A better life

Two boys draped themselves over the ledge that ran along the huge building. Beside them sat a small, dirty and worn wooden box.

[Photo: not mine it was taken by another participant]

“Bonswa, Kouman ou ye?”- Me

Puzzled look- You speak Kreyol?

A muffled “Bien”- boys

These young men were clearly Haitian, they are two of the thousands of young Haitians who have fled to the Dominican Republic for a “better life.”

With no documentation, no real job, no shelter and no Spanish they are aliens in a foreign land.

These two young men were trying to “make it” as shoe shine boys, in their small wooden box was shoe shine and rags. They roamed the busy streets of Santiago rubbing the shoes of well off Dominicans for a measly 1 or 2 pesos.

At night, they either congregate in the various slums and barrios, beneath underpasses or in ally ways. They often get caught up in the dangers of street life- drugs… violence…abuse…human trafficking… sex trade and eventually suffer from a lack of motivation for anything better.

They can’t attend school because they don’t have documentation, they can barely get by because they don’t speak the language and they have little to no access to food, water, medical aid.

This is the “better life” they were searching for?

Accion Callejero is a safe haven for these boys, along with hundreds just like them.

It serves as a community centre, a school, a clinic, and a cafeteria for these young people. They offer various programs such as soccer and volleyball teams, language courses, social workers, tutoring, the arts, a clinic and dental services.

Benolina- the director of the centre, beamed with joy as she shared with us the wonders of “the best job on earth” she was so incredibly proud of the youth she served. She felt for them and their challenges, she worked day in and day out to help them in whatever way she could. And she continues to push the status quo- demanding the safety of the Dominican and Haitian youth, demanding public recognition and international support.

She stressed the rights of the youth.

The Right to Education

The Right to Health Care

The Right to Play

The Right to Eat

The Right to be care for and about!

[Picture: On the right is the wonderful Benolina and the on the left is a long time volunteer at the centre- Dean, he is there through the USA 'Peace Corps and served as our translator]

Benolina made us make a promise…

A promise to go home and share what we have learnt. Expand the awareness and gather support for the youth of the Dominican.

I PROMISE to do just that.