HSBC Luxembourg has presented a cheque for €6,150.23 to SOS Villages d'Enfants Monde for three of the association's emergency aid programmes in Niger, Syria and Nepal.

The cheque was presented by HSBC Luxembourg CEO, Lars Rejding to Sophie Glesener, director of SOS Villages d'Enfants Monde. The sum was collected during various actions attended by the bank's employees throughout 2015. The money raised will go towards supporting children in need in each of the regions and providing them with protection as they find themselves deprived of their most basic rights.

Although HSBC Luxembourg has supported various SOS projects for eight years now, the great urgency experienced last year prompted HSBC to contribute to three programmes for distressed children in the areas affected.

As Syria faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, SOS has implemented a programme focusing on educational support, and temporary and day care for children, as well as the distribution of food parcels to displaced families. Meanwhile, the organisation has established an assistance project in Diffa, the poorest region in Niger, for thousands of children made refugees from terrorism. Nepal has also seen serious devastation in the past year, having been hit by two earthquakes in spring 2016. As a result, SOS is now coordinating a rehabilitation programme that will extend over several years to enable children and families to rebuild their lives.

In addition to HSBC's annual donations and traditional actions on National Day, the company developed a solidarity initiative on the occasion of St. Nicolas. HSBC employees also brought back their Dress Down Days and volunteered at several facepainting workshops at public events organised by SOS Villages d'Enfants Monde.

"We are particularly pleased that HSBC Luxembourg is renewing its long-standing and generous confidence and support to SOS projects implemented in the areas of development and emergency aid," commented Sophie Glesener as she thanked the HSBC Luxembourg team. "The SOS teams on the ground are doing great work in often very difficult conditions."

"With a lot of heart our employees have got involved in organising these collections," said Lars Rejding, praising SOS for its work on the ground and fund-raising and awareness campaigns. "They are happy to contribute to these important emergency aid programmes."

 

Photo by SOSVE