The Digicel Foundation inaugurates its 174th school

Haiti Libre:

Haiti - Social : The Digicel Foundation inaugurates its 174th school

The Digicel Haiti Foundation this week opened the PJ Mara de Jolivert National School located in the commune of Bassin Bleu in the Northwest department. Mr. Denis O’Brien, founder of the Digicel Foundation, was in attendance along with a delegation from Ireland and numerous local authorities including the Departmental Director of National Education, Mr. Yves Félizaire. This school is a special project dedicated to the memory of Mr. Patrick James Mara, member of Digicel Group’s Board of Director, who passed away in 2016.

Founded in July 2011, this school, which was operating in a makeshift shelter, is now lodged in new earthquake-resistant and hurricane-resistant premises. The school has 11 classrooms that can accommodate more than 400 students, an administrative building, a computer lab, a library, a sports field, a kitchen, and a warehouse, as well as bathroom facilities. This institution, which cost almost US$500,000, is the 174th school built by the Foundation since its inception. It serves the community of Jolivert, which lacked a school structure that conformed to international building codes. As a result of this latest addition, the number of students that attend schools built by the Foundation in Haiti now totals 60,000.

Believing firmly that agriculture also constitutes one of the pillars of the country’s development, the Foundation, in collaboration with the school Principal, Mrs. Loutte Yvette, started a “School Garden” programme to teach students about and involve them in national agricultural production. Starting with preschool, students will learn to plant vegetables and fruits, to grow them, and to harvest their own produce – a part which will be used for the school canteen and the remainder of which will be sold by the school administration with the revenue contributing to the school’s maintenance.

HL/ HaitiLibre

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