Dominican Republic Program
400 Bateyes — Reaching Every Child
TJSB is on a mission to bring education, identity, and opportunity to the children living in the 400 bateyes of the Dominican Republic — sugarcane communities where Haitian-descent families have lived for generations, often without legal recognition or access to schooling.
400
Bateyes targeted
Communities across the Dominican Republic where TJSB operates
500K+
People affected
Haitian-descent residents living in DR bateyes
$20
Cost per birth certificate
The price of legal identity for one child
86+
Families served
Families who have received documentation support through TJSB
What is a Batey?
Bateyes are rural communities built around sugarcane plantations in the Dominican Republic. Hundreds of thousands of Haitian-descent people live in these settlements, many without birth certificates, national ID cards, or legal residency — documents that are required to enroll in school, access healthcare, or participate in civic life.
TJSB's DR program targets all 400 bateyes across the country. Our teams work directly in these communities to register births, provide educational support, and connect families with the resources they need to build a stable future.
A birth certificate costs as little as $20 — yet for a child without one, it is the difference between a future and no future at all.
A Generation at Risk
For decades, children born in the bateyes have grown up in a legal gray zone. A 2013 Dominican court ruling stripped citizenship from hundreds of thousands of Haitian-descent residents, leaving entire families stateless overnight. The effects ripple through every aspect of life — from school enrollment to employment to the ability to simply exist on paper.
TJSB believes that every child deserves to be seen, counted, and given a chance. Our 400 Bateyes program is one of the most direct ways we act on that belief — one birth certificate, one enrollment, one family at a time.
How We Help
Birth Certificate Fund
We cover the legal and administrative costs to obtain birth certificates for children born in the DR to Haitian parents. Without this document, a child cannot attend school, receive medical care, or claim their rights.
School Enrollment Support
Once a child has documentation, TJSB works with local schools to facilitate enrollment, provide school supplies, and connect families with scholarship opportunities.
Community Outreach
Our field teams visit bateyes regularly to identify undocumented children, educate parents about their rights, and build trust within communities that have long been overlooked.
Family Wellness
Beyond documentation, we connect families with food assistance, health referrals, and mental health support — addressing the full picture of need in batey communities.
Give a Child Their Identity
For just $20, you can fund a birth certificate that opens the door to school, healthcare, and a legal future for one child in the DR bateyes.