Miss World BVI Committee and Miss World Organisation visiting His Excellency the Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert. Photo: Provided

Miss World 2017, Manushi Chhillar stepping out of the plane as she visits the Virgin Islands (VI) for the first time. Photo: Provided

Miss World 2017, Manushi Chhillar signed the finished product of the painting done by her and the student. Photo: Provided

Kim Ha-eun, Miss World Korea 2017 interacting with some of the students of the Eslyn Henley Learning Centre. Photo: Provided

Miss World 2017, Manushi Chhillar and her fellow delegates assisting All Hands and Hearts volunteer group with the cleaning up of the Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre. Photo: Provided

The 10 member team from Miss World International included Chairwoman Julia Morley, Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar, Miss World 2016 Stephanie Del Valle, four continental queens, Event Director, Steve Douglas, and a film crew. The two-fold visit spanned from February 25 to March 1, 2018.

The delegation’s focus was on raising funds for the rebuilding of the Eslyn Henley-Richiez Learning Center; which is the Territory’s only school for the differently abled. The delegation also sought to promote the VI’s tourism product.

Throughout the visit the team produced videos and images that were not only posted to the Miss World Facebook page (which has a following of over three million), but were also shared on the organization’s twitter and Instagram accounts.

In explaining the broad exposure the VI videos received Mr. Douglas mentioned that the videos were simultaneously shared by Miss World franchises in more than 100 countries. This, he said resulted in social media views in all of those countries and a total reach of 1.3 billion.

In a follow up discussion Director of the BVI Tourist Board, Sharon Flax-Brutus pointed out that the visit from the Miss World delegation was beneficial to the Territory. Mrs. Flax-Brutus said that the Tourist Board was happy to assist in hosting the delegation; and noted: “The Miss World Organization has a huge platform and it has given us the opportunity to showcase the BVI as a premier vacation option. Beautiful images of our island have been shared worldwide and we are thrilled that BVI was chosen above any other Caribbean destination. We appreciated as well the delegations focus on our natural beauty and their philanthropic visits and donations to our schools.”

Eslyn Henley-Richiez Learning Center

Prior to the arrival of the Miss World delegation the local Committee invited BVI based businesses to match or surpass the Miss World donation of $10,000 as a means to raise the needed rebuilding funds.

The Cable and Wireless Charitable Foundation rose to the challenge to donate $25,000. Similarly Digicel, which has been a longtime supporter of the Eslyn Henley school donated $10,000. In addition to the Miss World organization’s $10,000 the Korean Miss World franchise holder donated $2000; and Gene’s Bar and Grill donated $1500. On the night of the gala Allington “Gumption” Creque donated $2000, ATU General Trust (BVI) Ltd. donated $5000, and Bishop John Cline donated $1000.

The total amounts raised to date is $57,000. However, this amount is just a drop in the bucket as the total cost to rebuild the school is $1.4M. All Hearts and Hands has partnered with the Miss World Committee on the effort and has offered to provide the labour for the project.

As a means of garnering the remaining funds the Miss BVI World Committee has established a gofundme account that will be promoted internationally by the Miss World organization. Additionally, the Committee will be hosting an auction event in the near future.

Damion Grange, Chairman of the Miss BVI World Committee announced that the support the community has extended in this fundraising quest demonstrates the caring nature of the BVI. “It is heartwarming the level of support this initiative has been receiving. Take for instance the cleanup exercise we had on February 26; someone actually walked up to the Principal of the Eslyn Henley school and made a donation. Additionally it was touching to see Mr. Simon Potter of Riteway and members of the Safe Haven Transitional Center on the site along with All Hearts and Hands working hard to rid the school compound of the pile of debris.”

Mr. Grange also thanked Mrs. Morley for choosing the VI as stop for the Beauty With A Purpose tour. He said, “A number of other Caribbean destinations that have Miss World franchises were damaged, but the organization chose us and we are grateful. What is also extraordinary is that it costs a lot of money to fly a delegation of that size to various destinations and Mrs. Morley bore the cost and in addition contributed to our rebuilding fund. As a Committee, and as a franchise we are humbled.”