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Ordinary Ukrainians to help teach children with Down syndrome to count and speak
The third phase of the Silver Coin charitable project was launched on February 1, 2012, in the outlets of UkrSibbank BNP Paribas Group; the bank is implementing the project jointly with the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organization (UDSO). The project is aimed at raising funds to be channeled into early development programs for children with Down syndrome, including those that teach children how to count and use sign language.
“This is not the first year that we have carried out such projects, and we know firsthand about Ukrainian people's sensitivity. With the funds raised by the Silver Coin project, we have already been able to organize the Center for Early Development for children with Down syndrome and launch a program called ‘See and Learn,’ which teaches our children to speak and read. This year we will be allocating all the charitable contributions for the further training of children. All these activities help bring children with Down syndrome closer to other developing children and enable them to become full members of society," said Serhiy Kurianov, President of the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organization.
The organization’s plans include holding seminars and training sessions for parents and teachers with international experts in the education of children with Down syndrome. All the participants will also receive study guides to enable them to teach children even at home.
The Silver Coin project was launched in 2010 in the Kyiv-based outlets of UkrSibbank. It was aimed at raising funds to set up Ukraine’s first Center for Early Development of Children with Down syndrome. Today it is the only specialized center providing free services to more than 350 families from all over Ukraine. In 2011 UkrSibbank outlets were involved in raising funds in all Ukrainian regions. The money was used for the printing and distribution of special programs called “See and Learn,” aimed at developing children’s speech and teaching them how to read.
According to specialists from the Center for Early Development, the passive vocabulary of children doing the See and Learn program expands significantly, their attention becomes more focused and their thinking develops more quickly; they are better at orienting themselves within their environment, and more willing to interact and use speech to communicate.
“UkrSibbank is working for effective change, which is made possible through the positive initiative and support demonstrated by each one of us. With its proactive attitude toward issues of social responsibility, the bank has supported the Silver Coin project for the past three years. We see real results of past projects and get a lot of positive feedback and appreciation. So, once again we invite everyone to join this sincere and open-hearted initiative and make a contribution to a good cause. These children deserve our love,” said Kostiantyn Lezhnin, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of UkrSibbank BNP Paribas Group.
Those who care can easily support the charitable project by dropping coins or paper bills into specially-marked boxes at any of UkrSibbank’s outlets or donating funds via the cash desk to the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organization, s/a 26007265663400 MFO 351005 UkrSibbank JSC.
Reference:
According to official statistics, every year over 420 children are born with Down syndrome in Ukraine. Any couple can produce a child with this syndrome irrespectively of their health or lifestyle. With adequate psychological, coaching and medical support, these children can become full members of society. A well-established model of supporting these children and their families has been in place all over the world for quite a long time. Ukraine, however, still has no systematic model for supporting and providing professional aid to people with Down syndrome and their families. Therefore, children with the syndrome are frequently abandoned in maternity homes (in 2008, children’s homes were home to 263 children with Down syndrome; in 2009 the number of such children was 253). Medical staff and teachers are often guided by outdated and superficial knowledge of this syndrome.
The Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organization (www.downsyndrome.org.ua) was established in 2003 by parents of children with Down syndrome. The organization’s mission is to provide medical and educational support to people with Down syndrome and other genetic diseases and to their families, as well as help them adapt socially and exercise their right to live a full life.
Today, the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organization unites over 520 families from all regions of Ukraine.
The Center for Early Development of Children with Down syndrome was opened on September 2, 2010, and more than 350 families from all over Ukraine are now using the services offered by the center, whose programs are available to families free of charge.
Press Service of the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organization:
Natalya Krasnenkova, mob. tel.: 067-465-54-26, krasnenkova@downsyndrome.org.ua
JSC “UkrSibbank” (www.ukrsibbank.com) was registered on June 18, 1990. The Bank has banking license No. 75 and General License for currency transactions No. 75, issued by the NBU on October 5, 2011. As of January 1, 2012, its net assets were UAH 32.86 bn; capital stood at UAH 1.25 bn; the credit investment portfolio comprised UAH 20.52 bn; corporate client funds were UAH 13.10 bn; and private client funds – UAH 11.21 bn. The regional network currently encompasses more than 700 outlets throughout Ukraine, and the ATM network, comprising 1,550 units, is the third largest in the country. 84.99% of shares of UkrSibbank JSC are held by the BNP Paribas Group, and 15% of shares are held by the EBRD. The Bank is audited by International Company LLC AF “PriceWaterhouseCoopers” (Audit) and audit firm LLC “Ukrainian Audit Service”.
BNP Paribas (www.bnpparibas.com) is one of the best rated banks in the world*. The Group has a presence in more than 80 countries and more than 200,000 employees, including more than 160,000 in Europe. It ranks highly in its three core activities: Retail Banking, Investment Solutions and Corporate & Investment Banking. In Europe, the Group has four domestic markets (Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg) and BNP Paribas Personal Finance is the leader in consumer lending. BNP Paribas is rolling out its integrated retail banking model across the Europe-Mediterranean zone and boasts a large network in the western part of the United States. In its Corporate & Investment Banking and Investment Solutions activities, BNP Paribas also enjoys top positions in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas and solid and fast-growing businesses in Asia.
*Rated AA- by Standard & Poor's.
Tatyanа Shikеrjavajа T_shikerjavaja@ukrsibbank.com
Vіktоrya Tоmin Viktorya.Tomin@ukrsibbank.com
Olga Buriak Olga.Buriak@ukrsibbank.com
