HAITI. Today (10 February) Olivier Bottrie, The Estée Lauder Companies’ President Travel Retail Worldwide and co-founder of the non-profit organisation, Hand in Hand for Haiti, was appointed to the French National Order of Merit.
 |
 |
Olivier Bottrie, with students (top) and teachers of the Lycée Jean-Baptiste Point du Sable |
French Minister of Foreign affairs Laurent Fabius nominated Bottrie to recognise his philanthropic achievements following the earthquake that devastated Haiti in 2010. Bottrie initiated and led the establishment of a non-profit free school, the Lycée Jean-Baptiste Point du Sable, which opened its doors on 3 October 2011. Special political guests and members of the civil society gathered earlier today at a ceremony hosted by French Ambassador to Haiti, Patrick Nicoloso.
“The Lycée Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable is an extraordinary and successful project,” stated Nicoloso. “Olivier Bottrie’s energy and commitment to it are exemplary. He fully deserves the recognition of France and this is why we are proud to reward him with the National order of merit medal.”
Vanessa Matignon, Haiti Ambassador to France, added: “Today, we are more than happy to welcome and thank Olivier for his commitment to our homeland.”
 |
Olivier Bottrie addresses dignitaries and guests at the school’s 2011 ground breaking ceremony |
 |
Olivier Bottrie with Haiti President Michel Martelly at the school and Dubai Duty Free sports complex inauguration in May 2014 |
Bottrie commented: “As a French citizen, I am honoured to receive this French national recognition which encourages us all to support the school’s vision. Education is the single most important determinant of an individual’s potential for growth. Our students represent the future of Haiti. I am thankful that Estée Lauder Companies has supported me from the onset.”
The Estée Lauder Companies noted: “Olivier’s tireless work truly reflects the fundamental values of The Estée Lauder Companies as an organisation with a passion for entrepreneurship, philanthropic commitment and creating positive, as well as lasting, social impact. Hand in Hand for Haiti is a prime example of how one person can make a difference.”
Comment: Turmoil in Haiti this week has sadly prevented me at the last minute from joining Olivier Bottrie to celebrate this magnificent accolade, writes Martin Moodie, but nothing can dull the sense of pleasure I feel at seeing him so rightly recognised.
From the very beginning his commitment to the Lycée Jean Baptiste Point du Sable and to the people of Haiti has been nothing short of epic, his passion for the project inspiring and humbling. He broke down industry scepticism and sometimes downright negativity through an irresistible, almost obsessive desire to make it happen, to win the right hearts and to show that regeneration of a ravaged people begins with the young and with education.
Olivier would not take no for an answer, he would not be deterred by the naysayers nor the many obstacles that were placed in the project’s way. He did not accept that because the overwhelming majority of Haitians are conditioned to hardship they did not deserve better. He did not stand back (as I wrote in my Blog at the time) and allow this deprivation, accentuated by natural disaster, to be perpetuated. Unlike so many he did not allow his sense of humanity to be compromised by preconceptions and prejudices that aid to Haiti would be wasted aid. Through grit and an unrelenting will, he made this wondrous project happen.
We should all be proud to have a man such as this in our industry.
 |
Recognising Olivier’s glorious obsession |
| I hadn’t been able to tell you why I was due in Haiti. Now I can. It was to witness my friend Olivier Bottrie (above), The Estée Lauder Companies Travel Retail Worldwide President, being appointed to the French National Order of Merit. |
|
Hand in Hand for Haiti – reflections on a journey |
| When the project’s founders announced this venture on 3 February 2010, we realised we had a huge responsibility on our shoulders; a huge burden of trust from the industry to which we all belong. |
MORE ON HAND IN HAND FOR HAITI
Following the catastrophic 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Bottrie, alongside DFS Group, The Estée Lauder Companies and The Moodie Report, created the Hand in Hand for Haiti Foundation [Olivier Bottrie, former DFS Chairman and CEO Ed Brennan and The Moodie Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie were founding board members, positions they still hold]. From the outset, it was supported by the global travel retail industry, which rallied as one to raise funds to re-build Haiti’s future. Uniquely, the school is not only being funded by the industry, but operated by it on a permanent ongoing basis through the Foundation.
Eighteen months after the earthquake, Hand in Hand for Haiti opened a world-class, free kindergarten-through-secondary educational complex for local children. The Estée Lauder Companies has been a key corporate sponsor of this initiative since the programme’s inception in 2010. The project is the biggest charity fund-raiser in the history of the travel retail industry, and would not have been possible without the unstinting support of so many companies and individuals, who were inspired by Bottrie’s drive and determination to make a difference.
Five years later, the Lycée currently welcomes 302 students and aims to provide education to over 700 students by 2023. An important part of the vision for the school is its holistic approach to education, inspired by the curriculum of the French Lycée of New York. It integrates academic excellence and sports, and provides social and health services for its students and staff. Classes are taught in French, English and Creole, with the goal to ensure students’ multi-lingual fluency. The Lycée curriculum emphasises the need to protect the environment and to ensure that the economic development of Haiti is assessed through the lens of long-term sustainability.
Inaugurating the school and the sports complex last May, Haiti President Michel Martelly, said: “It is very important and that’s why I take the time to support what [Hand in Hand for Haiti] does… I value what’s been done here [and] want to model it, to replicate it around the country.”
For more information visit www.handinhandforhaiti.com
