{"id":347,"date":"2014-12-24T12:55:00","date_gmt":"2014-12-24T12:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rf.podcastfixit.com\/index.php\/2014\/12\/24\/heather-and-haley-go-to-dominican\/"},"modified":"2015-06-01T19:40:41","modified_gmt":"2015-06-01T19:40:41","slug":"heather-and-haley-go-to-dominican","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newscoverage.org\/index.php\/2014\/12\/24\/heather-and-haley-go-to-dominican\/","title":{"rendered":"Heather and Haley go to Dominican Republic and give back to youth"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mother and daughter take a different kind of vacation<\/i><\/b>
\n
<\/b>
\nBy Kevin Woodhouse<\/b>
\nwww.thesuburban.com<\/a><\/p>\n

When one thinks of the Dominican Republic, images of surf, sand and all inclusive vacations spring to mind; relaxing in the warmer climate for a restful week\u2019s sojourn away from the stresses of everyday life. <\/p>\n

For Kirkland residents Heather Yorston and her 12-year-old daughter Haley, this past summer\u2019s visit to Puerto Plata took on a whole different kind of vacation trip. <\/p>\n

The two intrepid travelers were part of Youth Upliftment\u2019s College Am\u00e9lioration Jeunesse Summer Camp program, created by 23-year-old Katelyn Bateman who fell in love with the many street children of Haitian descent she met while on a trip to a resort with her family five years previously. <\/p>\n

Heartbroken that many kids were malnourished and without access to schooling, spending their days scavenging or selling trinkets to tourist, Bateman established the non-profit agency and through fundraising, created the college so the elementary and secondary aged children received a hearty breakfast, often their only meal of the day, as well as an education. <\/p>\n

While the school thrived, Bateman, Haley\u2019s former babysitter, was disheartened to know that many of the children of Puerto Plata had no organized activities or a safe place to go in the summer, thus the camp was created. <\/p>\n

More than 60 kids take part everyday where mornings are set aside for lessons with afternoons open for excursions like trips to the beach. \u201cFor many of the kids, this was the first time they go actually swim in the ocean and play since for them, going to the beach meant going to work,\u201d Yorston said. <\/p>\n

The Yorstons also visited area villages, bringing gifts of food and lamp oil to some of the relatives who made school a priority for their charges. \u201cOne of the mothers walks 90 minutes each way to bring her kids to and from school each day,\u201d Yorston said. <\/p>\n

Many of the children live in abject poverty with no running water in their homes and sleep on cement floors but \u201cdespite there being a lot of need for the country, the people are very generous and welcoming.\u201d <\/p>\n

Haley described the weeklong trip immersed in a culture completely different from the West Island as \u201clife changing. At first there was some culture shock because where we live, everything is given to you and there is a strong support system. <\/p>\n

\u201cIn Puerto Plata, there is not always easy access to education and while they do not have many material goods, the children have their community, their family and now their school,\u201d Haley told The Suburban.<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
<\/i>One of the reasons that The Yorstons are proud of working with Youth Upliftment\u2019s project is \u201cI know exactly the kids we\u2019re helping,\u201d Yorston said. \u201cI finally found a cause where I know we make a direct difference. <\/p>\n

To find out more about Youth Upliftment, visit them online at www.youthupliftment.org<\/a>.
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