Corporate companies asked to donate towards child care

Corporate Companies have been implored to invest towards the wellbeing of disadvantaged children who are under the care of SOS children's villages Uganda.

Currently SOS is taking care of 684 vulnerable and disadvantaged children in their four children's villages of Fort Portal, Entebbe, Gulu and Kakiri and supporting another 29,000 children living in surrounding communities.
 
During its inaugural SOS corporate social investment forum held at Serena Conference Centre on Wednesday, the chief administrative officers, human resource managers and directors who attended the breakfast meeting were urged to commit one hour every month to support the children.

CEO SOS International Nobert Meder and United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Rosa Malango share a light moment as National Director SOS Children's Villages Olive Lumonya looks on

 
Olive Lumonya, the SOS children's village Chief Administrative Officer (CEO), equated the one hour to sh20, 000 which she said the corporate company employees can decided, out of goodwill, to donate every month to the wellbeing of the children.

"We need to create a generation of givers," she said, adding that the corporate bosses should interest their staff in donating for the children.

Rosa Malango, the UNDP country representative noted that investing in the wellbeing of these children equates to investing in the future entrepreneurs, employees, consumers and leaders of this country.

CEO SOS Children's Villages International, Norbert Meder shares a moment with Children of Hermann Gmeiner primary school in Wakiso district.

 
She said that this investment will enable the children's village to bring up a new generation of responsible citizens who will contribute positively to Uganda's transformation.

"The investment in SOS children's village will be visible in the lives of the children later on. It will also demonstrate to your customers that you care about the society from which you are making money," she said.

Malango, who also doubles as the SOS children's village ambassador, noted that when the corporate company bosses donate, they are likely to inspire their employees to give back to the communities.

"You should also inspire your employees by demonstrating that you can and must give back to the community and still remain practical," she said.

According to her Uganda has 1.5m vulnerable children with most of them being orphans.  She said when these children are supported, the country will indirectly also be helped to implement the Sustainable Development Goals.

Stella Ayo Odongo, the Executive Director Uganda Child Rights NGO Network (UCRNN) urged every Ugandan in a privileged position to donate to the cause, arguing that the children never made the choice to have the fate that befell them.

 
Richard Byarugaba, the National Social Security Fund managing director, committed a monthly donation of sh50, 000 from his salary.

"It is a good cause that we should pay attention to. Each time I look at those children, I feel tears in my eyes. There is no harm in deducting a small amount to support them," he said.

The meeting was held under the theme ‘doing good is good business: the impact of social investments on businesses and brands'.

SOS children's villages Uganda is a child care organiSation that looks after vulnerable and disadvantaged children and has been in operation in Uganda since 1991.

It depends on donations to run its programes. Since its inception, it has been able to help over 60,000 children.