Sponsorship

SOS CHILDREN'S VILLAGES

OXALIS DESIGN for SOS Children's Villages (dětské vesničky in Czech) is a joint project between OXALIS and the Czech non-governmental, non-profit organisation SOS dětské vesničky. The NGO helps needy families with the care of their children, as well as offering a high standard of alternative care for children growing up outside of a natural family unit. The children benefiting from its programmes were asked to submit paintings and drawings, and three of these designs now feature on mugs produced by OXALIS. Every time one of these mugs is purchased, a financial contribution’s made to the SOS dětské vesničky organisation to aid such children in need.

The project was initiated by OXALIS at the end of 2014, as part of discussions on potential sponsorship and partnership programmes. The aim was to find a way of leveraging the favourable position of OXALIS in the Czech Republic to achieve targeted, long-term support, which would both involve and benefit the general public.

The CEO of OXALIS, Petr Zelík, said of the project, “The decision was made to partner with SOS dětské vesničky and lend support to the NGO, which cares for children who’ve been orphaned or abandoned, or whose families are no longer able to look after them. Such children have the same right as anybody else to a family, to experience respect and love, and to a future. By supporting this organisation, we’re convinced it’ll be better placed to provide the finest care of the children it looks after.”

Once it had been agreed by both parties, the children themselves became involved in the project. The task they were given was to come up with a design for a mug that they’d like to own. They could draw anything they liked, and dozens of imaginative paintings and drawings were submitted. Then came the tricky task of deciding on just three, but finally the worthy winners were Happy Folks, Piggy and Good Morning. The motifs were transferred onto mugs and offered for sale on 1 October 2015. The NGO receives a contribution each time one of them is purchased.

More information on SOS dětské vesničky can be found at sos-vesnicky.cz

ASSOCIATION OF YOUNG MS SUFFERERS

It’s unimaginable what a young person (mostly aged 20-40) goes through when they’re told that they have multiple sclerosis (MS), a debilitating and incurable disease which attacks the nervous system. The symptoms vary depending on the part of the body affected and the extent of the condition. For example, the patient may have difficulty maintaining balance as they walk, or their fine motor skills or the sensitiveness of the limbs could be diminished, whilst blurred vision or temporary blindness are also reported. Treatment goes some way towards regaining the patient’s former condition, but it’s also known for the symptoms to worsen.

Picture this happening at a tender age, when just setting out in life. Inevitably, one’s personal and professional plans collapse, and values and priorities change. Nevertheless, opportunities still exist, and this is where the Association of Young MS Sufferers steps in.

The aims of the AYMSS are to:

help those newly diagnosed with the chronic disease to deal with the situation and motivate them to adopt an active approach to it;

provide access to correct information on MS and run an Internet-based forum that enables users to share experiences and advice with one another;put on various sporting, cultural and social events for those with the condition;

familiarise the public with how sufferers can still enjoy an active life.

OXALIS decided to support the MS association because little is known about this serious disease and it’s rarely discussed. The public isn’t aware of the challenges faced by sufferers, in addition to which those newly diagnosed with it aren’t knowledgable about what to do next or where to go for assistance.

The donation made by the company benefited a clinic in the town of Jihlava, in the Czech Republic. It was used to buy products for specialist rehabilitative care, which forms part of the overarching treatment along with psychotherapy and immunomodulation therapy.

More information can be found at: portal.klubsms.cz