DPD Germany is participating in a relief project for Haiti following the disastrous earthquakein the country that occurred half a year ago with 300,000 deaths.
After the initial emergency care, the priority now is about achieving a long-term improvement inliving conditions, especially for children and young people, DPD Germany said in a statement.
In partnership with Kindernothilfe, one of the largest Christian organisations in Europe forchildren’s aid and Jäger Direkt, a German manufacturer of electrical products, DPD is supportingthe campaign “5 cents per parcel for Haiti”.
For each parcel shipped by Jäger Direkt via DPD, both partners will donate five cents for achildren’s centre in the country. “We expect to generate about €25,000 within a year,” said ArminMargardt, Regional Manager DPD Germany. “With numerous projects, DPD takes on socialresponsibility. At the same time, we consider it very important to keep good cooperative relationswith our customers. The parcel campaign links both issues,” he added.
The campaign was launched by the Strahlemann Initiative, a regional small-scale association ofcompanies promoting projects for children and young people.
Kindernothilfe has already established 15 children’s centres in Haiti to provide medical careand school education for more than 9,000 children, among others in Léogâne, a Haitian coastal cityand the epicentre of the earthquake where up to 90 % of the buildings were destroyed. The long-termgoal is to build a school there.
Strahlemann has agreed to co-finance the project with €30,000 a year for several years on anannual basis. This will include funds for the construction of the school, catering and advancedtraining for teachers as well as teaching material such as books, craft materials, etc.
Jürgen Schübelin, Head of Kindernothilfe, commented: “The children’s centres providepsychosocial support offering protection and refuge in the first months after the disaster untilschools and nurseries are rebuilt again. Playing and learning helps children get back to normalityand process their terrible experiences.”
