:00.001-07:00

Founded at Batey Libertad, Futbol para la Vida (soccer for life) is an HIV/AIDS prevention education and youth leadership program in the Dominican Republic (DR) using sport, game-based activities, and peer mentoring to engage youth in the creation and practice of healthy life choices. A member of the international Grassroot Soccer network, Futbol para la Vida (FPV) provides bilingual Spanish/Haitian Kreyol camps and courses; training of trainers workshops for community-based peer educators, local non-governmental organization (NGO) staff, and public school and health programs; and support for youth camps, soccer tournaments, and other outreach opportunities. Core programs target at-risk youth populations in Haitian migrant communities, where a lack of investment in health care and education has contributed to some of the highest rates of HIV infection in the Caribbean and Latin America, and where the Haitian love and pride for soccer has been leveraged among youth and their families.

The DR and Haiti together account for 85% of HIV cases in the Caribbean. Batey communities are particularly vulnerable to the epidemic due to a long history of marginalization and impoverishment, factors highlighted in a focal article on bateyes in Science magazine’s July 2006 cover story on HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean and Latin America (v. 313, pp. 473-75).

FPV developed from a 2005 pilot project between the community of Batey Libertad, the University of Vermont, and Grassroot Soccer (GRS). Demonstration of the GRS curriculum, identification of local role models, and subsequent training of peer educators was leveraged on the Batey Libertad Coalition, an existing collaboration between Vermont and Batey student athletes using soccer as a platform to develop youth leaders, mobilize community assets, and address racial tensions between Dominicans and Haitians [Listen to NPR coverage on GRS in the DR]. Batey Libertad remains the focal point of FPV activities in the Valverde province (one of the DR’s prominent agricultural regions), and is home to program management, trainings, and special events at the FPV training center constructed in 2006. A second core program was developed in the province of Puerto Plata in early 2007 to focus on sugar cane bateyes and migrant communities that have developed around the tourism industry of the north coast. Here the communities of Saman and Batey Caraballo have been apart of a baseline study of HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes amongst youth, conducted with pre- and post-program participant and family interviews. A third focal program started in the fall of 2007 in the city of Santiago (the DR’s second largest city). Partnering with NGOs and a university in Santiago will add urban slums as a third type of community where migrant workers and their families are concentrated.

The activities-based curriculum engages youth, models healthy life choices, and provides a fun and safe environment for youth to obtain accurate information, learn prevention strategies, and discuss AIDS stigma, risky behaviors, and other sensitive topics with peers and role models. Each activity is designed as an ice-breaker that leads to discussion amongst peers. These core programs are run with groups of 15 children in age brackets of 10-14 year olds and 15 and over. A typical course is run over a series of 5 to 6 meetings totaling 15 hours, organized locally and coordinated initially by peer educators from neighboring communities. As new role models are identified and trained, programs are turned over to local peer educators. Each course is followed by a graduation planned by the children and including performances of dramas, demonstration of FPV activities, and presentation of certificates by parents and community leaders. Soccer games are often included as a vehicle to reach beyond the graduation audience, with FPV activity demonstrations held at halftime including athletes and fans alike, and with the opportunity to distribute information about HIV transmission, prevention strategies, testing and treatment options, and compassion for AIDS victims.

As the FPV program first developed in batey communities, the majority of current trainers can deliver bilingual programs in Spanish and Haitian Kreyol. This is critical to breaking the language barrier with recent immigrants, particularly among young girls who often work at home with their mothers and lack the opportunities to learn Spanish afforded to boys. Whenever possible, FPV classes are also designed with a mix of Dominican and Haitian children to address racial discrimination and build peer networks and solidarity amongst the poor. Follow-up activities to courses vary by location, but include soccer tournaments, youth groups, and “Olympiads” of knowledge and skill competitions between graduating FPV classes.

The more experienced trainers of these core programs also conduct 5-day intensive “training of trainers” workshops to expand the network of community peer educators and train staff and volunteers in the growing network of NGOs using the Spanish translation of the GRS curriculum. Trainings include lessons on basic HIV/AIDS education, facilitation and evaluation of the FPV curriculum, peer education philosophy, development of role models, and program design, implementation, and evaluation. Examples of local partner organizations with FPV programs and trained staff include the Dominican Republic Education and Mentoring (DREAM) Project and Proyecto ADAMES. The DREAM Project has incorporated FPV programs into their annual summer camp and teacher training center, including pre- and post-evaluation and graduations. Proyecto ADAMES has developed a health promotion program for teens and pre-teens based on FPV training and the GRS curriculum as an extension to their work on reducing mother and infant mortality. Other NGOs in the network that have hosted FPV demonstrations include Peace Corps, One Resp, Batey Relief Alliance, Punta Cana Foundation, and World Vision. FPV programs also benefit from ongoing collaboration on program design and evaluation with the DR’s Presidential AIDS Council (COPRESIDA). The core FPV programs at Batey Libertad and Saman/Caraballo also support special events, including follow-up training activities, research on HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes, and special camps, soccer tournaments, or curriculum demonstrations. For example, FPV trainers supported a summer soccer camp for street kids in Puerto Plata during July 2007, a camp organized though a service-learning project of Virginia Tech.

Faculty and student volunteers of the University of Vermont, through a fund established with the community of Batey Libertad, provide program oversight and fundraising for locally managed FPV programs. UVM offers annual service-learning courses to the DR to help initiate community projects, including the original pilot of the GRS curriculum, subsequent demos that led to new FPV programs, and construction of the FPV training center at Batey Libertad. In addition to these intensive project-based trips, FPV programs have benefited from a continuous stream of longer term volunteers through a teaching fellows program. Volunteers have included Vermont high school soccer players and college students from UVM, the Harvard School of Public Health, and Dartmouth College. This volunteer base also organizes fundraising events in the U.S., ranging from raffles and Haitian art sales to AIDS walks and barefoot soccer tournaments. Student volunteers and soccer moms and dads have also worked extensively with public school teams and private soccer clubs to collect used soccer equipment and raise money through juggle-a-thons and soccer tournaments. This growing network includes schools and clubs in Vermont, New York, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Illinois, as well as equipment donations coordinated through the U.S. Soccer Foundation Passback program.

The next steps for FPV in the DR include expansion of courses and addition of trainers in communities near the three core programs of Batey Libertad, Saman/Caraballo, and Santiago. A fourth core will be added in early 2008 in the border city of Dajabon with extensions into its sister city of Ouanaminthe on the Haitian side. In the future, a Dajabon program could open up opportunities to train soccer players to run FPV programs in Haiti, as well as create opportunities for international soccer tournaments. A translation of the curriculum into Kreyol is underway (Foutbol pou Lavi). New NGOs requesting FPV training include World Vision (with programs in bateyes in the south) and One Resp (with soccer programs in Santiago). The Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) in Santiago is also interested in adding FPV training as part of their public health programs for undergraduates and medical students. There have also been preliminary discussions over offering annual trainings for Peace Corps volunteers who work throughout the DR. Finally, with the foundation of a Spanish language curriculum, baseline study of its effectiveness, and model for training of trainers, there are now opportunities to expand FPV into Latin America. A former Peace Corps volunteer, who completed a FPV training in the DR, is introducing the FPV curriculum in rural communities of Honduras. Through this contact, a current Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador is utilizing the FPV curriculum.

For more information about Futbol para la Vida, please contact Jon Erickson at the University of Vermont (jon.erickson@uvm.edu).

Welcome to Fundación de Libertad!

2007-09-14T18:22:00.000-07:00

We are a coalition of organizations working in the Dominican Republic to build a foundation of health, education, and human rights from which freedom (libertad) can emerge both locally and worldwide. The foundation has its roots in the community of Batey Libertad in the heart of the Cibao agricultural valley northwest of Santiago, Dominican Republic. Similar to hundreds of bateyes throughout the country, Libertad is home to both Dominican citizens and migrant workers from Haiti, originally established by the Dominican government in the 1940s as a work camp for state-supported agriculture.

The legacy of bateyes today is one of extreme poverty, isolation, and lack of access to basic needs and human rights. Bateyes are physically isolated from Dominican society amidst the cane and rice fields of the DR; socially marginalized through a history of racism, military and police raids, and routine denial of rights of citizenship, health care, and education; and economically vulnerable to international commodity price swings, seasonal labor demand, and a general lack of land ownership and social services.

To build a new legacy of sustainable livelihoods and equality, Batey Libertad works in solidarity with a network of U.S. and Dominican universities, non-governmental organizations, and volunteers from around the world in the broad areas of health, education, and human rights. Projects include community health clinics and advocacy, education scholarships, language and computer literacy classes, documentation for citizenship and migrant workers, youth sport and leadership development, HIV/AIDS prevention education, and home construction and community infrastructure through service-learning trips and university classes.

Support for these projects is generated through grassroots fundraisers, direct sponsorship of students and families affected by chronic illness, equipment and medicine donations from businesses and soccer clubs, and community visits and home-stays by students and other volunteers.

This blog was founded as a clearinghouse of sorts to provide updates on all the goings-on at Batey Libertad and the growing network of communities that these projects and the good people of Libertad have touched. We hope this small step can help us all keep in touch, informed, and empowered.

Men anpil chay pa lou.

(Haitian Kreyol proverb: "Many hands make the load lighter")

Monthly Highlights from 2006

2006-12-31T18:13:00.000-08:00

The following are highlights and some photos from a busy 2006 (before we had a blog).

December 2006

Dec. 10 - Second Annual Libertad Speaker and Fundraiser with Julia Alvarez, novelist, poet, and most recent author of Saving the World. Sponsored by the Lintilhac Foundation and hosted at the home of Crea and Phil Lintilhac of Shelburne, Vermont.
Dec. 1 - World AIDS Day - University of Vermont Student Atheletes For Equity (SAFE) hold an all-day juggle-a-thon on the UVM campus to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and raise funds to support Futbol para la Vida HIV/AIDS prevention education program.

November 2006

Nov. 30 - Fundacion de Libertad co-hosts the third annual screening of A Closer Walk at the UVM Campus Community Theater with the UVM Center for Health and Well-Being.

October 2006

Oct. 15 - Batey Libertad men's soccer team travels to Montellano (outside Puerto Plata) for a soccer game and celebration. BL wins against a big rivalry. Thanks to John Antonucci and the soccer teams of U32 in Montepelier for supporting the match with a juggle-a-thon back in Vermont.
Oct. 6-7 - Batey Libertad community health clinic coordinated by Dr. Pat Erickson with patients seen by Dr. Ara Fernandez of Columbia University and volunteers from the children's hospital of Santiago. Thanks Ara and friends for a fabulous clinic.

September 2006

Sep. 30 - University of Vermont team participates in annual AIDS Walk in partnership with Vermont CARES to raise money for Grassroot Soccer programs and coaches training in the DR.
Batey Libertad HIV/AIDS educators work with the Dominican DREAM Project in Cabarete as counselors during a 5-week summer camp for kids. Milanda, Wilson, and Nico initiated and ran a full Grassroot Soccer program for multiple age groups during the camp. Thanks to the Lintilhac Foundation of Shelburne, Vermont for making a critical donation to make this happen.

June 2006

June 17 - World Cup Soccer fundraiser at Ri Ra's Irish Pub in Burlington, Vermont. A huge thanks to Ri Ra's for hosting our raffle during the USA v. Italy match, and to the many Burlington businesses who donated items, including the Outdoor Gear Exchange, Ski Rack, Yoga Vermont, Capital Soccer Club, Donny's Pizza, Olympia Sports, and New Horizons.
June 1 - Grassroot Soccer HIV/AIDS prevention education curriculum demonstration by Yanlico of Batey Libertad at Punta Cana, DR, hosted by the Punta Cana Resort and Club at two local schools.
Batey Libertad Women's Group initiates a candle-making enterprise to raise money for visas and passports in order to obtain jobs and earn cash income in Dominican society. If you're interested in supporting this project and purchasing hand-crafted candles, please contact Jon Erickson at the University of Vermont.

May 2006

Batey Libertad hosts a formal "training of trainers" HIV/AIDS prevention education workshop, educating coaches from Libertad, the Dominican DREAM Project, and Proyecto Adames in the Grassroot Soccer curriculum and method of education. A huge thanks to Paola Peacock Villada from Grassroot Soccer for running the training, and to Norm Lerchen, Tricia Suriel, and University of Vermont students for raising the funds to make it happen.

April 2006

Batey Libertad fundraiser and 7 x 7 indoor soccer tournament held in Shelburne, Vermont. A huge thanks to Nooch, Sara, and Kari for organizing the tournament and raising funds to support the upcoming Grassroot Soccer "training of trainers" in the DR.

March 2006

The local school and health clinic construction at Batey Libertad is finished. The building was inaugurated with a community-run health clinic coordinated by Pat Erickson and has since hosted local school classes, numerous community celebrations, health clinics by visiting medical missions, and emerging local enterprises, including candle-making by the Batey Libertad Women's Group.

February 2006

The new local school and health clinic building is nearing completion. This project started with a UVM fundraiser less than a year ago, and next month will see it's first classes and community health clinic.

Monthly Highlights from 2005

2005-12-31T18:22:00.000-08:00

The following are highlights and some photos from a busy 2005 (before we had a blog).

December 2005

Batey Libertad computer lab finished and up and running! Thanks to Paul and UVM's geology department, Suzanne, Gary and Lou for the iMacs, and to Jonathan for setting them up with Spanish operating systems and software.
Nanota's "Bed Project" finished! University of Vermont students raised funds for beds for some of the elder batey residents who were sleeping on floors ... in time for Christmas! Thanks to UVM's Center for Health and Wellbeing for helping to fundraise.
Dec. 1 - World AIDS Day class presentation of Nov. trip and projects, Batey Libertad fundraiser, and screening of A Closer Walk at the University of Vermont. Thanks to our co-sponsors: University of Vermont's Dept. of Animal Science, Community Development & Applied Economics Dept., Environmental Studies Program, and Center for Health and Wellbeing.

November 2005

Nov. 27 - Second Anniversary Celebration of Batey Libertad Women's Group. Thanks Laurie for fundraising!
Nov. 16-25 - University of Vermont class to Batey Libertad. Numerous projects by date below, plus the class helped with the new school construction, set up computers for the new lab, and got together with their pen-pals.
Nov. 23 - Grassroot Soccer demonstration and soccer match at Batey Caraballo. Thanks to our hosts Sara and Caitlin at the DREAM Project.
Nov. 21 - Batey Libertad to the beach! 2 gua guas and 2 mini-vans stuffed full with smiling faces.
Nov. 20 - Soccer Tournament at Batey Libertad. Batey Libertad Men's team win amongst 8 teams!
Nov. 19-20 - Two-day youth soccer tournament in Esperanza. Batey Libertad Boy's team win! Thanks to Essex United Soccer Club for all the donated jersys and soccer balls.
Nov. 20 - New York Times story published on labor abuses in bateyes entitled "Immigrant Laborers from Haiti are Paid with Abuse in the Dominican Republic". Carlito from Batey Libertad quoted.
Nov. 18-19 - Batey Libertad Community Health Clinic. Thanks to MAP International and Champlain Valley Urgent Care for medical supplies.
Nov. 17 - Grassroot Soccer training and demonstration at Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra in Santiago. Thanks to the Dean of Students for hosting us!
Nov. 16 - Batey Libertad fundraiser and seminar by Paola Peacock Villada, GRS/BL summer teaching fellow, at Harvard School of Public Health, Cambridge, MA.
Nov. 12 - Airing of National Public Radio story on the Batey Libertad's Grassroot Soccer Program on the weekly sports show "Only a Game". Have a listen and see pictures of Milanda in action at: www.onlyagame.org/shows/2005/11/20051112_8.asp
Nov. 12 - UVM Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources graduate student fundraiser for Batey Libertad. Thanks Brendan, Leah, and Val for an awesome event.
Nov. 7 - Dinner Out! Batey Libertad Fundraiser at the Tantra Restaurant & Lounge, Burlington, VT. Thanks to July for making this happen!

October 2005

Oct. 8 - Batey Libertad Raffle at UVM Parent's Weekend Annual A Cappella Concert. Thanks to Nikki for making this happen, and to the Top Cats and Cats Meow for helping us fundraise! Thanks also to the many downtown Burlington businesses that donated items for the raffle, including: Apple Mountain, Ben & Jerry's, Borders Books, Bruegger's Bagels, Lindt & Sprungli Chocolates, Olympia Sports, Peace & Justice Store, and Uncommon Grounds.
Oct. 7 - Jon and Pat Erickson present "Sustainable Development and the HIV/AIDS Pandemic" at Annual Conference of the Caribbean Institute, Burlington, VT.
Throughout the month - Juggle-a-Thon Batey Libertad fundraiser with boys and girls soccer teams of Montpelier, VT public schools. Thanks Nooch and all the athletes for making this happen!

September 2005

UVM fundraiser supports trip of Batey Libertad community to 2-day medical specialist clinic in Santiago. Thanks for the ride Ramon!
Ben Bellizzi, University of Vermont alumni, begins 8 week trip to Batey Libertad to continue Grassroot Soccer teacher training and youth instruction, teach English language classes, and coordinate plans for computer lab and new school building.

August 2005

T-shirt fundraisers at Vermont soccer camps. Thanks Nooch and Ben!

July 2005

July 22 - Jon Erickson presents "Grassroot Soccer: Using Sport for Health Education and Social Change" at the Third Biennial Meeting of the U.S. Society for Ecological Economics, Tacoma, Washington.
Demonstration of Grassroot Soccer curriculum at Batey 6 near Santo Domingo with Vision Mundial project. Yanlico, Milanda, and Wilson from Batey Libertad run the activities with Paola and Kirk Friedrich (Managing Director for GRS) on hand. Covered by National Public Radio (see Nov. 05).
Jul. 1-3 - Batey Libertad Community Health Clinic. Thanks to MAP International and Champlain Valley Urgent Care for medical supplies.

June 2005

Jun. 28 - Batey Libertad to the beach! Thanks for the ride Ramon!
Paola Peacock, Grassroot Soccer/Batey Libertad summer teaching fellow begins 3 month trip to Batey Libertad to train Libertad soccer players to facilitate HIV/AIDS prevention education curriculum and coordinate projects.
Jun. 5 - Grassroot Soccer training of BLC volunteers and Africa Teaching Fellows with Kirk Friedrich, managing director of GRS.

May 2005

May 13 - Military raid of Batey Libertad (see article on illegal deportations in El Caribe). University of Vermont group commenced an emergency fundraiser to provide immediate support for all the effected families. Thanks to Mary Fobare for the timely donation!
Throughout the month - Grassroot Soccer t-shirt fundraiser. Thanks to UVM graduate student intramural teams for outfitting their teams with GRS t's.

April 2005

Apr. 30 - Jon and Pat Erickson present "Grassroot Soccer: Sports in HIV/AIDS Education and Social Change," at the Batey Relief Alliance's 3rd International Conference - HIV/AIDS in the Dominican Republic and Haiti - a Bilateral Challenge, Columbia University, New York, NY.
Apr. 27 - Grassroot Soccer workshop with students from New York City's High School for Environmental Studies.

March 2005

Mar. 18-20 - Batey Libertad Community Health Clinic. Thanks to MAP International and Champlain Valley Urgent Care for medical supplies.
Mar. 20 - Soccer tournament at Batey Libertad. Men's team wins.
Mar. 19 - Host BRA Dominicana for a site visit at Batey Libertad Community Health Clinic.

February 2005

Feb. 25 - First Annual Libertad Speaker Series kicked off by Michelle Wucker, author of "Why the Cocks Fight: Dominicans, Haitians, and the Struggle for Hispaniola," University of Vermont, Burlington, VT. Thanks to Michelle for a wonderful visit, and to all our co-sponsors including: Lintilhac Foundation, UVM Environmental Program, UVM ALANA Studies Program
Haitian art auction held at the University of Vermont to raise money to build school and health clinic at Batey Libertad. Thanks to all the UVM students for purchasing and lugging the art back from Santo Domingo.

January 2005

Jan. 3-16 - First University of Vermont service-learning class to Batey Libertad. Trip milestones included: initiated pilot Grassroot Soccer HIV/AIDS prevention education program; presented results of pilot to Batey Relief Alliance in Santo Domingo; initiated community health clinic program.

Trip Report: Grassroot Soccer pilot at Batey Libertad

2005-03-01T19:59:00.000-08:00

Trip Report
Batey Libertad, Dominican Republic
December 29, 2004 - January 16, 2005
by Jeff DeCelles, Southern Africa/Caribbean Program Director, Grassroot Soccer

Project Overview
The purpose of this project was to conduct a 2-week HIV education pilot project in Batey Libertad, Dominican Republic from December 29, 2004 to January 16, 2005. The aim of this project was to combine two existing programs that both use soccer for positive social change: Grassroot Soccer (GRS) and the Batey Libertad Coalition (BLC). This project was based on the curriculum used by Grassroot Soccer, an HIV/AIDS education program currently running programs in several countries in Africa. Batey Libertad is a rural Haitian migrant community in the Dominican Republic where the Batey Libertad Coalition has been using soccer to ignite constructive social change. Twelve students from a University of Vermont class were trained to deliver the curriculum to members of the men’s and women’s soccer teams on Batey Libertad to be peer educators. This pilot project was the first Grassroot Soccer project outside of Africa.

Project Goals
The goals for the GRS/BLC pilot were as follows:

Test the GRS method on Batey Libertad to see if it is applicable outside of Africa, particularly in Caribbean cultures.
Train the UVM students to be knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS and teach them how to effectively lead GRS activities with members of the Batey Libertad men’s and women’s soccer teams.
Have the trained Batey Libertad players conduct the GRS activities with the youth teams while being shadowed by two GRS staff members and the UVM students.
Plan with members of the Batey Libertad Soccer Committee on how to allocate donations to maintain the GRS project on Batey Libertad and the surrounding area.
Celebrate the achievements of the community in an all-day festival featuring a soccer tournament, dance performance, Haitian voodoo performance, and GRS activities.

Main Observations

The GRS method was a highly effective method of HIV education on Batey Libertad, relying on the existing passion of soccer and the role-model position that soccer players hold in the community.
The GRS method was difficult to deliver to men and women at the same time. Topics like AIDS and sex are culturally sensitive issues and both groups clearly felt more comfortable talking about these issues with their own gender.
The UVM students on this trip made ideal GRS teachers. This paves the way for future work with Peace Corps volunteers currently working in the DR to deliver the same message. Based on feedback from a Peace Corps worker that attended the GRS sessions on Batey Libertad, many possibilities exist to collaborate on future projects.
Based on feedback from the UVM students and Batey residents, the class was highly enriching experience for both parties.
Research needs to be conducted to gauge the level of knowledge about AIDS among batey residents across the DR to properly shape future project models.

Project Structure
This project was structured so that the UVM students were taught GRS activities by Jeff DeCelles, Grassroot Soccer Southern Africa/Caribbean Program Director and Oriana Campanelli, Grassroot Soccer Teaching Fellow. The students were trained so that they could effectively lead and facilitate GRS activities with members of the Batey Libertad women’s and men’s soccer teams. The members of the Batey Libertad teams then conducted the activities with younger members of the community. The Batey Libertad soccer players were trained by the UVM students using the Training of Trainers (TOT) model that has been used by Grassroot Soccer in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. The players then trained the younger Batey residents using a peer education model. The UVM students shadowed the Batey players during these training sessions to guide and support the Batey players.

Background
This project was formed by a partnership of several different organizations. The following describes each organizations background with relationship to the pilot project.

Grassroot Soccer (GRS) is an international regional health organization that educates and empowers youth through HIV/AIDS prevention programs taught by professional soccer players and other role models. A majority of Grassroot Soccer staff are former or current American soccer players who have experience teaching and playing professional soccer in Africa. Through its strong connections to African professional soccer, GRS is able to effectively recruit and train well-known African professional athletes and American volunteers to deliver the GRS curriculum to schoolchildren. Using the enormous influence of professional soccer players, the GRS educators employ a variety of games and role-plays to help the youth develop healthy decision-making skills through active-learning. The GRS program is comprised of a series of ninety-minute sessions at schools, football fields, and community centers. The youth are then empowered to educate their peers about the healthy behaviors they have learned. Grassroot Soccer is currently running programs in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Ethiopia. Grassroot Soccer has conducted pilot projects in refugee camps in Zambia and Botswana, which provide a basis for rural, segregated communities, similar to Batey Libertad.
Batey Libertad Coalition (BLC) is a non-profit partnership between Haitians, Dominicans, and Americans to use the sport of soccer as a catalyst for social change on Batey Libertad and the surrounding communities. Batey Libertad is a community of 500 to 1,000 individuals, mostly Haitian or of Haitian descent. Batey Libertad is similar to the approximate 2,000 bateyes that exist in the Dominican Republic. Batey Libertad is located in the middle of a rice field, which segregates the residents from the surrounding Dominican society. The Batey Libertad coalition uses soccer to teach organizational skills as well as break down harsh racial barriers that exist between Haitians and Dominicans. For almost four years, soccer players from the University of Vermont have been donating their time to coach both the men's and women's teams of Batey Libertad. These individuals have also allocated donations of new and used equipment from the US to help the Batey teams gain access to local games and tournaments. Batey Libertad has a men's soccer team, a women's team, and two young men's teams. The soccer teams are supported financially by donations from Vermont residents. The Batey Libertad soccer committee community has established its own highly effective micro-credit system to sustain the impact of any donations. An estimated 5% of adult Batey residents are infected with HIV (Batey Relief Alliance, 2005). Batey Libertad residents receive very little, if any HIV education in school. There is also a low level of literacy on Batey Libertad, which makes the interactive and exciting Grassroot Soccer method an appropriate HIV education model for Batey Libertad.
Sports for Life. Grassroot Soccer partners with Sports for Life (SFL) on many of its activities. Sports for Life is a unique partnership of athletes, sports associations, youth organizations, health facilities and public and private organizations that uses youth educators and mentors to promote messages that lead to and maintain positive health behaviors. SFL uses experiential learning to positively affect the behaviors of youth. Through its participatory approach of games and activities, SFL trains coaches and peer educators to work in their communities with local youth to spread awareness and understanding of reproductive health and family planning issues. SFL has been developed and tested in Nigeria and Zambia. The curriculum used in this project contains both GRS and SFL activities. Sports for Life donated 80 pairs of soccer cleats and 42 soccer balls to serve as positive incentives for teams from Batey Libertad to participate in the Grassroot Soccer program.
University of Vermont (UVM). Twelve undergraduate students traveled to Batey Libertad, Dominican Republic to participate in this pilot project as part of a Community Development course titled “Community Empowerment through Grassroots Organization.” This course gives students the opportunity to participate in an HIV/AIDS education and community development pilot project. These students completed a Training of Trainers course administered by Mr. DeCelles, and Miss Campanelli, both of whom are UVM alumni. Many of the students raised money for this project through a variety of events on campus. Jon Erickson, PhD and Pat Erickson, DVM, are the UVM professors that teach this class and leading a number of projects of the Batey Libertad Coalition.
Peace Corps volunteers have been viewed as possible managers of Grassroot Soccer satellite projects in Africa and abroad. Beth DeCelles, a Peace Corps volunteer in Jamaica, participated in the TOT workshop in Batey Libertad to assess the possibility of Peace Corps and Grassroot Soccer partnering together on future projects. Miss DeCelles is currently working on several community development projects in Montego Bay, Jamaica

Project Timeline

November 1-December 23, 2004: Fundraising. Burlington, VT

Funds for the student projects on Batey Libertad raised through a variety of methods including a benefit party, a World AIDS Day celebration on December 1, and sales of Grassroot Soccer t-shirts.

December 29, 2004-January 3, 2005: In-country preparations, Santiago DR

Mr. DeCelles and Miss Campanelli arrived in Santiago, Dominican Republic six days before the UVM class to make the following preparations for their arrival:

Locate a bus and make financial arrangements with a driver.
Coordinate schedules and introduce GRS activities to members of Batey Libertad, as well as begin planning for the soccer tournament/celebration.
Establish communication with BRA.
Meet with current Peace Corps volunteers to gather feedback on the possibility of collaboration.

January 3,4, 2005: In-country acclimation period. Santiago, DR

UVM students are introduced to the DR and Dominican’/Haitian culture.
UVM students are introduced to GRS activities and given basic HIV training by Mr. DeCelles and Miss Campanelli.

January 5,6, 2005: First field experience. Batey Libertad, DR

UVM students are introduced to Batey Libertad community and taught about batey culture.
UVM students begin training Batey Libertad men’s and women’s soccer teams while being shadowed by Mr. DeCelles and Miss Campanelli

January 9, 2005: Tournament and traditional celebration. Batey Libertad, DR

Joint Batey Libertad/UVM men’s soccer team wins 4-0 in the final of round-robin soccer tournament featuring two other Dominican teams.
Joint Batey Libertad/UVM women’s soccer team wins exhibition game against Dominican women’s team 2-1.
Members of the Batey Libertad women’s team and other women and girls perform traditional dancing presentation.
Caco Pelau, coach of Batey Libertad men’s team and Voodoo priest performs traditional Voodoo ceremony.
UVM students spend the night with families on Batey Libertad.

January 13, 2005: Presentation to Batey Relief Alliance, Santo Domingo, DR

Mr. DeCelles presents history of Batey Libertad Coalition and Grassroot Soccer to members of the Batey Relief Alliance.
UVM students present Batey Libertad Grassroot Soccer project featuring short educational film made by UVM students.
Batey Relief Alliance presents about their work on bateyes in all parts of the Dominican Republic.

February, 2005: Batey Libertad Coalition fundraiser, Burlington, VT

Sculptures and paintings are sold at a silent auction.
Michele Wucker, author of Why the Cocks Fight, a book about Dominican/Haitian relations is guest speaker.
T-shirts are sold to raise money for Grassroot Soccer.

March, 2005: Project Assessment, Santiago, DR

Jon and Pat Erickson, both professors at UVM return to Batey Libertad to evaluate impact of project, discuss with members of Batey Libertad on how to best allocate funds raised at UVM, run a community health clinic, and develop future project ideas.

Next Steps

Develop an evaluation model with UVM to measure effectiveness of the program and to shape future work.
Begin planning for UVM class that is going to Batey Libertad in November 2005.
Continue to involve members of Batey Libertad in designing all projects.
Strengthen and foster relations between all organizations and individuals involved in this project.
Develop cost-effective and healthy incentives for members of Batey Libertad to sustain projects over time.

Class Journal from 1st UVM Service-Learning Trip to Batey Libertad

2005-01-25T20:05:00.001-08:00

Twelve undergraduate students participated in the January 2005 class at Batey Libertad. During our two week trip, each student wrote the class journal entry for a day, reading and recounting the days events the following evening. Below you can read about our visit to Batey Libertad -- as well as our time in Santiago, Puerto Plata, Jarabacoa, and Santo Domingo -- through the eyes of students from the University of Vermont.

January 4, 2005
by Seth Hermans

While taking a part in this experience it can sometimes be most helpful to see where my existence is and where it will go. The struggle to do good work and be present not just physically but mentally must be overcome in order to have the best result. This begs the question, “How do you be here now and use the emotions that a foreign and sometimes uncomfortable situation creates in order to fuel you and not deplete you?”

One tool that I have looked to to answer this question is the story of the monomyth. The complete notion that the monomyth proposes is the idea that all of life’s stories, fact or fiction, follow a similar cycle that is able to be mapped out and understood in a tangible way.

The story starts with the call into the unknown, which is termed the abyss. The call can come in many ways. In most instances the hero-to-be is drafted into a mission, goes out of curiosity, or accidentally stumbles into it. For each person in this class the reasons may be different. For Jeff who began the journey of working at the Batey, he went to play soccer and returned 4 years later with all of us. He could not have known that the seed that he planted would be watered and cared for by so many hands from the batey to across the US and grown into a project that has helped so many people and will help so many more.

This really describes the reason for the monomyth. It shows that there are infinite possibilities that come with all the risks and uneasy circumstances of leaving what you know most.

As we continue the story throughout this day, and throughout all of our tomorrows we can look at this cycle to find our spot and understand where we can go. For myself it has helped me to stay in the moment, and get up even if I have cuts and bruises.

All right, lets go on, our hero who is anyone of us and also all of us is called into the adventure for reasons, which I have previously explained. He or she begins the journey almost always with a guide. The guide could take many different forms. For us the guides have been our friends and teachers, Jeff, John, Oriana, Jon, and Pat.

The first day of our trip was really the point at which we crossed the threshold into the abyss. Physically as soon as we got off the plane, life was different. First in the morning, we took on the challenge of becoming comfortable and familiar with each other as we played HIV/AIDS education games on the rooftop of our Santiago home, “The Colonial”. We next visited the mall where I searched for stamps as little Jon busted moves to Brittany Spears. Later Rachel introduced the group to the Cubanio sandwich. After lunch Big Jon learned how to order a taxi in Spanish.

On our way to play soccer Kari played her soccer ball like a bongo and we all found out that leaving the volume control up to our bus driver will lead to hearing loss, even if we love listening to Willy Nelson sing reggae.

At dinner that night several of us greeted the Cervesa Presidente with kisses and smiles as Cowboys served our food with guns and Lassos. The Gua Gua challenge was also born with the first correct answer being “profile” and continued with trivia about “33”.

Although the first day officially ended at midnight, it appeared much longer for anyone who could not sleep like a rock. Late in the evening a fire station alarm was sounded and left us wondering if the entire city was burning as the alarm stayed on until the next morning.

No matter when the first day ended for you, the journey goes on. Although I do not know how or when it will end, the story will include these parts in this order.

First, we had the call where we left home and had a guide at our side.
We have arrived in the abyss which if full of uncertainties and opportunities.
It is in the abyss where our struggle begins. We will always meet the challenges, which we have to overcome. Our guide will prepare us for this match but it is only ourselves who can take part in it.
This is the point where we fight the dragon and with persistence win the battle. At this time something always dies. For anyone of us it could be a view which we thought was true and we found out was not, or it could be a side to our self that we could not figure out how to understand.
As soon as this happens we find what we have started the journey to attain, even if we did not know what it was in the beginning.
We then make our way with our grail to the place, which we initially left. The grail could be medicine, a soccer ball, dinner, or the willingness to invite others to join in the journey. Whatever form this bounty comes in, it is always good and shared with the people, which you care deeply about.

This cycle repeats itself at all points in time and creates cycles inside cycles and journeys inside journeys. Even if every step is not what you had expected and you are feeling lost, the end results are always better then if you had never left at all.

January 5, 2005
by Ali Beddoe

Missing

January 6, 2005
by Alissa Matthews

The morning started out normal, all of us slowly waking up and assembling ourselves at the tables for breakfast. Lazaro tried his very best to serve our every request and did a great job keeping us all happy as usual. Ramon showed up early with a big smile and obviously had thought ahead and brought us a few bags full of bananas, a very nice gesture which would save time and hassle on the morning trip. Everyone finished up their meal and we all packed into the gua-gua to head on our second trip to Batey Libertad. We made another quick stop at the supermarket to pick up bread. Over a half hour and at least four bags of groceries later we were back on our way. Everyone seemed content on the ride, but I’m sure I wasn’t the only one questioning what it would be like to return, not being able to imagine a greater feeling than the greeting we received at the batey the previous trip.

As the twenty-two of us hopped off the bus the kids we had met the first day were eagerly awaiting us. I found it much easier to take in the sights and sounds this time as I walked down the pathway. Two dogs were feasting on the cow a woman had been busily butchering the day before, a group was gathered
talking and laughing seemingly enjoying the nice day, and at the front doorway of their homes women were working hard scrubbing clothes and washing vegetables. Everyone mingled for awhile and then we presented what we had brought to the community. The committee received our gifts to them with great gratitude and it was nice to know it would all be distributed on an as needed basis.

Next we learned two new grassroots activities. The excitement and energy from our group is an amazing thing. It has definitely been very beneficial to have a group that works so well together. After learning the games came the task of gathering the soccer teams and community members so we could transfer our knowledge to them. It was a pleasant surprise to see how many girls were able to participate, even if a few of them had to run in and out between chores. Although the frustration of the language barrier was difficult to ignore, the girls showed interest and curiosity in the information we had to share with them.

As our discussions ended and we started to talk about other possible activities the girls excitement grew and before we knew it we became the audience to a lively Haitian dance. I admit our group could have been better prepared, but considering the time constraints and other outside factors the point of the activities was proven to have been conveyed successfully time and time again.

The human interactions were unlike any other experiences most of us had ever had.

January 7, 2005
by Henry Melcher

On the same road we traveled the prior two mornings, packed shoulder to shoulder, backpacks in back, we turned off the Beleaguer highway, headed to Puerto Plata. Our bus driver, one mode Ramon, was undeterred by the unkempt roads, passing trucks uphill despite the flashing headlights of many an oncoming pickup or two-man motorcycle. Narrow passes turned into rolling hills, turned into an exhaust filled city, turned into resort-nation. Elizabeth put it best, when pulling into the gated community past armed guards, that she could no longer decipher whether we were in the Dominican Republic or Florida.

And it’s not to say that I wouldn’t have loved rooming with Pat and Naweza, but from the start, something was a little off. It was almost as if the disposable blue bracelets transported us to a place later described as the Matrix, the Twilight Zone; an alternate universe completely. A long way from the Batey, the hardened and stringy physiques of lives lived in the moment were nowhere to be found. The sight of men whose bellies were as shiny and large as their speedos were small was both startling and humorous. After a quick group change in one of our only rooms available, we were on our way to the beach.

It didn’t take long for an intense game of beach soccer to develop, which only made the clear blue ocean water all the more enjoyable afterwards. Motivated by ourselves, and the general inactivity of the sunbathing patrons we shared the all-inclusive with, the afternoon was spent running from one activity to the next. Our trip to the riflery range proved big Seth the group’s best marksman, and the time spent playing “butts up,” by anyone brave enough to offer their behind as a target for the mighty strike of many a college level soccer player, left its participants with sore backsides and bare feet alike.

However, this glorious afternoon was only a precursor to a night that can only be described as completely awesome. After a satisfying and more elegant dinner, the group made its way to the beach for our nightly discussion. A mellow beginning to our chat, everyone had the chance to speak about whatever it was that was on their minds, about the day, which by time’s definition was almost done, but really, was just beginning.

It was probably around ten when the book talk ended, which left an hour to fill before the magnificence that was the disco. From the minute we arrived, the dance floor was happening. And even when it got lonely, and Kari was the only soul with enough heart to attempt the impossible latin rhythms, it was definitely still happening. Soon the 15’ x 15’ floor that was once dominated by only us trying our hardest was shared with many types: whether it was a pair of 14 year olds dancing merengue more fluently and beautifully than I’ve ever seen, or a couple of older women who were way too uncoordinated and excited about the hot new dance moves they had just learned, or taught one another through painful trial and error, the disco por la playa was the spot to be. And in the true spirit of class participation, big Jon Erickson threw down right along side his students, and if ever a professor could receive a grade, this dude would get nothing less than an A.

It was the seemingly most unpredictable of events that pulled together the sentiments of the group. What better to illustrate the stark contrast between the Batey and the beach, resort reality and reality, than the shirtless, pale white torsos of the boys in the group; dancing wildly into the darkness of the Dominican night.

January 8, 2005
by Rachel Bertsch

We started off the morning watching a film titled Pandemic. It was a film that followed the lives of several people living with AIDS. The film tracked different people from different countries and showed how drastically AIDS can affect your life. We saw how a women in Africa found out she had contracted AIDS from her husband because he had been cheating on her. We had to see the pain and hurt in her eyes when she found out she was going to die as a result from her husband’s unfaithfulness. The part that struck me the hardest was how the woman couldn’t really get angry or voice her anger towards her husband. She just had to keep living her life with him knowing he gave her a terminally ill disease. We also got to follow the life of a Thai family and saw how AIDS can tear a family apart. In this woman’s story once she contracted AIDS she felt like she could no longer go home because her family was afraid of what others would think. It broke my heart to think how lonely and sad this Thai girl must have been. She discovered she was going to die and had no one to comfort or console her. When her family finally decided to forgive her she only got a few months to spend with them before she passed on. We also got to see another family where AIDS brought them closer together. For this family in Brazil AIDS was a way for the family to accept their son’s homosexuality and it brought them all closer together. The whole family had a common goal and that was to keep their son or brother alive.

After the movie we got free time to spend relaxing and thinking. I spent my free time lying on the beach and thinking about the movie. I thought about all the people that AIDS affects. Not just the people carrying the disease but all their friends and family. I thought about how there is still so few woman’s rights in a lot of countries and how awful it is that women don’t have more say or control as to what happens in their own lives.

In the late afternoon we learned another grassroots soccer game. It was the final game that consisted of AIDS trivia and soccer skills. Every one of these games amazes me more and more. I always walk away learning something and am amazed of how we went about learning it. I also enjoy the games because it is a time when we as a group get together and have fun.

After the game we had our usual dinner and discussion and then it was time for bed. We had another long and exciting day at the Batey to look forward to.

January 9, 2005
by Nick Bewley

“Why today? Why God? Why today?” cried John “Nooch” Antonucci, rousing me from a deep morning slumber with his pitiful childlike moaning. I jumped up hoping to find out the matter, only to discover Nooch’s body curled tightly into a ball, him rocking back and forth with his deep sobbing. Feeling that I’d find no answers with this sorrowful shell of a man, I stepped outside of my hotel room. Immediately, I was greeted by the forlorn faces of my fellow comrades. Rain crashed onto the pavement behind them, as the torrential downpour that had dominated the night thundered on in the early morn. Herein lay the source of my colleagues’ torment. Today, Sunday, was the day that everyone had been looking forward to since we arrived in the Dominican Republic, a day that we had envisioned as a day of outdoor excitement, culminating in a massive soccer tournament at Batey Libertad. The rain, however, provided an ominous obstacle, promising to transform the Batey’s dirt soccer field into a muddy quagmire. The soccer tournament, given such circumstances, would be impossible.

Now I understood the grim atmosphere that permeated our entourage, for the hopes and dreams that provided the crux of our experience were being washed away in the ensuing storm. Tired, haggard, and broken, our entourage stumbled to go eat our plastic production-line breakfast at the all-inclusive Occidental Hotel, a prominent resort in the tourist paradise that is . . . Puerto Plata. After stomaching our meal, we piled into the gua-gua-mobile and began our journey to the Batey. As we passed through the gates of the resort, returning once again to reality, the sky cleared and the sun warmed our countenances. Our bus moved and shook through the beautiful rolling hills of the Dominican Republic’s rural hinterland, dancing in tandem with the deep bass and funky rhythms of reggae’s Eek-a-Mouse. Happiness started to light the eyes of our crew. “It will be a good day” I thought to myself, a smile creasing my face.

We pulled up to the Batey to find the men’s soccer team already underway in the first game of the day’s soccer extravaganza. Our prior fears, it turns out, were entirely unfounded. The soccer pitch was a thing of beauty, for the thunderstorm from the night before had completely missed the Batey. The gods, it seems, had smiled upon us, allowing our day of festivities to continue.

The guys from our crew hurried to throw on their soccer attire, racing to get onto the field and aid the Batey in their quest for victory. The entirety of the skin color spectrum was represented by the players on the field, as people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds put aside their differences, united by their mutual love for the game of soccer. All of the teams possessed a great amount of skill, and the games were close and fierce. In the end, however, the teams of Batey Libertad emerged as the ultimate victors, crushing their Dominican challengers under the spiked boot of Batey soccer. At the end of the final match, the spectators from the community stormed the field, joyous shouts raining from their proud lips. The players passed around the coveted first place trophy, smiles stretching from ear to ear. It was a great day for Batey Libertad, for their soccer teams—organizations that bring strength, respect, and solidarity—proved that they are among the best in the Dominican Republic.

The day’s excitement, however, did not end with the final soccer match. Later in the evening, the Voodoo priest Caco held a ceremony in our honor, ingesting razor blades and glass bottles to protect us in our future journeys. Our group watched in awe as he stepped around a six-sided star, performing a deadly dance with a flaming torch. The ground shook as he pounded it with his heels, eyes filled with the rage of demonic possession. After the ceremony was finished, he brought us to his sacred sanctuary and answered our questions about his mysterious practices. We left, amazed and exhausted from the day’s events, and found our ways back to the homes on the Batey in which we would spend the night. As I walked up to my host family’s door, Fernardo, my host father, opened the door to his home and welcomed me with open arms. I plomped my tired body onto the comfortable bed that was provided to me, dozing off to sleep under the canopy of a mosquito net. I slept soundly, knowing that I’d remember this day for the rest of my life.

January 10, 2005
by Aly Fox

My how things have changed since last Monday. Just one week ago I was waking up in my home, driving to the airport and eagerly awaiting arriving in the Dominican Republic. Today however marked the one-week point in the trip. The day started out quite interestingly. I woke up between Ali and Alissa, two people I hadn’t even known a week ago, under a large pink mosquito net to the sound of chickens dancing on a tin roof of the home of a sweet older Spanish speaking family at Batey Libertad. It was very interesting waking up there. The sounds of chickens and children laughing are much better to wake up to than the annoying beeping of alarm clocks! After the initial bout of “where am I’? passed, Ali and I packed up and had literally the sweetest tea ever with the woman of the house. She spoke in Spanish and I was speaking English, and while I didn’t really understand it was pleasant. We then headed back to Papito’s house, the hot spot at Batey Libertad, to get organized and hang out with some cool little kids.

After singing “Happy Birthday” in Spanish to the Oriannas, we piled on the ol’ Gua Gua. As usual, it was a process that involved sneaking on so the child who was gripping your hand wouldn’t climb in after you. Doing that, however, I got pretty sad, realizing we had just one more day at Batey Libertad; just one more day having many conversations that I didn’t understand but loving every minute of it, one more day with an amazing group of people, one more day in a world entirely different but entirely eye opening and wonderful. But that sadness lasted for a fleeting instant, because then I saw the smiles of those kids, waving madly and yelling and I smiled right back and waved, so happy that we did have one more whole day here.

The ride back was fun, as usual. The madness that is the “Gua Gua Challenge” took over this particular trip, the tests of random knowledge took over the back of the bus, and as we learned that horses can’t vomit and the speed of maximum human velocity was 186 mph, we pulled into a Dominoes. That struck me as funny, but the pizza was pretty good. It just got me thinking about how different our lives were from those on the Batey. After leaving Dominoes we arrived at the Hotel Colonial, our home away from home. And this time it really felt like home. The shower was just as I expected, that is, wonderful. I think we can say as a collective that it was the best shower ever. Napping was nice too. After a rousing discussion and the initial discussion concerning the framework of our presentation, who should pull up but the UVM music class, proving just how small the world is. Dinner was perhaps the best dinner yet. Sitting around the tables in Lazaro’s dining room, eating the familiar staples of rice and beans, and passing around the plates of eggplants and beets, it felt just like a huge family dinner. Kicking back with Presidente’s after dinner seemed only fitting. Laying down in my bed that night I smiled myself to sleep, so much has happened in a week, more than I imagined. And though technically this was the beginning of the end of our trip, we still had so much to look forward to, and that’s a fact I was grateful for.

January 11, 2005
by Naweza Muderhwa

Today I realized that to enjoy a new experience it is necessary to go into the situation without any reservations. Being in the mountains really helped me with putting things into perspective to why I came here. The smell of the air, the colors of the leaves and just watching people interact with each other brought memories of the times I spent driving through the countryside in Burkina Faso. In addition, it also reminded me of the sense of togetherness at the batey. The first time I went to the batey I was just an African girl who lives in the United States but now not only am I a friend to many people at the batey, I am also leaving as a god mother. The kind of connection I made at the batey is something that is rare to find especially in a situation where you do not really know anyone. Hiking was a great experience but I would not tell my friends because they will come up with jokes about me going hiking.

Later at night we went to the circus, which was also a new experience for me. There were many enjoyable shows such as the dogs, the birds, the clowns and the tigers. Even though they were all enjoyable, the show with the tigers made me worry about my safety. As I was watching the show I kept thinking of the numerous times I have been asked by people if I had owned a pet tiger when I lived in Africa. I kept laughing about all the questions I have been asked and at the same time I was hoping that nobody in the group would ask me the same question. So to anyone who is wondering if I owned a pet tiger the answer is no, today was my first encounter with tigers. During the show I kept thinking the poor trainer was going to be eaten by the end of the show. And my mind started running wild as I was plotting different exit options in case the tigers got out of the cage. After I carefully thought about different ways to avoid being eaten by tigers the only thing I could come up with was to play dead. My idea might not sound smart but I do not think tigers like to eat old meat. If I am not mistaken I think they like to kill their meat first before they eat it.

Today was a good day because I got to experience two things that I would have never done on my own and I also got to laugh at myself, which is always a good thing when experiencing new things.

January 12, 2005
by Seth Matlick

After a solid night’s sleep of dreams consisting of a kinky contortionist and temperamental tigers, we boarded the gua-gua for our last day at Batey Libertad. During a routine stop at the supermarket, Big(ger) Seth booted El Sexo numero dos onto the roof of a neighboring warehouse while attempting to keep our juggling session alive. Dishearten, the group gave up hope on our beloved companion and started to make way back towards the bus. But there was a scoff heard from amongst our crowd. Silas, climber of trees, leaper of fences, doer of the near impossible, was in disbelief of how quickly we were prepared to abandon one of our own. A few minor obstacles proved no challenge to Sy as with monkey-like gracefulness he shimmied up a palm tree, scaled a barbed-wire fence, and daringly rescued the 23rd member of our posse. With renewed high spirits we hopped back onto the gua-gua ready as ever to get down and dirty with our family at the batey.

But this wasn’t the end of the hijinx. Lil’ Jon and Silas, our resident film crew, thought a solid shot of people working the rice fields, where many of the men from the batey are employed, would be crucial for the video presentation that was still in the works. So Ramon pulled over and they got right to work. Barefoot, they hopped over trench and fence alike and booked it out into the fields. Without knowing a lick of Spanish between the two of them and armed with only a camcorder and confidence they managed to get their shot and headed back the way they came. What the people in the field thought those two were doing is unknown to us but I think it is safe to say that bizarre encounter was discussed that night at the dinner tables of the men in the shot.

A little behind schedule we finally arrived to a warm greeting that all of us have come to expect and quickly dove right in. The guys got in one last game of soccer, which was more informal then some past games, playing with younger and older team members alike. Both of our groups also had the pleasure to one last meeting with the boy’s and girl’s teams we had built such wonderful relationships with over the past week. With a final and true to form chaotic round of ‘Juggle My Life’ under our belts and a last in depth conversation about safe sex practices, HIV and AIDS, and any other general questions and concerns these youth might have, we were done with the teaching portion of our class at Batey Libertad.

While taking a quick lunch break consisting of the ever-popular menu of PB & J, bananas, and avocados, we were notified our presence was needed promptly next door. The half time show the girl’s team had put together for the soccer tournament had not been performed last Sunday as planned but as the saying goes the show must go on and we were to be their private audience. As we watched on I started thinking that for a program promoting sexual education and awareness that emphasizes that sex is a choice and not a requirement, the spectacle being presented before us by these young ladies was highly ironic. The provocative dance routines we saw by eight and eighteen year olds alike were executed with a high level of skill and grace and were enjoyed by all, including Jefe’s parents and sister who we all had the pleasure of meeting that day.

Once the show was done and praise was given to those who had shaken it as only a true Haitian can, it was it was off to the church for one last group hurrah with the community we had grown so close to in such a short period of time. Yanlico had picked out a passage from the bible to read to us to express his feelings of joy and appreciation for the work we had done and the bonds we had created, which was so poignantly summarized into English for the rest of us.

The next act to follow was something you truly had to hear and see to believe. Los Hermanos, the community's pop stars, gave us a show I will never forget. This batey boy band serenaded a church full of the community's and our members with songs in Kreyol about what I’m not too sure, but if one thing is for sure, the crowd was loving it. This concert was followed up by a delicious snack of meat and cheese cubes on toothpicks and a rainbow of different soft drinks. During one last performance by the band, where starting with Nooch, we all one by one got up from the pews and joined Los Hermanos in some kind of Haitian line dance. At the end the laughter and singing was mixed with an assortment of emotions for me that ranged from blessed and gleeful to sadness and sorrow. Using the little Spanish I had been able to remember from freshman year of high school, I tried to explain to my new friends that I will return next year and hopefully have a better grasp and vocabulary of Espanol so we could hold a real conversation.

All goodbyes said and done, I was, as I’m sure all of us were, all hugged out and emotionally and physically drained. As one-mode Ramon took us home one last time from what has felt like the longest game of charades ever, I couldn’t stop thinking of all the friends made and the lives we affected. The characters we left behind, such as Chucky, the Booger Brothers, and of course, my favorite, Johnny No-pants, left me slightly upset yet at the same time very excited because A) I couldn’t wait to get some well deserved rest, but mainly B) because I know I will get to see them all again one day.

After a five minute ice cold shower and rest at Lazaro’s we were back on the gua-gua on our way to an Aguilas’ home game. It was nine innings of Dominican beisbol mayhem for our emotionally spent group where we witnessed such sights as a man in a yellow jumpsuit and a bad wig shake his ass and hump chairs, and spandex sporting cheerleaders shake their asses and hump the air. We also had the pleasure of seeing the Oakland A’s own Miguel Tejada, appropriately nick-named “Gua-Gua”, play and help the Aguilas to their victory. Dominican’s truly appreciate a home run like none other but unfortunately lacked the same zest for the ‘wave’ our crew was doing. By far Ramon had the best time there as you could tell by his huge smile as he drove our exhausted troupe home for a well needed sleep.

January 13, 2005
by Silas Hagerty

Like free candy at the batey, the knee buckling, sweat inducing, mystery bug, spread like wildfire. Amy was the first to drop. Absent from Lazaro’s daily ham and eggs party, we all began to wonder, will Amy make it? And then, who’s next?

For the next few hours we shuffled around the hotel in preparation for our journey to the country's capital Santo Domingo. One by one we piled into our dolphin sporting gwa-gwa officially now known as “La Chiva” or the goat. Amy sat in the front next to the bug's subsequent victim…..Oriana.

While Bouncing along bumpy highways we experienced the bold task of making lunch on the gwa-gwa. Nooch handed out the bread and we all passed around our daily intakes of avocado and peanut butter. In the middle of my meal Seth Herman turned to me wide eyed, "Do you realize what we just did?" I looked up at Ramón in the captain’s chair and saw him pass a smile to big Jon. “We just dodged those pot holes by driving on the sidewalk.” Everyday Ramón sets the bar even higher. From kissing cashiers at shopping plazas to joking with passing friends out the drivers-side window, Ramón continues to impress us all. As big Jon put it in Spanish, “Eres El Hombre” in English “You’re the man.”

After driving through the palm tree mountains of central Dominican Republic, we are soon transformed back in time through the colonial streets of Santo Domingo. Old men play checkers on the sidewalks while music pours out of open aired liquor shops.

Our accommodation in this fine city, well this is where Betty and Charles come in. Betty, a native to Tennessee, appears rather unbalanced on her feet as she welcomes us into her art filled palace. She informs us that the ladies will be staying with her and that the gentle men will be headed down the road with Charles. As I walk away from the girls Charles, a husky Dominican himself, informs me that I’m in good hands. “You guys like barbeques and beers?” Charles asks. The group responds positively and the 7-hour grilling session shifts into motion. With weak embers hard at work under Charles’ grill, we all begin to prepare our projects for the Batey Relief Alliance. And every hour Charles releases two lightly cooked hot dogs from the grill. Aside from the duration of the event, Charles’ cooking is very excellent. We enjoy fresh vegetables under the Dominican sky and laugh over ice cold Presidentes.

Settled in comfortable patio chairs we all agree that an amazing documentary could be make on Dominican Hotel Owners, the first three candidates for the film, Betty, Charles and of course Lazaro.

Kicking back our feet, we wrap up the evening with the digital projector lighting up Charles’ courtyard. In rehearsal for our final presentation, the group’s objectives and experiences from the entire trip fuse together on the ancient Spanish brickwork.

Following the presentation, we all head back to our little glorious rooms each accompanied with unique paintings on the wall. And before our heads laid to a final rest, one last scream could be heard from the BUG within Pat.

January 14, 2005
by Andrew D'Aversa

We woke up in Charlies Hostel. The paintings of Dominican landscapes and people gave a more authentic feeling to the place. Then, a quick walk to Betty’s for breakfast consisting of eggs, bread and tart orange juice. We then packed ourselves into two beat up Mitsubishi box vans for our drive to the Batey Relief Alliance (BRA) to present what we have done over the past two weeks. Our drive was fairly quick but not due to the drivers handling skills which were barely comparable with Ramon’s on point aggressive style. Our arrival at the supermarket marked the beginning of our wild goose chase looking for the BRAs office. I guess the taxi drivers both misplacing the directions didn’t help fasten the search but it wasn’t a big deal. A half hour to forty five minutes later we finally found the place.

We first listened to the few members of the BRA panel speak about how they interact with bateyes and some of the past and current projects they are working on. The work they do with their mobile health clinic, and HIV education seems very impactful. Although there’s only so much an under funded organization that depends partially on US bills for resources can do. The poor social well being of the hundreds of bateyes is surely an indication of how much the government is interested in helping out the BRA’s cause.

Our presentation followed theirs brilliantly. The introduction speakers set a great tone mentioning overall goals for our class and the grassroots soccer program. The short film that followed looked great and was well accepted by the panel members which were evident in their smiles. The narratives built on the quality of the film with everyone coming off very well spoken, speaking on truly meaningful personal accounts they had with grassroots games and the children. The BRA asked Jeff how and when they could start implementing the grassroots curriculum in other bateyes showing how effective our presentation was. After the presentation we walked to a lovely plaza and enjoyed some greasy fast food and sandwiches.

The rest of the day we set aside for blowing a lot of money at the market on paintings, wooden sculptures and any other touristy stuff we found nice. Bartering with the merchants was a new experience for some of us which were obvious in the price we paid for our first paintings. Nonetheless, everyone walked out with some sweet paintings for the fundraiser and a great relief that shopping was over.

Betty’s five star dinner recommendation seemed like a good choice. The pasta was tasty and the drinks were outrageously expensive. It was nice to eat at such a classy joint as the opportunity to do so is quite rare among college students.

The Cubanian restaurant provided some quick and friendly service at the bar along with some high energy Cuban music that everyone out of their seats dancing. It actually was a nice place with interesting paintings upstairs and a relaxed atmosphere.

Jon thought it would be a good idea to relocate to somewhere a bit more happening and we eagerly agreed. The first club we tried we apparently looked too casual so we moved on to another. The next club was almost secretly located giving it an exclusive feeling. Inside was a techno fest with a swing, bean bags and very well dressed Dominicans. The wall sit started the dance party in a slow manner but eventually gave way to some heavy dancing.

The end of the night was a short walk to the girls place were we separated and went to Charlies house. A few of us were fortunate enough to have a provocative chat with Charlie were we learned of his intimidating methods of conducting business. A humorous way to end a really fun day.

January 15, 2005
by Allyson Black-Foley

We awoke in our Haitian voodoo hostel to a light breeze and the sound of birds outside our window. It was easy to forget the spirits that had haunted us the night before. Ready to be rid of the ghosts in our bedrooms, we packed our packs, grabbed our paintings and headed to the guagua. We drove through the colonial district, past the Christopher Columbus Lighthouse, and onward towards our final destination, the beach. The wind was blowing through the guagua and the sun was shining. There was a good feeling in the air as we drove parallel to the open water. We arrived at the beach, ready to enjoy the culmination of our journey. As I sat on the sand, facing the ocean, I thought of all that we had done in these two weeks. The beach was in stark contrast to the small houses and muddy roads of the batey. As beautiful as the beach was, with white sand and open water, it still could not compare to the smiling faces and open arms of our friends on the batey. Our only assignment for the day was to sit back and reflect on all that we had seen and experienced in the past two weeks. The reflective nature of the beach made it the perfect ending to our trip.

As the last journal entry, I thought I’d reflect on some DR trip memories. I remember: the tiny hands that grabbed on and led us around the batey, the huge mountains that jutted out into the clouds, Johnny No-Pants, and beans and rice. Sparks flying at the voodoo ceremony and Kari whispering, “Hey, if we die, at least we’re with good people,” the rainbows that seemed to appear every afternoon, the film that made me realized the true reason why I had come, crazy malaria-pill induced dreams, Jon’s repeated rendition of “warriors” at the dinner table, the reggae music that provided the soundtrack to our lives, the narrow streets and colorful shops, the excitement of the market with loud vendors, fresh fruit and beautiful paintings, and our nightly discussions on the roof, overlooking the city of Santiago.

I have gained a new understanding of myself and of an island 2,000 miles from home. I’ve learned so much more from a real world experience, like working in the batey, than I ever would have in a classroom setting. Being immersed in another culture, seeing poverty first hand, and making friends who don’t speak our language not only add to my educational experience but to my life experience. I can’t express the innumerable ways this trip has affected me. Nor can I truly do justice to the ways my eyes were opened to the world. But I can say that this has been the most powerful class I have ever taken and it has been an experience that I will never forget.

I think I speak for all of us when I say I’ve had a powerful and eye-opening two weeks. I’d like to say a big thank-you to Jon and Pat, Jeff, Oriana and John for making all of this possible and for starting what will hopefully be a continued relationship with the Batey Libertad. I would also like to thank everyone else who truly made this a memorable experience.