A Day in the Life of a Dominican Child
07/19/13
Life hasn’t always been easy for Rayner and his family. He lives in a small home with his parents, two brothers, and two sisters in the village of Los Robles, in the Dominican Republic. Work is extremely hard to find in this part of the world, and Rayner’s parents always had trouble providing enough food and paying school fees for him and his siblings.
But when Rayner became part of the Children of the Nations (COTN) child sponsorship program, everything changed. Now he goes to school every day, has plenty to eat, and most importantly, has the chance to dream of a bright future. And thanks to Rayner’s sponsors, his parents’ burden is lighter, making it easier for them to provide for their children.
Here’s a peek into a typical day in Rayner’s life:
Rayner lives here in Los Robles, Dominican Republic. His village is a batey, meaning it started as a shantytown for migrant Haitian workers who harvested sugarcane in the 1960s. Today bateyes are some of the poorest areas in the Dominican Republic. Let's see how Rayner spends his days here.
7 a.m. – Rayner wakes up and brushes his teeth outside by the spigot.
Every morning Rayner drives the cows to a new patch of land for them to graze.
8 a.m. – Rayner studies for school. If he finishes early enough, he likes to play with his friends.
12 p.m. – Rayner walks to school and eats lunch with the other children in COTN’s child sponsorship program before classes begin.
5 p.m. – School is dismissed. Rayner likes to play baseball with his friends if it’s not too hot outside. Sometimes he plays dominoes or walks through the village and picks mangoes.
9 p.m. – Rayner is ready to go to bed! He prays that God will bless his parents, who work hard, and he prays that God will take care of his community.
Rayner's sponsors provide so much for him. Sponsor a child today, and provide a needy child with food, education, hope, and more!
