Lydia Lawrence with two children in the Dominican Republic.
MARIGOT--St. Martin-born singer Lydia Lawrence has been continuing her charity work on behalf of poor children in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, she revealed when she recently returned to the island to spend time with family.
Through her foundation Une Lumière pour les Iles (A Light for the Islands) and the link with children’s foundations in the Dominican Republic, sponsor Air Caraïbes and benefactors, she is improving the lives of some 600 children. On the latest trip she took clothing, school materials and medication.
The items were distributed in different areas of the Dominican Republic and on the border with Haiti.
“I am collaborating with some wonderful people over there in the Dominican Republic who have associations and are concerned by the plight of those children; Jackie, for example, she’s from the DR but lives in the US, and Robert Jacsy from Haiti who has a foundation in Boca Chica,” Lydia explained.
“I found out from Jackie that there is a foundation in the USA working for this cause and I will be going there on the first Friday in December 2019 to sing ‘We are the world, we are the children.’ Proceeds from that concert will be given back to support the children in the Dominican Republic.”
L’Orangerie Boutique in Marigot donated a considerable amount of new children’s clothing and shoes.
“I’m extremely grateful to L’Orangerie Boutique for their contribution. We filled about eight suitcases to take over there. They gave us so much clothing and expensive shoes, the value of it must have been about 40,000 euros by my calculation. And Air Caraïbes has been incredibly supportive, giving me free tickets and unlimited free baggage allowance,” she added. “Without Air Caraïbes there is no way I could do this. They have made me their ambassador too.”
Lydia explained she has been working with Jacsy’s association for five years, which enabled her to find out where the children in need were located, and it was he who had introduced her to Jackie, which opened another door to the foundation in the USA.
“It’s starting to get bigger, which means we can help more children,” she said of the collaboration with the US foundation. “It’s a beautiful experience and very satisfying to help these children. When I go back, they are always happy to see me and the parents have confidence in us.”
Lydia will be returning to the Dominican Republic in April for another distribution. This Saturday, January 26, she will be organising a distribution of gifts for St. Martin children at her mother’s house (No.48) Around the Pond, French Quarter, at 5:30pm.
