Digicel was named a winner at the 2012/ 13 Corporate Citizens of the Americas (CCA) Award last Wednesday night at a glittering gala in Washington, DC. The CCA awards are an initiative from The Trust for the Americas with support from the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and AES Corporation.
Digicel was named the winner in the Vulnerable Communities Category for its Digicel Foundation education programme in Haiti which sees it on track to build 150 schools by 2014 and deliver training to over 600 teachers who each received more than 450 hours of training, mentorship and professional development.
Other winners were IBM Latin America for its “Corporate Service Corps” programme in the Economic Opportunities Category and CEMEX for its “Comprehensive Assisted Auto Construction” programme in the Citizen Security Category.
The Trust for the Americas is a non-profit organisation affiliated with the Organisation of American States (OAS). It was established in 1997 to promote public and private sector participation in social and economic development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Its initiatives, implemented through local partner organisations, seek to improve access to economic opportunities for vulnerable communities in the hemisphere. To this end, the trust also promotes social inclusion and good governance.
Commenting on the Digicel Foundation’s work in Haiti, Digicel chairman and founder, Denis O’Brien, said “We are deeply committed to helping the people of Haiti to build a brighter future for themselves. Our education programme in Haiti sees between 80,000 and 90,000 children being given the opportunity to receive a much-needed education and teachers receiving proper training and support. We would like to thank the Trust of the Americas and its partner organisations for this kind recognition of our efforts.”
Digicel Group Limited is a leading global communications provider with operations in 31 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific. After 12 years of operation, total investment to date stands at over US$ 4.5 billion worldwide.
The company is renowned for delivering the best value, the best service and the best network.
Digicel runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel foundations in Jamaica, Haiti, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.
Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams and individuals, including the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt and Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel also sponsors the West Indies cricket team.
