Building and opening a school is an important event for every community, but even more so when that community is the once earthquake-ravaged city of Jacmel in southern Haiti.
Honeywell Chairman and CEO Dave Cote and Honeywell Hometown Solutions President Tom Buckmaster helped community members and teachers to mark the opening of Ecole Nationale Jacob Martin Henriquez, a state-of-the-art, nine-building public school complex. The school, which will also feature free meals, will serve students in kindergarten through seventh grade.
The school was built using contemporary, sustainable building methods and is designed to withstand any potential future earthquakes, the firm said. During the construction process, Honeywell trained local builders in modern earthquake-resistant construction and eco-friendly techniques.
“Working together with Operation USA, Mayor Edwin Zenny, and the City of Jacmel, we have delivered on our commitment to rebuild creating a terrific community asset and environment for learning just seven months after we broke ground,” Cote said. “This is one of the largest post-quake rebuilding projects completed in Haiti so far.
I am so pleased to hear about this. Finally, a school where you don’t need a fortune to get an education for your child.