business

Phone boss helps to build schools for kids

Ireland's Digicel boss Denis O'Brien is one of Haiti's key supporters. By Frank Murphy - 05/11/09

Phone boss helps to build schools for kids

BUSINESSMAN Denis O’Brien’s Digicel Haiti Foundation has been involved in helping the residents of the Caribbean country for two years.

 

It celebrated its one year anniversary with the achievement of delivering on a promise to build 20 primary schools in its first 12 months of operation, two in each district of Haiti.

 

The primary schools, which are completely furnished and staffed with trained teachers, will provide more than 7,000 Haitian children with an education to help them prepare for a better life.

 

In addition, the Foundation is ensuring that the schools will be sustained over the next three years through a network of strategic community partnerships, which include partnerships with the Ministry of National Education and individual NGOs.

 

Denis O'Brien, patron of the Digicel Haiti Foundation and chairman of Digicel Group, visited the poverty stricken neighbourhood of Cité Soleil to officially open the Ecole St. Patrick primary school. The Foundation will continue to dedicate itself to the development of Education in Haiti.

 

Mr O’Brien said: "The building of the 20 primary schools we hope will have a tremendous role in uplifting community spirit and inspiring new hope for children who are ultimately the future of Haiti. The Digicel Haiti Foundation is determined to make a difference and play a positive role in people's lives and this is our way of saying 'Thank You' for the incredible warm welcome and support we have received from the people of Haiti."

 

The Digicel Haiti Foundation has worked with the Ministry for National Education and a number of other agencies to implement a food programme, which provides each child with hot daily meals and a teacher training program to ensure each child has access to a quality education.

 

Partner agencies include Food for the Poor, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), World Vision, USAID, the World Food Program, the Catholic Mission, Crose (Coordination Regionale des Organisation du Sud East), Concern and the French NGO Initiative Developement (ID).

 

Mr O’Brien added: "Partnerships are a key contributor to the success and sustainability of the Digicel Haiti Foundation.

 

“As we continue to grow in Haiti so will our ties to our communities, which will foster even stronger and more effective partnerships."

 

The Digicel Haiti Foundation was established in March 2007, just ten months following the successful launch of Digicel in Haiti in May 2006.

 

Digicel Haiti recorded a milestone of 1.8 million customers in September 2007 and directly employs 650 staff members. Digicel Haiti has invested more than US$260 million in Haiti, representing the largest ever corporate investment made by an international company.

Back to top

Related Articles

19/07/2010 - Ireland favoured by foreign investors

05/07/2010 - Minister visits Haiti aid projects

07/06/2010 - Jobs boost for North-West

03/06/2010 - Ape to hold charity auction

Privacy Policy. About The Irish World. © Irish World Ltd 934 North Circular Road, London NW2 7JR Tel: 020 8453 7800

Site by rubbaglove