Leading DF&TR operator Dufry is joining the Hand in Hand for Haiti Foundation (HIHH) ’Student Sponsorship Program’ in Haiti, Port-au-Prince.

 

The global travel retailer reports today that it is to support a class of 25 child students at the ‘Lycée Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable’ school complex in Saint Marc, located north of the capital of Haiti.

 

The very worthy humanitarian project was opened on 3 October 2011 following the devastating earthquake in January 2010 and remains the biggest charity fund-raising initiative in the history of the travel retail industry to this day.

 

[Uniquely, the school is not only funded by the industry, but it is also operated by it on a permanent ongoing basis through the Hand in Hand for Haiti Foundation].

 

 

The ‘Lycée Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable’ school complex.

 

 

300 CHILDREN FROM 3 TO 8 YEAR OLDS

The ‘hurricane-proof and anti-seismic’ complex initially opened to 153 students and was officially inaugurated on 17 May 2014 by Michel Martelly, President of the Republic of Haiti.

 

Today, it comprises 300 children in 12 classes aged 3 to 8, and the eventual aim is that it will provide free education to over 700 students studying from nursery to secondary levels in years to come.

 

With its recent donation, Dufry says that sponsored children will be able to receive tuition-free trilingual education in French, English and Creole, with this ‘best-in-class academic programme’ in full alignment with the Haitian academic curriculum.

 

Additionally, it provides children with two nutritious meals per day, health services, uniforms and school supplies, as well as free bus transportation to and from school. Daily after-school programmes are organized for all children, as well as day-camps ‎during the Easter and summer breaks.

 

 

The Hand in Hand for Haiti founding Steering Committee Members were Ed Brennan (Formerly Chairman & Ceo of DFS Group), Olivier Bottrie (Estée Lauder) and Martin Moodie (The Moodie Report).

 

 

HAND IN HAND FOR HAITI: ‘VERY GRATEFUL’

Julián Díaz, CEO of Dufry Group, commented: “We are very pleased to announce such a commitment to support the most fragile members of society – children, who need our special attention and protection – especially in Haiti devastated by the earthquake in 2010.”

 

Olivier Bottrie, co-founder of the Hand in Hand for Haiti initiative added: “We are very appreciative of Dufry’s leadership and long-term commitment to support Hand in Hand for Haiti.

 

“Financial sustainability is the most critical success factor of our programme, unique in scope and magnitude in Haiti. We are hopeful that others in the industry will join Dufry to ensure this charitable initiative lives on forever.”

 

For further information about HIHH click here: http://hihh.org/en/home/