Barclays Supports Haiti

By Daily Guide
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Barclays Plc has increased its donation to £500,000 to support relief efforts after the country was hit by an earthquake.

As part of the donation, the Red Cross would receive £250,000 to help it to undertake logistical support and humanitarian relief in the disaster zone.

UNICEF, on the other hand, would receive £250,000 under the existing 'Building Young Futures' partnership with Barclays to support Haiti's orphans.

The money would be used to re-establish educational facilities in Haiti.

The Managing Director (MD) of Barclays Ghana, Benjamin Dabrah, said the donation falls in line with the bank's global community investment programme, which is structured on three themes; banking for brighter futures, looking after local communities and charity begins at work.

He said: “Barclays believes in making a real and positive impact on the communities in which we operate. Every year, we demonstrate our unflinching support to our communities through our biggest community volunteering programme dubbed, “Make a difference in a day.”

“In addition, we also support our communities during difficult times such as natural disasters.”

It would be recalled that Barclays Bank Plc through its community investment programme donated an amount of £75, 000 towards relief efforts in the northern parts of Ghana in 2007.

The funds were used to construct a clinic at Tari No.1, one of the worst affected communities in the Gonja West District of the Northern Region.

The Ghana Red Cross supervised the construction of the clinic, which would be managed by the Ministry of Health.

To date, the Red Cross has delivered more than 77 tonnes of supplies to victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

Rachael Barber, Director at Global Community Investment said: “Following the earthquake in Haiti, it is vital that funding is made available for emergency relief and we know that the Barclays' donation to the Red Cross would make a big difference.

“But extensive funding would also be needed to rebuild the country. That is why we are working closely with UNICEF to develop a project that would support children affected by the disaster; many of whom have lost their entire families.

 “Our aim is to use the expertise that we have built up through the 'Building Young Futures' programme to help these children and ultimately aid the long-term recovery of the country.”

Employing more than 2000 people, Barclays Bank Ghana serves more than 440,000 customers and clients across the country through a network of more than 124 ATMs and 92 branches.

From Business Desk