THE VODAFONE FOUNDATION PROVIDED CZK 4.5 MILLION IN SUPPORT FOR YOUTH CHARITY PROJECTS

Thirty-seven low-threshold clubs from all over the Czech Republic prevailed with their projects and received financial support totalling 4.5 million crowns from the Vodafone Foundation. Money for individual projects comes from the Vodafone Foundation’s Vpoho grant program, which aims to prevent the negative elements and risks that can be a part of adolescence.

Low-threshold youth clubs offer a helping hand and a safe place for self-realisation and leisure time activities.

“This year, in addition to the standard support provided for operational low-threshold clubs, we are also concentrating on supporting the establishment and launches of new clubs in localities that need them,” says Inga Kaškelyte, Director of the Vodafone Foundation.

Out of the all winning projects, the largest amounts are going to the following clubs:

Klub Radotín, Praha – is receiving 250 thousand crowns to improve the quality of the club and to increase its capacity from 60 to 100 people. The club is open to youth aged 12 to 18.

METRO Low-threshold Club, Přerov – is receiving 250 thousand crowns to found a new club in a location where previously none had existed. It will be open three afternoons per week and it will consist of two areas – a club and a rehearsal space.

"Céčko" leisure time centre, Prachatice – the Society for Providing Psycho-social Assistance to Citizens is receiving 250 thousand crowns and is purchasing space from the town and will operate that space as something like a youth club, or an alternative home for children and youth. The organisation wishes to build a low-threshold facility for children and youth aged 6 to 15. It is expected to have 30-40 regular clients.

Pillar of Work with Youth in Dobříšska, Dobříš – is receiving 250 thousand crowns for the establishment of a low-threshold facility for children and youth in Dobříš. The first phase will consist of repairing the building and educating the staff. It is expected that 30 to 50 children aged 12 to 28 will visit the facility on a daily basis.

Another 3.5 million crowns is being distributed to another 33 low-threshold clubs throughout the Czech Republic. A list of all the successful grant applicants is available at www.nadacevodafone.cz.

The Vodafone Czech Republic Foundation

The Foundation was created in 2005 and focuses especially on providing support for young people (the Vpoho and Vpohybu grant programs) and connecting communication technologies to assistance for those in need (the Vpohybu grant program). The Foundation is financed by Vodafone Czech Republic and the Vodafone Group Foundation, which coordinates Vodafone’s charity activities globally. The founding of a local Vodafone foundation and investments into charity projects is mandatory for all Vodafone branches. The Vodafone Group was rated as the world’s most socially responsible firm in 2006 (http://www.accountabilityrating.com).

Vpoho grant program

Vpoho is a grant program of the Vodafone Czech Republic Foundation, the objective of which is the prevention of the negative elements and risks that can be a part of adolescence. The Vpoho program especially aims to provide support for low-threshold youth clubs, which offer adolescents a helping hand and a safe space for self-realisation and leisure time activities. These clubs are often mistakenly regarded as being solely for kids with drug problems; however, they cover a far broader spectrum – they contain elements of social assistance, prevention, and leisure time activities. The low-threshold aspect is the central principle of these services.

Contact:

Miroslav Čepický
Nadace Vodafone ČR
mirek@nadacevodafone.cz
775 011 288
www.nadacevodafone.cz