The Digicel Foundation is continuing its reconstruction program by opening a new school in Delmas 24 in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), IDEJEN and the engineering firm Kentz. The Collège Mixte le Réformateur located at Delmas 24 is now ready to accommodate 700 students of basic education.

The delivery of this new modular school of 5 classrooms and a toilet block constitutes a clear signal of the Digicel Foundation that the education is an integral part of its concerns and priorities. By allowing students of Delmas 24 to resume their courses, the Foundation approaches its commitment to build 50 schools this year to strengthen the Haitian education system.

The Director of the Board of the Digicel Foundation, Ms. Josefa Gauthier declared "by rebuilding the Collège le Réformateur, the Digicel Foundation remains true to its ideals by helping to facilitate the upcoming back to school in appropriate conditions, in buildings completely secure, especially constructed according to the modern construction standards." The Collège le réformateur is also equipped with school furniture to accommodate its students immediately after the inauguration. It was rebuilt according to seismic and anticyclonic standards and can last up to 10 years.

"This partnership with the Fondation Digicel demonstrates the commitment of the USAID to explore new innovative approaches to address these challenges. This unique effort will help through the projects to build schools, to better respond, simultaneously, to the educational needs, economic and job creation expressed by the Haitian communities " has informed the Chief of Mission in Haiti for the USAID, Carleen Dei.

These projects also employ young people for the construction of schools throughout the IDEJEN social program funded by USAID. IDEJEN provides an opportunity for youth 15 to 24 years to acquire a comprehensive and professional training. In addition, IDEJEN allows them to have an income by allowing them to work on construction sites and assembly sites.

As part of its projects, the Digicel Foundation has already delivered 11 schools, 20 others are under construction.

Article By HL/ HaitiLibre