RIU Launches Social Commitment Projects in Bahamas, Jamaica
by Bruce Parkinson
RIU Hotels & Resorts has announced the launch of two new social projects dedicated to child protection and education in the Caribbean.
The initiatives in Nassau and Montego Bay are part of the hotel chain’s Proudly Committed sustainability strategy, which sees it invest in social collaboration in the communities where its hotels operate.
In the Bahamas, RIU marked a milestone with its first project in that destination, done in partnership with the non-profit organization Lend a Hand Bahamas (LAHB). With an initial three-year commitment, the project is based at Nassau’s Grant’s Town community centre.
In Jamaica, RIU has strengthened its commitment in Montego Bay by sponsoring the academic intervention program at the Wested Educational Centre. This project currently provides comprehensive support to 77 students from over 12 schools in the Montego Bay area who require educational reinforcement.
The program seeks to transform the future of more than 200 children and young people aged 5 to 18 through extracurricular activities focusing on literacy, STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), socio-emotional workshops, and culinary arts.
RIU says the Jamaica project stands out for its holistic approach; in addition to reading and math support, it includes an essential nutrition component providing daily meals to students. A digital learning component has also been integrated, utilizing tablets and technological tools to modernize the educational process.
Despite the challenges posed by the recent Hurricane Melissa, RIU says the centre has resumed activities, ensuring a safe environment and personalized mentoring to promote school retention.
These actions are the result of the application of the “RIU Method,” a proprietary social investment system that prioritizes health, education, and child protection projects, as well as biodiversity, based on criteria of positive impact and relevance.
With its arrival in the Bahamas and the reinforcement of efforts in Jamaica, RIU adds these assets to its global network of more than 90 partner organizations, through which the chain seeks to create a positive impact on the Caribbean community.
