Haitian Schoolchildren Find an Unlikely Teacher: A Cruise Line

École Nouvelle Royal Caribbean

Tourists have generally found their way to Haiti by way of the several cruise lines that dock on the country’s coastlines. Now, however, cruise lines are making their way onto land, and doing their part to rebuild the country’s disaster-torn educational system. In close proximity to its private resort in Labadie, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has opened a school for Haitian children, “École Nouvelle Royal Caribbean.” “We’ve been [in Haiti] for a long time and of course the problems are enormous, and it’s hard for anyone to really make a significant dent in them” said Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean’s CEO. “We thought one of the places to start was education.” The school holds more than 200 students, although critics charge that the school lacks proper amenities, like internet access and sporting facilities. [New York Times]