THE DIGICEL FOUNDATION RENEWS ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS NATIONAL COMMITTEE

A donation of more than (2) million gourdes was given.

Friday, May 10^th, 2013- Port-au-Prince – HAITI – In order to prepare Haitian athletes’ next participation in the up and coming Paralympic games, the Digicel Foundation renewed its contract, with the Special Olympics National Committee and gave them a donation of more than two (2) million gourdes.

Wanting to contribute to the fight for the social inclusion of children and teenagers presenting a physical and/or intellectual impairment, the Digicel Foundation has established, for more than 4 years, a partnership with the Special Olympics National Committee. Thanks to this support, the national committee will be able to carry out a program aiming at initiating, developing and perfecting athletes’ technical skills in sporting disciplines such as track and field, basketball, soccer, table tennis, etc.

In accordance with its sporting development program, Haiti’s Special Olympics National Committee recently launched an ambitious program all across the country reaching nearly 800 children of both sexes suffering from physical and/or intellectual impairment. This plan’s objective is to continue with organizing each year the Paralympic National Day and especially Haitian athletes’ participation in the next autumn World Paralympic Games which will take place in 2015 in Los Angeles.

Commenting on the renewal of this contract, Jean Sanon Chevalier, President of the Special Olympics National Committee stated that “we are at a loss for words to show our gratitude towards the Digicel Foundation for so much generosity. Each day, National Committee works tirelessly in order to offer hundreds of young people suffering from physical and/or intellectual impairment the necessary support and guidance so that they can develop their aptitudes even more”.

“The Digicel Foundation is very glad to have been able to contribute to this noble activity which thoroughly translates Digicel’s vision which consist of getting involved in helping the Haitian population and working together with them day in fulfilling their goals. Haitian athletes already obtained very good results during the 2007 Olympic Games, we do not have any doubt that they will work hard in order to inspire the entire country once more” as stated by the Executive Director of the Digicel Foundation, Sophia Stransky.

A partnership going on for years…

As a socially responsible company, Digicel firmly believes in the integration of people presenting physical and/or intellectual impairments. Indeed, the Digicel head office building in Turgeau was especially designed to allow access for disabled people. Moreover, Digicel hired several employees presenting physical impairments, whether it be within General Management with Bernard Yacoub, the technical department’s manager, or amongst regular employees with David Rosenthal, a young athlete having participated in the Paralympic Games of 2006, who has been working in Digicel’s finance department since 2007.

“By its recruitment policy, Digicel always encouraged social inclusion within the company. Digicel warmly welcomed disabled employees who are very qualified professionally. The earthquake of January 2010 unfortunately increased the number of people who will have to live with a physical disability of some sort and Digicel is delighted to offer everyone a reason to hope and a place where they will be able to improve and develop themselves professionally and humanly” said Bryan Gonzales, Human Resources Manager in Digicel-Haiti.

About the Digicel Foundation

Launched on March 5th, 2007 in Thomazeau, the Digicel-Haiti Foundation, which is a non-profit organization, chose education as its priority sector. Through this program and its different partnerships, it supports the education of more than 30.000 students in primary schools all across Haiti.

The Foundation is headed by and Executive Board of 9 members who are all Digicel employees.

Please visit the site www.fondationdigicelhaiti.org or follow us on twitter @FonDigicelHaiti, for more information on the Digicel Foundation.

Contact:

Marckens Armony
Project & PR Manage
marmony@digicelgroup.com
Phone number: 3700-7062

Since its inception in March 2007, the Digicel Foundation has worked tirelessly to make education accessible to as many people as possible. Between 2007 and 2010, the Digicel Foundation has built 20 schools for over 10,000 children in remote areas and with disadvantaged backgrounds.

Since the earthquake of 2010, the Foundation has built 55 additional schools, some of which are modular and others are permanent. These schools have helped more than 20,000 children to resume their schooling.

With its future plan to build another 75 schools by 2014, more than 50,000 children have the opportunity to attend each year 150 schools built by the Digicel Foundation.

Last week, three new schools were opened: the Ecole de la Coopérative de Vétiver de Débouchette in Port Salut,  Institution Mixte Foyer des Archangels in Cité Soleil and Institution Scolaire Muspan in Delmas 33.

With its achievements in recent years, the Digicel Foundation has received support from other foundations. Indeed, the School, Ecole de la Coopérative de Vétiver de Débouchette, (Port Salut) was carried out in partnership with the Firmenich Foundation, while the Institution Mixte Foyer des Archangels (Cité Soleil) has benefited from the support of the Happy Hearts Fund which also co-funded with the Stiller Foundation building Institution Scolaire Muspan (Delmas 33).

Sophia Stransky, CEO of the Foundation said, “In spite of very difficult conditions, the Digicel Foundation is now halfway in reaching its goal to give Haiti 150 schools by 2014, I would like to thank all those who were involved to make this achievement possible.”

“The Digicel Foundation takes this opportunity to express its gratitude to the Stiller Foundation, Happy Hearts Fund and Firmenich for their collaboration. This partnership will allow thousands of children to enjoy a much better environment conducive to learning, “added Sophia Stransky.

In addition, the Digicel Foundation continues to invest in improving schools through its teacher training program launched last August which aims to train about 600 teachers over the next 3 years.

END

About Digicel Foundation

Established on 5 March 2007 in Thomazeau, Digicel Haiti Foundation, a nonprofit organization, has chosen education as a priority sector. Through this program and its various partnerships, it supports the education of over 30,000 primary school students throughout Haiti.The Foundation is governed by an Executive Council of 9 members, all employees of Digicel. Please visit www.fondationdigicelhaiti.org, for more information on the Digicel Foundation.

Contact :

Marckens Armony Public Relation Manager Digicel Haiti Tel: +509 37 00 70 6 marmony@digicelgroup.com

Tuesday, December 4, 2012 – Port-au-Prince – Haiti: Digicel employees have chose a school called “Centre Familial d’Etudes et d’Apprentissage “, recently built by the Digicel Foundation, for their first volunteering day activity.

In order to encourage employees to participate more actively in the activities of the Foundation, the CEO of Digicel granted a paid day to all employees so that they can give their time for a social cause.

This Friday, November 30, more than 35 employees Digicel made the trip to Saut d’Eau to work at “Centre Familial d’Etudes et d’Apprentissage” school built by the Foundation according to international standards, both hurricane and earthquake resistant. Throughout the day employees cleaned, planted trees and decorated the premises which will house nearly 200 students. Employees surprised the children with their extraordinary talent as decorators and designers to make this new school, a joyous space. In addition, employees planted hundreds of trees in order to promote the protection of the environment.

“It is a pleasure to host the Digicel staff volunteers who joined us in making this day a beautiful celebration of giving back. In this holiday season and New Year, this is a beautiful example of solidarity and sharing. As a first experience, it was a great success and we are very excited to welcome other employees in future projects of the Foundation, “said Sophia Stransky, Chief Executive Officer of the Digicel Foundation.

With the approach of Christmas, the Foundation invites each person to dedicate some of their time to participate in a social cause, it is their way of sharing a warm smile with those in need.

The Foundation has also opened four schools during the month of November: Jean Francois Institution Joint Biassou Morne Blanc (Gonaives), Marie Morisset City Sanoix the Daughters of Providence Missionary in Artibonite and the Adventist Institute of Etam Croix des Bouquets. This brings to 79 the total number of schools already built by the Digicel Foundation.

About Digicel Foundation

Established on 5 March 2007 in Thomazeau, Digicel Haiti Foundation, a nonprofit organization, has chosen education as a priority sector. Through this program and its various partnerships, it supports the education of over 30,000 primary school students throughout Haiti. The Foundation is governed by an Executive Council of 9 members, all employees of Digicel.

Please visit www.fondationdigicelhaiti.org, for more information on the Digicel Foundation.

Contact :

Marckens Armony
Public Relation Manager
Digicel Haiti
Tel: +509 37 00 70 6
marmony@digicelgroup.com

The first phase of the program initiated with the training of 20 trainers partaking in a two year professional development certification program offered by the Universite du Quebec a Montreal (UQAM).  Fundamental concepts, skills, and practices in the profession of teaching were reviewed and, then, appropriated into interactive and hands-on activities prepared by the Digicel Foundation and trainers for participating school teachers.  While four weeks of training of trainers and primary school teacher group workshops have culminated, the coaching, accompaniment and monitoring is just beginning and will continue in the classrooms over the next three years.

During the school year, our 20 local trainers will be responsible for assisting teachers in becoming better educators and more confident in their role–building teachers’ educational foundation so they can help build the educational foundation of their students. To learn more about the program, please click on Digicel Foundation Haiti Teacher Training Initiative.

Sophia Stransky, who has replaced Elizabeth Headon, has worked at Digicel since August 2005 and her last position was Director of Corporate Sales. Ms. Stransky is familiar with the environment of the Foundation – being one of the first volunteers to sit on its board, launched in March 2007.

Commenting on her appointment, the new Chief Executive said “It is with great joy and enthusiasm that I accept this new position as the head of the Digicel Foundation which provides  extraordinary work in Haiti. The Foundation has to its credit an impressive reputation and I am ready, with the cooperation of other staff, to meet new challenges.”

“Under my leadership, the Digicel Foundation will retain its primary task to support communities to be strong through the development of educational social and cultural activites” Sophia Stransky has revealed.

Damian Blackburn, CEO of Digicel Haiti, comments: “We are very pleased that Sophia has accepted this new position. The Digicel Foundation is a crucial part of the Digicel family, and we are confident that with this commitment and dynamism, Sophia will continue this work to make communities have a better tomorrow. “