Swede gives millions to help Haiti children
Swedish businessman Roger Akelius is to donate 100 million kronor over a 25-year-period to a children’s charity in the wake of Haiti’s devastating earthquake.
The charity SOS Barnbyar was overwhelmed when they heard the news.
“It’s the biggest amount of financial support from one donation we have ever had,” charity head Marcus Norberg told newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.
The money is to be used to support and educate around 400 Haiti children who live in two separate villages where the charity has set up facilities to help homeless and orphaned kids.
The villages are situated close to Port au-Prince and Cap Haïtien in the northern part of the country.
Akelius, who currently lives in the Bahamas, explained that with his property and insurance businesses booming, his impending 65th birthday prompted him to plan how his money will be used in the future.
“Because I live fairly close to Haiti I have been carefully following the events unfold and what is happening with the children in connection with the earthquake,” he said.
While the charity is receiving donations for immediate and emergency assistance, Akelius' millions will be used to the long-term benefit of children cared for in these two SOS-Barnbyar villages.
“It means we can help them even more and offer high school education which we aren’t always able to do,” added Marcus Norberg.
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The charity SOS Barnbyar was overwhelmed when they heard the news.
“It’s the biggest amount of financial support from one donation we have ever had,” charity head Marcus Norberg told newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.
The money is to be used to support and educate around 400 Haiti children who live in two separate villages where the charity has set up facilities to help homeless and orphaned kids.
The villages are situated close to Port au-Prince and Cap Haïtien in the northern part of the country.
Akelius, who currently lives in the Bahamas, explained that with his property and insurance businesses booming, his impending 65th birthday prompted him to plan how his money will be used in the future.
“Because I live fairly close to Haiti I have been carefully following the events unfold and what is happening with the children in connection with the earthquake,” he said.
While the charity is receiving donations for immediate and emergency assistance, Akelius' millions will be used to the long-term benefit of children cared for in these two SOS-Barnbyar villages.
“It means we can help them even more and offer high school education which we aren’t always able to do,” added Marcus Norberg.
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