Mission
Education Across Borders transforms communities through bonds of genuine relationship. Our work promotes personal and societal change rooted in a vision of the common good. Through educational scholarships, housing and health care projects, literacy and environmental work, and service-learning immersion programs, we work in partnership with communities to co-create lasting solutions to extreme poverty. We promote healing through understanding, forming bonds of solidarity across racial, socioeconomic, and cultural boundaries, believing that this solidarity is the path to our fullest humanity and liberation.

History & Accomplishments
Begun in 2001, Education Across Borders grew out of the experiences of US college students in the Dominican Republic. While studying there, they developed relationships with communities who lived on the margins of society. Through the transforming impact of these relationships, EAB was born.

In 2004, EAB merged with the Pentecost Project (PP), a short-term immersion program likewise born from the impact of cross-cultural friendships. Through PP, Catholic high schoolers, university students, and parishioners have traveled to EAB’s partner communities of Batey Libertad and Franco Bidó to make relationships with the residents, share their lives for one or two weeks, and cooperate in various community improvement projects.

Cumulatively, EAB’s collaborations with these communities have achieved radical improvements in the residents’ quality of life:

Education. In its first year, EAB supported the education of 17 middle and high school students from Batey Libertad. Today we support over 30 students at university, technical school, and secondary levels from the communities of Batey Libertad and Franco Bidó. To date, 24 students have graduated from high school, an accomplishment that would have been impossible without the collaboration of EAB. Many other students eagerly await partnerships. Other community members take advantage of our adult literacy program.

Housing and Sanitation. EAB has made possible the construction of nearly 40 new homes, helped to repair more than 20 others, and constructed 65 latrines where there were previously none.

Health. We have erected a community clinic in Franco Bidó, which now provides basic health care and free medicine thanks to our collaboration with CrossLink International. Community leaders also conduct preventative health workshops.

Environment. A community park and hundreds of new trees now stand in Batey Libertad thanks to partnership with EAB.

Racial Reconciliation. By facilitating dialogue and community exchanges between youth and adults of US, Dominican, and Haitian descent, EAB helps to heal wounds inflicted by centuries of exploitation and enmity.

Culture of Service. All of our projects are directed by Dominican community leaders in consultation with the US Board of Directors. They are realized through the efforts of empowered community members with the aid of Pentecost Project immersion trip groups and supporters like you!