In the Caribbean, the place palm bushes sway in the mild breeze and the aroma of jerk spices fills the air – a melody composed of colourful communities, island beats, and heat smiles attracts vacationers from round the globe. Opening our arms to guests right here for greater than 4 a long time, we’ve uncovered the connection between journey and a love for neighborhood as a launching pad for hopes and desires beneath the Caribbean solar.
In 2009, the inception of the Sandals Foundation put a formal framework embodying this mindset – reinforcing that the actual measure of tourism’s success is the means of the Caribbean folks to dwell wholesome, significant lives. The framework of the Sandals Foundation would revolve round three pillars schooling, neighborhood and surroundings – inspiring a assortment of initiatives from Jamaica to The Bahamas to Antigua, Turks & Caicos, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada and most lately, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, impressed by the distinctive wants and alternatives of Sandals’ and Seashores’ beloved island properties.
Studying Highway Journeys supply company of our all-inclusive resorts a distinctive alternative to have interaction with kids in the Caribbean with visits to native faculties for studying periods designed to enhance literacy abilities.
Rooted in Love
“The truth is, that this work dates again lengthy past 15 years, when my father based Sandals Resorts. Lengthy earlier than philanthropy was thought-about modern, my dad tapped into the wants of our neighborhood and carried that torch as a result of it was the proper factor to do,” says Adam Stewart, Government Chairman of Sandals Resorts Worldwide and President of the Sandals Foundation.
He reminisces all the manner again to 1981 when his dad, the nice Gordon “Butch” Stewart, opened Sandals Montego Bay in his island dwelling of Jamaica and instantly took word of the challenges and alternatives to uplift the surrounding communities. He adopted native faculties – taking care of leaky repairs and the provision of books – extending a serving to hand to the smiling locals and cities and parishes enamoring company of Sandals. The guts and soul of the Caribbean – and our why.
Adam Stewart, Government Chairman of Sandals Resorts Worldwide, based the Sandals Foundation in 2009, embracing ‘Training’ as one of its three core pillars.
A Magnificent Milestone and The Sandals Foundation’s Newest Feat: The Energy of 15
Steadfast in our dedication to creating a measurable distinction and creating options that our neighbors can really feel – we welcome our fifteenth anniversary by inviting company from round the globe to indulge in the solar and all of its splendor, as a result of due to renewable power tech, it’s powering extra than simply holidays. Enter The Energy of 15.
A brand new challenge to commemorate a milestone yr, The Energy of 15 will harness the power of the Caribbean solar to deliver sustainable photo voltaic power to Caribbean faculties, making certain a a lot wanted energy provide that permits for studying in the vital digital house to proceed uninterrupted.
“Offering entry to a dependable and cost-efficient power supply places Caribbean kids better off. Energy is energy in at this time’s world, the place a digital divide is figuring out who succeeds and who could also be left behind,” says Heidi Clarke, Government Director of the Sandals Foundation. “We have a good time and lean into our 15 years of work empowering Caribbean communities mixed with a donor initiative bringing ahead the energy of a $15 donation to gentle up faculties in a manner that limits carbon footprints by means of renewable power sources.”
Surroundings meets Training meets Neighborhood – and alternative for generations to return.
Why Photo voltaic Energy in Colleges
In some Caribbean islands, 4 out of 5 households with school-age kids don’t have entry to any kind of pc system, with a little lower than half reporting no means of accessing the web of their properties in any respect. In combating this disconnection, faculty pc labs have change into very important assets, serving as international connectors and curriculum assets for locals of all ages. For our neighboring institutions with out efficient photo voltaic panels, the battle to maintain high-speed web and connectivity optimum is not any straightforward feat
Greater than 90% of the Caribbean’s power comes from oil, making the area extremely weak to exterior shocks like value hikes and useful resource shortages and prices locals greater than double the common value seen in the United States. Past decreasing power prices, and the harsh environmental impacts of oil, these solar energy initiatives enhance entry to efficient expertise – connecting Caribbean college students to the world vast net, stimulating creativeness, and fostering complete teaching programs in at this time’s ever-evolving digital world.
In its 15 years, the Sandals Foundation has distributed over 6,000 digital studying gadgets, supported over 2,000 faculties, awarded over 200 scholarships, and distributed over 300,000 books to colleges and libraries.
By means of this effort, the Sandals Foundation will elevate the funds wanted for the set up of photo voltaic panels on faculty buildings in under-resourced Caribbean communities, serving to to fight these challenges for years to return.
“We have now realized first hand the energy of transformation by means of schooling and what it means to unlock a individual’s means to comply with their very own desires – and in doing so, carrying out their very own financial objectives, taking care of their households and residing the life they need to dwell. Making folks impartial is the best aim, and it begins in the classroom,” says Stewart.
The Good Match
For the complete month of June, Sandals and Seashores Resorts will donate $15 for each minimal $15 donation made to “The Energy of 15” Challenge. These donations will go on to the photo voltaic panel fund with the aim of lighting up faculties in the area to match the digital capabilities of the ever-evolving world round us. To be taught extra about “The Energy of 15 Challenge” and add your spark with a donation, go to www.sandals.com/sandals-foundation-the-power-of-15.
In our dwelling and your completely satisfied place, the ever-shining solar greets vacationers, blooms flora, tempers waters, and can quickly actually empower the islands beneath the Caribbean sky. Collectively, we’re spreading the sunshine.
