On September 17, 2024, the Jan Michalski Foundation in Montricher hosted the third charity evening organized by Caribaea Initiative (Suisse), offering guests a cultural voyage to the Caribbean.
The evening began with a friendly reception in the stunning public library, featuring Caribbean cocktails and colorful appetizers. Vera Michalski-Hoffmann, president of the association, opened the event with a warm welcome and words of gratitude.
Guests then attended a captivating panel discussion on “nature-based solutions for the Caribbean.” The panel featured three distinguished speakers: Matthew Wilson, Ambassador of Barbados; Nathalie Chanteclair, sustainability expert at Lombard Odier & Cie bank; and Dr Pierre Michard Beaujour, a former PhD student supported by Caribaea Initiative, originally from Haiti. Their insightful conversation sparked many questions and reactions from the audience, including experts like Bertrand Piccard and André Hoffmann, who showed great interest in the topics discussed.
The evening continued with a magnificent jazz concert by the Roberto Fonseca Trio, a talented group of musicians from Cuba. This was followed by a gourmet dinner prepared by chef Jason Howard from Barbados, who travelled from London with two colleagues specifically for the event. His dishes brought an array of Caribbean flavours to life, treating the guests to a vibrant culinary experience. Between courses, Haitian poet James Noël extended the journey with readings that evoked the spirit of the entire Caribbean.
While guests thoroughly enjoyed the evening, they also directly contributed to the mission of Caribaea Initiative: funding scholarships and research projects to protect Caribbean biodiversity. A silent auction was held, raising funds to support the organization. Items up for auction included a stay in a villa on the island of Mustique, a limited edition Montegrappa pen, a MEMO Paris perfume set, and a gourmet basket filled with specialties from Barbados.
Throughout the evening, the Caribbean spirit shone brightly, along with the guests’ dedication to conservation. Enthralled by the discussions, attendees helped raise money to support Caribaea Initiative‘s projects. We eagerly look forward to welcoming our guests again on May 22, 2025, at the Foyer of the Grand Théâtre de Genève for an exclusive performance by the talented soprano Jeanine de Bique from Trinidad and Tobago, followed by a delightful dinner.
