givingthanks
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Please join Rev. Sally Wright on our 3rd annual Givingthanks service trip to the Dominican Republic from Fri., Nov. 18 -- Wed., Nov. 23, 2022 (Thanksgiving is Nov. 24). Work includes health education, medical support and construction. All ages welcome (unaccompanied minors must be 16). Cost is airfare + $300 per person. Details: www.villagepres.org/givingthanks |
If you are interested in changing your life in ways you cannot even imagine, join us on Givingthanks in the DR, Village Church’s only all ages mission trip. This trip provides a life-changing opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone and experience the amazing beauty of God’s work in places where he/she is needed the most. Service activities include helping our Dominican partner organization, Fundacion Enciende Una Luz (Light A Candle Foundation or “LAC”), with health fair activities in batey sugarcane communities.
Who Do We Serve?
We serve Haitian sugarcane cutters and their families who live in “bateys” surrounding La Romana.
What Are “Bateys?”
Bateys are impoverished and remote villages (or shantytowns) that are owned by private sugar mill companies. They provide meager sub-standard “housing” (for lack of a better word) for the companies’ undocumented Haitian sugarcane cutters and their families. Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, so these folks have no better choice than to enter the DR for the readily available, dangerous and low paying sugarcane cutting jobs that Dominicans do not want. The men work 14+ hours a day without a break, six days a week chopping sugarcane with machetes and are paid approx. $2/day for this grueling and dangerous work.
Who Do We Serve?
We serve Haitian sugarcane cutters and their families who live in “bateys” surrounding La Romana.
What Are “Bateys?”
Bateys are impoverished and remote villages (or shantytowns) that are owned by private sugar mill companies. They provide meager sub-standard “housing” (for lack of a better word) for the companies’ undocumented Haitian sugarcane cutters and their families. Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, so these folks have no better choice than to enter the DR for the readily available, dangerous and low paying sugarcane cutting jobs that Dominicans do not want. The men work 14+ hours a day without a break, six days a week chopping sugarcane with machetes and are paid approx. $2/day for this grueling and dangerous work.
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2021 Highlight Video by Autumn Sun, trip participant
2021 Day 2 Video by Fundacion Enciende Una Luz (Light A Candle Foundation - one of our Dominican partner orgs)
2021 Day 4 Video by Fundacion Enciende Una Luz (Light A Candle Foundation - one of our Dominican partner orgs)
2019 Givingthanks Slideshow
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2021 Day 1 Video by Fundacion Enciende Una Luz (Light A Candle Foundation - one of our Dominican partner orgs)
2021 Day 3 Video by Fundacion Enciende Una Luz (Light A Candle Foundation - one of our Dominican partner orgs)
2021 Final Night Beach Celebration
2019 Highlight Video by Fundacion Enciende Una Luz (Light A Candle Foundation - one of our Dominican partner orgs)
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Trip Info
from past participants
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“A life changing experience that I will cherish the rest of my life. The people in the Dominican Republic and VPC team were all truly amazing. Don't give it a second thought! Just go!” “Smiles, love, tired, long-time-coming hot water for showers. Losing the folder with my money because I forgot what it looked like. Lovely food prepared for us. Fun beach time. Horrific-early time to the airport. Village young people very dedicated and helpful. Bateys – so poor, no paved roads, bare feet.” “I really enjoyed interacting with the Dominican people and learning about their way of life. Being in the bateys for four days gave me a first-hand view of the daily tasks and challenges of the sugar cane workers and their families.” |
“Don’t think about why you can’t – just go on Givingthanks and experience the people and culture of the Dominican Republic. We learned so much about generosity and hospitality from our Dominican partner organization, Fundación Enciende Una Luz (Light A Candle), and the people we met in the bateys. Regardless of your background, education or age, this trip has something for everyone. I promise this trip will change your life!” “The Givingthanks trip was one of the best trips I have ever been on. We did so much in five days! Because I had already gone on two Youth Spring Break trips to the DR, I loved getting to see my Dominican friends again and to grow closer with the VPC people on the trip. Everybody needs to go on this trip. It does not matter who you are, this trip will change you.” |
