
80%
of Dominican children enrolled in 1st grade drop out of school before 9th grade in impoverished areas
IMPACT
THE ISSUE AT HAND
The Dominican Republic is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. A staggering number of families struggle to feed their children. Education is a distant thought.
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Because of the success of Dominican players in professional baseball (in 2019, the 30 MLB teams played 152 Dominican born players) Major League Baseball is commonly viewed as the only path out of poverty. It is common for young males (age 12-14) to drop out of school, and spend 6 days a week, training sunrise-to-sunset at their local baseball field.

5%
of those training to become professional baseball players succeed in signing a contract after they become eligible at 16
of those pro players training at D.R. baseball academies earn the opportunity to play Minor League Baseball in the United States
35%

of those Minor League players successfully earn a roster spot with a Major League Baseball team
2%

The vast majority of Dominican youth who leave school to chase the MLB dream face a difficult future. Even those who earn a plane ticket off the island often have short Minor League careers, quickly spend all of their hard earned signing-bonus money, and return to the Dominican Republic in their late teens or early twenties with few employment prospects.
This all-or-nothing system continually leaves hardworking young men back where they started - undereducated, with little money, and without guidance, facing a limited future despite their hard work and success.
OUR SOLUTION
RESULTS & IMPACT
HAESE Academy has developed a "5-Tool Program" designed to empower student-athletes with the skills to break the cycle of poverty. Working from the ground up we provide access to quality primary education, college preparatory education, consistent nutrition, and life mentorship & management, all while preparing our student-athletes to be successful at the highest level of professional baseball.
PRIMARY SCHOOL

SECONDARY SCHOOL & ENGLISH INSTRUCTION

NUTRITION & ATHLETIC TRAINING

*Impact results based on data collected during [year]