NEW YORK, June 4, 2008. – The Kentucky-based Presbyterian Church-USA’s Committee on the Self Development of People (SDOP) has approved a generous grant of $126,728 to install water systems inside four batey communities of the Dominican Republic.

The two recipients of the grants, the Batey Relief Alliance’s field organization, BRA DOMINICANA and the Movement of Dominican-Haitian Women—MUHDA, will collaborate to distribute clean and potable water to thousands of residents living in four batey communities: Palmarejo, El Bosque, Cojobal and La Pista de Juan Sanchez.

These bateyes are located in the province of Monte Plata and are deprived of the most basics for their residents. “Hundreds of community health promoters will also be organized to educate local residents about their right to access to healthcare, nutrition, and education” said Maria Virtudes Berroa, Executive Director of BRA Dominicana.

“There is no reason why people have to resort to drinking contaminated waters to harm their health. We want to benefit the majority of residents with these water systems to enhance the quality of their lives,” said Cynthia White, SDOP coordinator.

The new water project is an extension of the Batey Relief Alliance’s current clean water campaign distributing Biosand water filters to hundreds of batey residents, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of New York, the Rotary Club Mirador and Rotary Club Arroyo Hondo Santo Domingo.

To learn more about or support this new water initiative that will save lives in the bateyes, contact SDOP at www.pcusa.org/sdop, or 1-888-728-7228 extension 5790. You may also reach the Batey Relief Alliance at www.bateyrelief.org, (917) 627-5026, or bra@bateyrelief.org.