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OAS Assistant Secretary General Wants 5,000 Backpacks for Haiti’s Children

  September 17, 2010

The Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador Albert Ramdin, today launched the “Backpacks for Haiti’s Children” initiative, the goal of which is to collect 5000 backpacks with school supplies for Haiti’s children over the next 30 days.

During a ceremony at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC, the Assistant Secretary General of the hemispheric organization called on the greater Washington, DC, community to support the project. “We have to work on two tracks at the same time to support Haiti,” Ambassador Ramdin said. “The structural, strategic track of planning and capacity building, and a track that helps the people of Haiti with their most immediate needs. Education is an immediate and basic need if sustainable development is to take place.” According to Ramdin, approximately 80% of students in Haiti do not have basic school supplies.

Individuals, families and organizations wishing to contribute over the next 30 days may either bring fully-stocked backpacks to the OAS Credit Union at 1889 F Street N.W., Washington D.C. 20006 or make a cash/check donation payable to the OAS Credit Union, Account # 7773. Each backpack filled with school supplies costs approximately $30.

The initiative will culminate in a major donor drive at the OAS Main Building on Constitution Avenue on Saturday, October 16, 2010, from 10:00am - 2:30pm.

Further information can be obtained by emailing [email protected] or by calling 202-458-6096.

Reference: E-336/10