Mi Vida en Juego: At Risk Youth Project Overview
Summary
Engage at-risk youth in active citizenship, social development and personal empowerment in rural Dominican Republic.
Desired Outcomes
Develop Innovative extracurricular programs to empower youth: sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender-based violence, leadership & vocational skills classes, and baseball & softball training.
1
Train Youth leaders programs to be agents of social change among other youth in the community.
2
Increase access to employment opportunities for rural youth through reintegration in school and skills building.
3
Successes
More than 50 boys and girls reached through baseball and softball trainings and leadership workshops
Provided 21st Century Skills and English training to 50 boys and girls.
Conducted a sexual and reproductive health and gender roles Needs Assessment
Project Site
Hato Mayor & El Seibo are neighboring rural towns in the Eastern region of the Dominican Republic made up of Dominicans and Haitians living in batey communities where sugar and agricultural production impacts the social and economic dynamics and needs.
Youth
The youth of the program are 14-20 years old who face social, economic and educational challenges. Boys and girls engage in baseball and softball training in conjunction with educational programming as a healthy method to increase their livelihood and future opportunities.
Our Partners & Volunteers
Michigan Flint University donated baseball equipment.
Virginia Tech conducted health and youth leadership workshops.
Major League Baseball donated baseball equipment.
Interns from Virginia Tech, Queens College and Utah State University taught ESL and conducted workshops on gender roles.
Develop a mutually beneficial project based on the objectives and youth needs
Implement trainings for youth to learn leadership, life-skills, and sexual health including HIV/AIDS to enforce values outside of baseball.
Engage youth in baseball clinics, providing fundamental baseball techniques, drills, etc.