Lost in the vast sugarcane fields of the Dominican Republic, there are hundreds of small villages called Bateys. These underdeveloped towns were established in the beginning of the 20th century to house migrant Haitian workers during the sugarcane season. Images and text by Reed Young, reporting from Batey Las Pajas. Berto "Papa" and his sister, Marciel "Cyclone," grew up with a back yard full of sugar cane. Marciel is appropriately known throughout the Batey as Cyclone because her mother gave birth to her soaking wet on the day of Hurricane George. George swept through Las Pajas on September 22, 1998, flattening all homes built out of wood and scrap metal and leaving only some of the barracks standing.

Reed Young: Las Pajas and the Lucky Haitians

Lost in the vast sugarcane fields of the Dominican Republic, there are hundreds of small villages called Bateys. These underdeveloped towns were established in the beginning of the 20th century to house migrant Haitian workers during the sugarcane season. Images and text by Reed Young, reporting from Batey Las Pajas.

Berto "Papa" and his sister, Marciel "Cyclone," grew up with a back yard full of sugar cane. Marciel is appropriately known throughout the Batey as Cyclone because her mother gave birth to her soaking wet on the day of Hurricane George. George swept through Las Pajas on September 22, 1998, flattening all homes built out of wood and scrap metal and leaving only some of the barracks standing.

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Reed Young: Las Pajas and the Lucky Haitians