THE FIRST MILE
“ VERY RARELY DO RECYCLERS UNDERSTAND WHAT LANDFILL COMMUNITIES LOOK LIKE , EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE BUYING MATERIAL THAT IS BEING SOURCED FROM THOSE COMMUNITIES ”
KELSEY HALLING HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS , THE FIRST MILE
With Hewlett Packard ( HP ), one of First Mile ' s biggest brand partners , a programme was initiated in 2016 to put an end to child labour at Haiti ' s largest landfill site near its capital Port-au-Prince . Since then other partners including fashion brand PUMA and CPI Card Group have joined in supporting the work , with the result that already some 75 % of children working there have returned to school and other learning opportunities , removing themselves from working in waste collection . Furthermore , access to medical care , health information and workshops , together with prevention programming , has led to a significant decrease in emergencies . “ We believe in a holistic model of accompanying the whole family by ensuring that they have a safe roof over their heads and access to educational opportunities . Poverty in Haiti has multiple causes but a key remedy is dignified work , so we create a vibrant market for the supplies they ' re collecting on a dayto-day basis : so not only have our brand
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