News
UniCredit Bulbank supported the largest organization for children's rights protection, UNICEF, for providing family environment and foster families for more Bulgarian children. The long-term partnership agreement was signed by Tanya Radochay, representative of UNICEF for Bulgaria and Levon Hampartzoumian, chairman of the Management Board and Chief Executive Officer of UniCredit Bulbank.
Instead of the traditional Christmas compliment gifts such as company calendars and notebooks, UniCredit chose to invest in Bulgarian children in an unequal position by donating BGN 50, 000 to UNICEF and the “Take care of me” project. The project was launched in 2007 in Stara Zagora region and since November 2009, it has been operating in eight new regions – Targovishte, Pernik, Sofia (city and region), Gabrovo, Smolyan, Veliko Tarnovo, Shumen.
„Research shows that every three months spent in an institution delay the development of a child by one month. UniCredit Bulbank sees the project of UNICEF for promoting foster care in families as an opportunity for a sustainable and long-term solution of the problem with abandoned children. „We believe that every child should spend the holidays with his/her own family, to have his/her own home, to go to school and to play with the kids from the neighbourhood. We know that these little things from daily life make a huge difference between living in an institution and in a family environment, and it means a lot for any child and for his/her development.”, he added.
„For UNICEF Bulgaria, promoting foster care is one of the most innovative and vital projects and that is why for us it is important that such a strong partner as UniCredit Bulbank, the largest bank in the country, joins the project. The “Take care of me” project is part of our commitment to the process of deinstitutionalization and support to the national and local policies regarding child protection. We believe that our efforts must be focused on prevention of the abandonment of children, promoting services in support of the families. All these policies should be equipped with the necessary resources and accompanied by clear monitoring of results and efficiency.”, said Tanya Radochay, director of UNICEF for Bulgaria.
About the project:
Foster care is one of the best alternatives to the biological family in order to ensure the child's right to live in a family environment when his/her birth parents are unable to take care of him/her. Currently, more than 7 000 children are living in 138 orphanages without parents or a family. At the same time, only 218 children are being brought up in foster families (data from June 2009).
UNICEF undertakes to work continuously for promoting foster care in Bulgaria, creating a uniform model, methodology and financial standard for foster care, which to be introduced into the policies of the state. A model of a regional foster care centre was established in Stara Zagora, which is successfully recruiting foster parents and gives children a chance not to find themselves in institutions, and since November 2009, the project has been operating in eight new regions.
The regional teams work directly with the public and the parents so as to create a clear idea of foster care, the benefits for the kids, the opportunities before the parents and the application procedures. The team supports the parents before and after placing the children in the respective family.
For more information:
About UNICEF:
UNICEF is the United Nations Children’s Fund and it is part of UN's big family. Since 1946 onwards, UNICEF has been a leading international organization, working for the good of children with representation in more than 150 countries worldwide. UNICEF helps the survival and welfare of children from early childhood to adolescence. UNICEF provides assistance in the field of child health care and adequate nourishment, for providing primary education for all boys and girls, as well as for child protection from violence, exploitation and AIDS. UNICEF is financed entirely by means of voluntary donations by individuals, companies, foundations and governments.
For contacts:
Tsvetelina Bonova, Communications and PR, UNICEF Bulgaria; Phone No: 02-96-96-207, 0882-42-44-43; е-mail: ucpopwbAvojdfg/psh
PR and Corporate Identity, UniCredit Bulbank:
Viktoria Blazheva, Phone No: 02-92-64-994, 0894-570-159, e-mail: wjlj/ebwjepwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch
Ekaterina Ancheva, Phone No: 02-92-64-963, 0894-51-81-93, e-mail: еlbufsjob/bodifwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch