15 children returned home thanks to SMS charity project by Orange Foundation and World Vision Armenia
31-05-2013 16:26:15 | Armenia | Сharity
June 1 is International Children’s Day. One year ago, on this day Orange Foundation and World Vision Armenia launched an initiative which enabled all Orange customers to participate in a philanthropic project and support those Armenian children whose families, due to financial difficulties, cannot keep their children home and are forced to deliver them to the care of state institutions. It is not widely known that 56% of the children who are under the care of state institutions are there because of financial difficulties of their parents. Today the two organizations summarized the results of the project and announced its prolongation for one more year.
By sending SMS to 1234 or 5678 short numbers, Orange customers can donate 100 or 500 AMD respectively. At the end of each month Orange Foundation doubles the amount donated through SMS donation and transfers that amount to World Vision Armenia to create a sustainable source of revenue for one vulnerable family.
In one year, thanks to the donations of the Orange customers, the financial engagement of the Orange Foundation and the work done by World Vision Armenia, 11 families received material support and 15 children returned home. In one year, 10,841 Orange customers have participated in the project to donate 100 or 500 AMD.
“Children have always been under the care of the Orange Foundation, especially those who are more vulnerable. We are thankful to all our customers who have donated even a small amount of money to support children who have to live in State Institutions because of financial difficulties of their families. Every dram counts and any of our customers can help make a change in the lives of these children. The amount donated by our customers is always doubled by the Orange Foundation. This is a project which brings together Orange and its customers for a good purpose,” said Francis Gelibter, Chairman of the Board of the Orange Foundation.
The project will last 1 more year during which the Orange Foundation and World Vision Armenia will regularly provide information regarding the donated money within the project and the beneficiary children and families. Families have been chosen according to the following criteria: large families and families living in very difficult social and economic conditions. The way the donated money is used is specific to each family, depending on the kind of work that one or both parents can do. For example, domestic animals have been provided to families in rural areas while some beneficiary mothers have received kitchen equipment to help them cook food for a living.
“Children who have been taken back home from the Child Care and Protection Institutions and their families need support. Our goal is to provide these children with the possibility to continue enjoying care and love of their parents and family members, and most importantly, we wish to see them raised and nurtured at home. For that reason, World Vision within the partnership with Orange Foundation will put every effort to create economic development opportunities for these families to improve their living conditions, as well as give them hope for a better future,” said Shaghik Mahrokhyan, World Vision Armenia Acting National Director.
World Vision Armenia has many years of work experience with vulnerable families who struggle because of financial hardships. The organization will work closely with the project beneficiary families to find out their needs and to follow up on their life conditions further developments.
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