Veliko Tarnovo (14/10/2009) - Today, a cheque for 10,000 euros was presented to delighted representatives of SOS Children's Village in Bulgaria. Georgi Draganov, Managing Director of STIHL Bulgaria, who is responsible for sales of the VIKING and STIHL brands in Bulgaria, handed over the cheque.
"We are extremely pleased and honoured that VIKING has decided to support this family strengthening programme and is therefore playing a key role in helping the families in need. This support will ensure that the family strengthening programme, which has been in existence since 2008, can continue its work," explained Plamen Stoyanov, Head of SOS Children's Village in Bulgaria.
SOS Children's Village family strengthening programme
Unemployment is the main cause of many social problems in the family, as the financial resources needed to cover even a portion of the daily needs of the family are not available. Consequently, children are often "handed over" to state-run homes. SOS Children's Village provides support to enable the children to remain within their families. Not only are financial resources provided to ensure that the families can afford food, clothing, rent and school materials etc., parents are also assisted with contacts to authorities and in seeking employment. We also make it possible for the children to attend school regularly.
Implementation of the family strengthening programme is only possible if it is supported by a great many people and if business enterprises play their part.
VIKING, the gardening power tool manufacturer based in Langkampfen, Tyrol, has been an active sponsorship partner of SOS Children's Village since 2005. In the last few years, they have mainly supported Austrian SOS Children's Villages. In 2009, the company wanted to make a contribution internationally and identified the family strengthening programme in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria as a project worthy of support. VIKING is part of the STIHL Group and produces lawn mowers, garden shredders and other gardening equipment for the discerning gardener.