Social projects

Silver coin

From February 1 through March 29 the fourth stage of the “Silver Coin” charity project will kick off in all branches of the UkrSibbank BNP Paribas Group. The project, a joint initiative of the bank and the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organization (UDSO), is aimed at raising funds needed for comprehensive diagnostics and providing consultations to the parents of children with Down Syndrome throughout Ukraine. The initiators of this program plan to publish a special manual for parents. The remaining funds will be channeled into financing programs offered by the UDSO Early Development Center.

If you would like to join the project and make a donation, insert bills or coins into the special boxes at any branch of UkrSibbank or deposit funds to the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organization, acc. no. 26007265663400, MFO 351005, JSC UkrSibbank. UkrSibbank also offers a special “Silver Coin” payment card. All fees incurred by ordering this card will be forwarded automatically to the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organization.

A total of UAH 227,871 was raised during the third consecutive year of the Silver Coin charity project, which is run thanks to the joint efforts of UkrSibbank BNP Paribas Group and the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organization (UDSO). Over the course of two months, from February 1 to April 1, Ukrainians deposited money into special donation boxes available at every UkrSibbank branch.

These funds were earmarked to arrange and provide professional seminars to specialists and parents of Down syndrome kids in five Ukrainian cities (Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Ternopil, Kyiv and Lviv). During these seminars “Numicon”, a unique British method of teaching mathematics, was introduced to the audience. Moreover, this project allowed 108 families from all over Ukraine to benefit from qualified consultations and get methodical assistance in the Centre for Early Development.

Over the last three years more than UAH 580,000 have been raised for this worthy cause.

All the funds that were raised during the first year of the project were used to equip the Early Development Center for Down syndrome children, the only center of its kind in Ukraine. The Center provides cost-free programs to more than 480 families nationwide. The money raised during the second year of the project financed the publication of the “See and Learn” special educational programs for Down syndrome children.

From April,26 to July,1 2011 the second stage of Silver Coin charitable project was rolled in all regions of Ukraine. Special boxes were installed in branches of the bank all over Ukraine to collect money for special training programs aimed to teach Down's syndrome kids to speak and read.

The ammount of UAH 292'424 in two months was raised. The project coin by coin pulled money to develop and spread dedicated programs to Down’s Syndrome kids. Families with such children got their training books and special training programms were held.

Over 420 children in Ukraine are born with Down’s syndrome every year, statistics shows. Any couple may have a kid with the syndrome irrespectively of parents’ health and lifestyle. With proper psychological, coaching and medical support all such children can become full-fledged members of society. For quite a while, countries all over the globe have been applying a well-established model to support such kids and their families. However, Ukraine still lacks a systemic model to support and provide professional aid to people with Down’s syndrome and their families.

Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organization (www.downsyndrome.org.ua) - established in 2003 by parents of children with Down’s syndrome. The Organization aims to support people with Down’s syndrome and other genetic diseases and their families (medical and educational support), as well as help them socially adapt and leave a full life. Today Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organization pulls over 520 families throughout Ukraine. On 2 November 2010, UDSO opened Early Learning and Development Center for children with Down’s Syndrome, which now covers over 280 families all over Ukraine. All programs run by the Center are free.

Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organization is a permanent member of the European Down Syndrome Association, which pulls 43 non-governmental organizations promoting and supporting interests of people with Down’s Syndrome in 30 countries throughout the globe.

Starting from February 17 till April 2, 2010 З 17 лютого по 2 квітня 2010 the first stage of Silver Coin charity project was held. Special boxes were installed at all Kyiv branches of UkrSibbank for the bank customers and visitors to donate coins or banknotes.

The 6 weeks during which the project was running brought quite an impressive amount of UAH 61'625. The money was collected to equip Early Learning and Development Center for children suffering from Down’s syndrome and other genetic features in Kyiv. The Center covers over 280 families throughout Ukraine. Moreover, the programs run by the Center are free.