Sustainability
March 31st 2020 ・ 10 min reading
Chiquita cares about the education of the children in its plantation areas.
«We believe that educating children is the means by which we can make the greatest impact on the families and communities of our employees», says Andrew Biles, CEO of Chiquita.
On March 16th, the next step towards the fulfillment of this commitment will be taken: the company intends to donate the land of all the schools at Sarapiquí to the Costa Rican Ministry of Education. These schools educate a population of around 400 students; they are all situated in areas where Chiquita’s workers live. The donation will enable the Ministry of Public Education to invest in the school infrastructure.
Result of long-term planning with the Costa Rican Ministry of Public Education
With this donation the new owners and the new Chiquita management are making good on a promise made in 1993. This was when banana production in Sarapiquì started. From the very beginning, Chiquita was concerned about the education of the workers’ children. For this reason, the company built up schools in the area and decided to donate the land on March 16th, 2018. The Minister of Education, Mrs. Sonia Marta Mora and Raúl Gigena, Director of Human Resources at Chiquita as well as Wagner Beig, Chiquita Director for Agriculture will sign the donation contract in a celebration at the Finca Cocobolo in Sarapiquí. Many workers and employees are expected to take part in the event.
One of many actions Chiquita takes for children’s education
Within ten years all the children in the banana producing areas will be given the opportunity to obtain agood primary education.
Andrew Biles, CEO of Chiquita, says: "We initiate and support community projects such as investing in school infrastructure, helping children receive an education, creating environmental awareness and promoting social empowerment." Chiquita is convinced that helping children gain access to primary education has a positive, long-lasting impact on the communities. This is not only good for society, but also for the quality of work Chiquita counts on."
Summary of progress in recent years:
- By 2017 Chiquita had supported 24 schools, donating materials and equipment and helping to improve the infrastructure of buildings (painting, roof, security, bathrooms and more)
- By 2020 Chiquita intends to reach 100 schools and 20’000 children by building and renovating school infrastructure, providing learning materials and teaching courses. Starting with pilot projects in Costa Rica and Panama in its owned farms, Chiquita will then expand to those countries where the company buys bananas from independent growers.
- Every Chiquita employee will be offered the opportunity to give 1 day of paid work to support the construction and renovation of schools and/or to help teaching.
