"The sugar mill towns, or bateyes, of the Dominican Republic were built in the early 20th century to house workers - particularly seasonal labourers from neighbouring Haiti. In the wake of the sugar industry's decline in the region, these communities have faced crumbling infrastructure, poverty, a lack of job opportunities and limited access to education, electricity and clean water. Los Niños del Batey follows 12-year-old Wilkin Bautista"
"as he guides viewers through his neighbourhood, Batey de San Luis, on the outskirts of Santo Domingo. Part of Pequeños Dibujos Animados (PDA) - a project to bring children's creativity to life through animation, drawing and music - the film captures Wilkin's reflections on his surroundings, including his two greatest passions: baseball and rap music. Blending Wilkin's footage and endearing narration with lively animations inspired by local children's drawings, the film offers a revealing look at how joy and hardship coexist in this community."
Los Niños del Batey follows 12-year-old Wilkin Bautista as he guides viewers through Batey de San Luis on Santo Domingo's outskirts. The sugar mill towns, or bateyes, were built in the early 20th century to house workers, especially seasonal labourers from neighbouring Haiti. The sugar industry's decline left communities with crumbling infrastructure, poverty, scarce jobs, and limited education, electricity and clean water. Wilkin narrates his surroundings and celebrates baseball and rap. The film blends his footage and narration with lively animations inspired by local children's drawings through the Pequeños Dibujos Animados project, showing how joy and hardship coexist.
#bateyes-dominican-sugar-mill-towns #sugar-industry-decline #pequentildeos-dibujos-animados-pda #childhood-creativity-and-resilience
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