Raiffeisen Bank Aval' : RED NOSES Clowndoctors International delivered support to disadvantaged children in Western Ukraine

19.09.2016

LVIV. 19 September 2016 - RED NOSES Clowndoctors International (RNI), the H. Stepic CEE Charity and Caritas-Spes are partnering together to deliver laughter and joy to disadvantaged youth in the Lviv region in Ukraine from September 1st to 16th. The activities will develop the young audiences' creative abilities, strengthen their personal confidence; and, provide them with psychological support.

The three organisations are hard at work to relief the current humanitarian crisis in Ukraine due to the conflict. Women and children are the worst affected and in need of long-term support. These activities are an important contribution to relieving their hardships. The H. Stepic CEE Charity has invited RNI to visit facilities in Kamianets Podilskyi, Yablunitsya, Pnikut, and Vynnyky to work in the areas where the humorous interventions are needed most.

Local assistance for this charitable project is provided by Raiffeisen Bank Aval, a Ukrainian subsidiary of Raiffeisen Bank International AG. 'Raiffeisen Bank Aval has aided the H. Stepic CEE Charity's charitable projects and initiatives on many occasions in Ukraine, particularly in the Lviv region, caring for socially disadvantaged children and young people. The Red Noses International project embraces a great number of such children in several locations. We are more than happy to join the project; especially on the eve of the International Day of Charity, celebrated annually on September 5th. Such an emotionally rich creative project will add positivism to these children in these difficult times for Ukraine', said Sergiy Boyko, Regional Director of Lviv Regional Directorate of Raiffeisen Bank Aval.

Everyone takes part in the activities, receiving individual attention and instruction from the visiting artists. RNI is deploying two of its programmes, Caravan Orchestra and Circus Patientus, which are developed specifically for the needs of socially disadvantaged children as well as youth with mental and multiple disabilities. The participants' environment is changed into an interactive stage. The work relies also upon close partnerships with family members, medical support staff and others.

ABOUT RED NOSES CLOWNDOCTORS INTERNATIONAL

By combining scientific knowledge with artistic expertise, RED NOSES Clowndoctors International provides a full range of audiences, in hospitals and social institutions, amusement and joy. As of 2015, RED NOSES is active in 660 medical and social facilities spread across 10 countries. Beginning in Austria, other successful partner organisations were formed in Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Poland, Palestine and Lithuania. A total of 326 RED NOSES clowns delivered psychosocial and therapeutic support to over 708,000 people within the European Union and internationally.

ABOUT THE H. STEPIC CEE CHARITY

The H. Stepic CEE Charity is deeply rooted in Central and Eastern Europe and follows a very pragmatic approach. In close collaboration with each Raiffeisen Network Unit the association promotes and supports especially children and women, who suffer from social, economic and health-related problems. Its aim is to improve the supported groups' living condition and provide them with a new perspective for their lives. Among others, it provides children and young people with a sheltered home in a family-like environment, implements educational projects for needy children or builds the basis for self-reliance of young people by providing access to educational and vocational training.