* If you/your student previously attended a trip
Learn from and experience the culture and community of the Bayou through painting and yard work projects as well as relational ministry with children, youth and elderly populations.
Bayou La Batre is situated on the central Gulf Coast, just 15 miles from Mobile, Alabama. This town of approximately 2,500 relies on the seafood industry to provide approximately 85% of its gross income. Shrimping is a major source of income, especially for the Asian community, which makes up 23% of the population. The Asian community is mostly comprised of Vietnamese refugees who came to the US after the war and found the local industry to be very similar to the homeland. Bayou La Batre also prides itself for its shipbuilding - from government vessels to ships seen in major motion films. The culturally diverse community of Bayou La Batre struggled with poverty even before Hurricane Katrina, with 28% living below the poverty line. Katrina completely destroyed 150 homes and damaged 800 more. YouthWorks participants will help residents in need to get back on their feet.
Bayou La Batre, known to locals as “The Bayou,” is located on the Gulf of Mexico at the southwestern corner of Alabama. The shores of the Bayou offer scenic beaches and marinas bringing a beautiful backdrop to this small-town community steeped in southern tradition and Cajun heritage. Considered to be the “seafood capital of Alabama,” Bayou is a community that lives and breathes with the shrimping and fishing seasons. The seasonal and unpredictable conditions of the seafood industry have a significant impact on the community. Within the unpredictability of the seafood industry are the effects of significant environmental factors like hurricanes and oil spills. Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are among the most recent disasters to impact the community of Bayou. Though both events brought devastation, the community remains resilient. YouthWorks has had a presence in Bayou since 2000 and has become a staple in the life of the community during the summers. YouthWorks serves the community through Kids Club and Work Projects. The Kids Club is seen as a safe place for kids during the summer. Families submit Kids Club applications beginning in early spring. Work Projects, such as painting, yard work, and other small repairs, are also in high demand, with our partners collecting applications for projects year-round.