The Batey Relief Alliance
The Batey Relief Alliance’s humanitarian mission is guided by the philosophical principle that the plight of the poor cannot be alleviated solely through simple “hand-outs”. The affected population must be allowed to fully engage in defining the core of its problems, and through adequate support, finding its own solutions.
Since BRA’s presence inside the bateyes, the marginalized population’s socio-economic conditions have improved dramatically: health care is freely accessible without fears, essential medicines are affordable regardless of money, rates of diseases and mortality are reduced, AIDS sufferers are living longer with ARV treatment, lives are being saved, a sense of self-worth is elevated, and productivity is on the rise again.
From 1998-2007, BRA installed two modern medical facilities, ran fourteen preventive health and education projects, served and touched the lives of more than 300,000, and invested close to US $40 million to support its humanitarian work. Praised by the international relief giant, the Catholic Medical Mission Board, in its 2003 annual report, “Founded in just six years ago, the story of BRA and its work shows exactly what can happen when individual people take the initiative…CMMB continues to be inspired by a person and an organization taking leadership to a new level.”
Additionally, BRA’s humanitarian work has attracted the involvement of many internationally, including high profile personalities such as Dominican-born former baseball Manager of the Kansas City Royals, Tony Pena, former US President, Bill Clinton, etc. In his support for the BRA, President Clinton said the following on September 10, 2005, “…the Batey Relief Alliance is doing important and difficult work. They need our continued support.”
Our work has been successful, in part, because of the unique ability we develop to form bona fide alliances with the Dominican Republic, foreign government agencies, and religious institutions; collaborate with local NGOs; and work with volunteers. Most importantly we continue to maintain with the local populations a relationship based on mutual trust, respect and cultural understanding. Such rapport has permitted us, so far, to work in their environment and serve them. We will continue to act in the same capacity to achieve our long-term goals and objectives.
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