Gildan Empowers Students to Care for the Planet in the Dominican Republic

Gildan believes that a more sustainable future starts with education by encouraging students to take ownership over the environmental issues in their own communities. The Company has sponsored the Eco-Schools program since 2010, an international organization that uses action-based learning in the classroom to engage youth in building sustainable habits and solutions in their community.

 “We know that a brighter future starts in the classroom” says Paola Villanueva, Manager of Communications at Gildan. “By giving students the right tools and knowledge about climate change we support them in embarking on a purposeful journey towards improving the environment around them. The Eco-Schools program challenges them to tackle environmental issues that are within their reach, allowing them to see that their actions can make a difference.”

Thanks to Gildan’s support, over 4,600 students benefitted from this program in the Dominican Republic during the 2018-2019 school year, and participating students planted over 80,500 trees, and recycled 5,300 pounds of materials.

The Eco-Schools sponsorship is part of larger Company initiative entitled the “Young Sustainability Leaders Program”. To date, Gildan has invested over US $530,000 in this program that focuses on supporting fun, action-oriented activities that can help spark the powerful impact youth can have in creating a better future for us all.

Find out more about community engagement at Gildan here.