Fundacion Cisneros Urges Businesspeople to Increase Their Social Responsibility Efforts in favor of Education

(Santo Domingo, June 24, 2010)-- In the framework of the XI International Forum of Virtual Educa, Ms. Adriana Cisneros de Griffin, Vice Chairman and Director of Strategy of the Cisneros Group of Companies, and President of Fundación Cisneros, participated as keynote speaker in the Multilateral Forum on Education for Human Development, which took place at the FUNGLODE headquarters, and where representatives from the Ministry of Education, people associated with the educational sector, the business sector and related organizations, congregated.

In her speech at the Corporate Social Responsibility “Strategic Alliances for a Better Education” forum, Ms. Cisneros lectured about Fundación Cisneros’ experience – over the course of thirty years- in carrying out educational initiatives in Latin America; and how these practices are integrated into the business strategy of the Cisneros Group of Companies.

With examples in Costa Rica, Peru, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, the Vice Chairman and Director of Strategies of the Cisneros Group of Companies, referred to the reach of the main educational initiatives of Fundación Cisneros: Piensa en arte/Think Art, Actualización de Maestros en Educación (AME – Professional Development for Educators) and cl@se, as well as Fundación Tropicalia, implementing arm of Tropicalia’s Social Responsibility Strategy, a model of responsible development of low environmental impact in Miches, El Seibo province, which expects to position itself as one of highest caliber travel destinations in the Caribbean.

Adriana Cisneros de Griffin expressed that “The conjunction of a social commitment, state-of-the-art technology, and organizational management was the foundation over which Fundación Cisneros was created. We understand Corporate Social Responsibility as a systematic, ethical and legal commitment, as much national as international, to improve the social and environmental impact and improve human rights through our business activities, with the certainty that economic growth and human well-being must go hand in hand”

In regards to the AME (Professional Development for Educators), one of Fundación Cisneros’ educational programs, Ms. Cisneros de Griffin explained how this initiative for the professional development of teachers, takes place in close collaboration with the educational authorities of various countries in the region, so that governments participate in the validation of the certificates awarded to the teachers when completing their coursework.

“To mention one case, in the Dominican Republic, we act in association with the Instituto Superior de Formación Docente (Higher Learning Institute of Teacher Training) and the Vocational Schools of the Armed Forces, achieving together the training of approximately 2,000 teachers in various locations of the country. In fact, we have signed an agreement with the Ministry of Education in the framework of this week’s events and with the unconditional support of Dr. Melanio Paredes, it is aimed at reinforcing our commitment and to introducing Think Art/Piensa en arte into all of the country’s schools.”

In regards to Fundación Tropicalia’s initiatives taking place in the area of Miches, El Seibo province, Ms. Cisneros mentioned the School Renovation and Maintenance Program, one of the community initiatives that rescues the educational infrastructure and makes it more conducive to teaching and learning. According to what she mentioned, through partnerships with public and private entities, the participation of community leaders and area residents, they have created a high level of motivation in the communities involved in the social responsibility processes generated by this program, and other initiatives of Fundación Tropicalia that encompass social, economic and educational aspects of the zone.

“Another example of our alliances to contribute to the education in Miches is the one we have signed with INDOTEL (Dominican Telecom Institute- Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones), for the opening of three Information Technology Training Centers (CCI-Centros de Capacitación en Informática) in the schools of the zone. Our commitment supported enthusiastically and with perseverance by José Rafael Vargas, president of INDOTEL, is to provide the educational content through AME, as well as courses of Digital Literacy. In turn, INDOTEL supplies equipment and software, while the community takes care of the maintenance of the centers and their connectivity. Until now, more than 100 teachers have joined this effort”.

Finally, Ms. Cisneros concluded by urging businesses to increase their Corporate Social Responsibility efforts in favor of the education of the Dominican Republic, and assured that through this type of systematic collaborative action between the public and private sectors, a sustainable investment can be created that benefits both, the country and businesses.