Dubai Duty Free Sports Complex inaugurated in Haiti

In what is a remarkable story of the travel retail industries support for the ‘Hand in Hand for Haiti' educational initiative, the Dubai Duty Free Sports Complex situated on the campus of Lycee Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable, in Pont Leocan, near the city of Saint Marc Haiti, was officially inaugurated on May 17 by the President of Haiti, Michel Martelly. President Martelly was joined by his Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, several member of his government, the French Ambassador to Haiti, Patrick Nicoloso and representatives from the Hand in Hand for Haiti Foundation, along with officials from the DDF Foundation, the Estee Lauder Companies, DFASS, Starboard, Onboard Media and the Moodie Report. The DDF Sports Complex and Lycee Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable were built through donations raised by Hand in Hand for Haiti following the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti in January 2010. The school opened on October 3, 2011 with some 153 pupils aged three to five and will ultimately offer education for over 700 pupils. In February 2012, DDF, which was already a contributor to Hand in Hand for Haiti, announced a major donation of US$500,000 from its foundation towards the construction of the sports complex that will offer Lycee Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable pupils, as well as young people of the wider community of Saint Marc, an outstanding sports facility. Commenting on the official opening of the DDF Sports Complex, Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman said: "Our thanks to the President of Haiti, Michel Martelly for officially inaugurating this fantastic sports complex. Hand in Hand for Haiti has done a tremendous job in driving forward the phased opening of the Lycee and the completion of the DDF Sports Complex in a short space of time in a challenging environment. "We are very proud to have been part of this projects which will enrich the lives of young people living here and will encourage their interest in sport. My congratulations to all of those involved in the Hand in Hand for Haiti initiative, especially Olivier Bottrie, Ed Brennan, Benny Klepach and Martin Moodie, who have worked tirelessly in recent years to see these projects come to fruition.” Today Lycee Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable educates 250 children aged three to eight and a further 50 children will join in September when the total of teaching staff will reach 22. The hurricane-proof, anti-seismic, sustainable school will eventually offer entirely free education to over 700 students from pre-school to the baccalaureate. Trilingual education (Creole-French-English) with best-in-class academic standards in alignment with the Haitian academic curriculum is provided. The DDF Sports Complex cost a total of US$1.5 million to build and includes an international regulation soccer pitch with artificial turf, a basketball court, two volleyball courts and a 400-metre six-lane running track. The outstanding sports and leisure facility will also be opened to other schools in the Pont Leocan community — the area surrounding the school. Source: Khaleej Times