Women in Travel Retail (and friends) raise €24,800 for Hand in Hand for Haiti

Thanks to the generosity of companies and individuals, Women in Travel Retail (WiTR) raised close to €25,000 during its October meeting at this year’s TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes. The fund-raising was to provide musical instruments for children at Hand in Hand for Haiti’s ground-breaking Lycée Jean- Baptiste Pointe du Sable.

The original target of €15,000 was exceeded in part thanks to three significant contributions – from TRB and their guests at the Consumer Awards Dinner in Singapore, from Shiseido, and from Steffen Brandt of InnoTRI – and to the generosity of companies in providing fabulous silent auction items and raffle prizes and to all who participated by bidding and entering the draw.

Olivier Bottrie, President and Co-founder, Hand in Hand for Haiti commented:

“Haiti’s rich musical culture has inspired many across generations. Thanks to WiTR’s incredible generosity and support, every child in our school will have the opportunity to discover the joy and confidence that comes from the beautiful gift of music.”

The benefits of music education are astounding. Studies have consistently revealed the tremendously positive effect that music education has on a child’s academic performance, sense of community, self-expression and self-esteem. But for nearly all children across Haiti, formal music education is unattainable.

Our purchase of musical instruments will enable the launch of Lycée Jean- Baptiste Pointe du Sable’s (LJBPS) first extracurricular instrumental music program in partnership with Ecole de Musique Christian Nohel de Saint Marc (EMCN). Every child in the school will have the opportunity to discover music through these instruments, both music recognised internationally and also their own rich musical heritage. 

Gerry Munday, Vice Chair of WiTR commented, “Playing an instrument gives a child self-confidence and encourages teamwork as part of a band or orchestra.   The difference this money will make to the children is incredible.”

“This was the biggest meeting ever of Women in Travel Retail, building on the successful launch of WiTR’s website and membership drive”, commented Sarah Branquinho, Chair WiTR. “All women in travel retail are invited to join WiTR; next year’s charity will be decided by WiTR members.”

Thanks go once again to TFWA for its ongoing support, Follador for the wonderful prosecco that added sparkle to our meeting, and to Rob and his team at QuestExhibits for their help with the logistics.

For more information, please contact any of the following:

Sarah Branquinho - sarah.branquinho@dufry.com

Gerry Munday – gerry.munday@furla.com

Catherine Bonelli – catherine.bonelli@paulshark.it

Amanda Felix – amandajanefelix@outlook.com

Lois Pasternak – parsnip5@aol.com

Myriam Chalabi or Mona Lebrasseur – m.chalabi@tfwa.com or m.lebrasseur@tfwa.com

Johanne Hedges – Johanne.Hedges@hardingretail.com

Chandra Mehtani – chandra.mahtani@changiairport.com

Sinead El Sibai – Sinead.ElSibai@ddf.ae

Lucy Hillyard – lucy@wefiltr.com

Media queries to:

Rowena Holland - row@essentialcommunications.org

Notes:

Women in Travel (WiTR) was created in 2006 to recognise the contribution of women to the travel retail industry, past, present and future and as a forum for the women in the travel retail industry. It allows us a privileged medium to exchange ideas, and just as importantly to support people in need who we believe would benefit from our help. From year to year we help different groups or communities (from Haiti to India to Sichuan) to help themselves, with a strong focus on children. Following the devastating hurricane that hit Haiti in 2010, Hand in Hand for Haiti was the first charity to receive funds raised by Women in Travel Retail, enabling the new Lycée Jean- Baptiste Pointe du Sable to purchase equipment for the kindergarten.

Hand in Hand for Haiti (HIHH) - Our mission is to create future leaders and lasting change in Haiti by providing the highest quality, totally-free education in the country.

Hand in Hand for Haiti was established as in response to the humanitarian crisis following the earthquake that ravaged the country on January 12, 2010. On October 3, 2011, we opened the doors to our school the Lycée Jean- Baptiste Pointe du Sable and welcomed 152 children, Nursery, Pre-K and Kindergarten to Haiti’s first free, earthquake-resistant, sustainable school of excellence.  WiTR’s funding of musical instruments will enable the launch of Lycée Jean- Baptiste Pointe du Sable’s (LJBPS) first extracurricular instrumental music program in partnership with Ecole de Musique Christian Nohel de Saint Marc (EMCN). Every child in the school will have the opportunity to discover music through these instruments, both music recognised internationally and also their own rich musical heritage.