PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI -- 03/12/08 --
The Digicel Haiti Foundation today
announced that 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.
Furthermore, 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 neighborhood 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.
"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," said Denis O'Brien.
The Digicel Haiti Foundation has worked with the Ministry for National
Education and a number of NGOs to implement a food program, which provides
each child with hot daily meals and a teacher training program to ensure
each child has access to a quality education.
Partner NGOs 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).
"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," added Denis O'Brien.
Denis O'Brien also commended CEO of the Digicel Haiti Foundation Josefa
Gauthier for her strong leadership, passion and commitment to ensuring the
goal of building 20 primary schools was met within the Foundation's first
year.
According to Josefa Gauthier, "When we were first given the task of
building 20 primary schools in one year we knew that there would be major
challenges to overcome as we were working in the most disadvantaged and
isolated areas of the country. However, the warm welcome of the
communities, the joy of the children and the light of hope in their eyes
helped us overcome any obstacles. We have achieved a lot in one year but
there is even more to achieve as we help to build a better Haiti."
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.
For more information on the Digicel Haiti Foundation, please visit
www.fondationdigicelhaiti.org.
ABOUT DIGICEL
Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become the fastest growing wireless
telecommunications operator in the Caribbean. After seven years, Digicel is
renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer
care, a wide variety of products and services, and state-of-the-art
handsets. It is the largest GSM operator in the region.
By offering innovative wireless services and community support, Digicel has
become a leading brand in the Caribbean and has placed the region at the
cutting edge of wireless communications.
Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and has operations in twenty three
markets including Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda,
Bonaire, Curaçao, The Cayman Islands, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana,
Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, St Kitts & Nevis,
St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and
Turks & Caicos. Digicel also has a license in the British Virgin Islands
and coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths.
The company is the lead sponsor of Caribbean sports teams including the
West Indies Cricket Team, Special Olympics teams across the Caribbean and
is title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Football Union Cup, which
involves over 30 Caribbean countries and is an important qualifier towards
the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more information on
Digicel.
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Contact:
Maureen Rabbitt
Head of Group Public Relations
Digicel
+1 (876) 361 2852 (Jamaica)
Maureen.Rabbitt@digicelgroup.com
Dacrie Brooks
Cohn & Wolfe for Digicel
+1 (212) 798 9804 (New York)
Dacrie_brooks@cohnwolfe.com
