November 5: Making a positive and everlasting impact on children’s lives, facing daily challenges is the ambition posed by McDonald’s Mauritius in the context of its Global Volunteer Program, where it has shown solidarity and support to the specialised school of the Association Pour Les Handicapés de Malherbes (APLHDM) on October 31 in Curepipe. This first step marks the beginning of a slew of solidarity initiatives through dedicated support to this cause.
Founded by Marie Rose Angelique, the association welcomes differently abled children with special educational needs. In this context of solidarity initiatives, the specialised school benefited from material and human support from the Golden Arches sign. During the day, 30 employees rolled up their sleeves to undertake renovation work at the premises of the specialized school, supported by a construction professional. Owing to this collective effort, the exterior walls of the school were completely repainted, while Television, air conditioner, and tables are some of the material resources for which the company didn’t spare its efforts to help improve the quality of life for the children of this specialised school.
While McDonald’s Mauritius has also initiated efforts to help develop an outdoor playground that is expected to play a fundamental role in the development of children, specialized equipment for the physiotherapy room, as well as for the creation of a park adapted for children in wheelchairs, was also provided.
Commenting on this initiative, the Managing Director at McDonald’s Mauritius, Udesh Wijesuriya, said, “Our role in society goes beyond a simple fast food restaurant, and we actively dedicate ourselves at the service of the community through the direct involvement of our employees since we want to have a lasting impact on the lives of the needy. This solidarity journey has served as a true moment of sharing and exchanges, while the same has served to remind us of the extent to which support for the vulnerable is deemed as crucial.”
On the other hand, Marie Rose Angelique has warmly thanked the entire team of McDonald’s Mauritius. “The support heralded by McDonald is valuable in many ways since it enables us to offer the children necessary learning tools and to flourish while paving the way for a conducive environment for their development. What touched us the most is, in particular, the commitment showcased by the management and their team: caring and humble, sharing special moments with our children. They considered each as a child and not a differently able human. The smile and joy brought on the faces of our students showcased the impact made on the day.”
The first step as part of this initiative ending on an artistic and deeply symbolic note with the creation of a souvenir mural based on the theme of land and the sea through the help of the children and employees of the McDonald’s Mauritius, the colorful work embodies the joy, imagination and wonder of children in front of nature, whether adventures at sea, discoveries in the forest, or the magic of learning.
Each painted symbol represents dreams, curiosity, and friendship shared on this special day: “This fresco goes beyond drawing on a wall-it is the reflection of an unforgettable day, where every smile counted,” concluded Udesh Wijesuriya.
