SOS-Children's Villages (SOS-Barnbyar)
SOS-Children’s Villages is a politically and religiously independent organization which takes care, throughout the world, of the most vulnerable members of society: orphans and abandoned children.  Lundin Petroleum fully supports the mission of SOS-Children’s Villages and decided, as part of its Corporate Donations’ programme to become a sponsor for 2006-2007 of SOS-Barnbyar, its Swedish arm.

As an SOS-Barnbyar sponsor, Lundin Petroleum contributes to the partial funding of Villages in countries where it has assets but a limited interaction with local communities, because it operates offshore or through partners.

The villages selected for support so far are Gammarth situated near Tunis in Tunisia, a village in Jakarta, Indonesia and the Go Vap village which is situated near Ho Chi Minh city. Lundin Petroleum has offices in Tunis and Jakarta and the selection of the Villages was made in consultation with these offices.

For additional information regarding SOS-Children’s Villages see:
http://www.sos-barnbyar.se
http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/

Gammarth Village, Tunisia
Gammarth’s SOS Children's Village is erected in the small community of Gammarth, at La Marsa, a northern suburb of Tunis. It is an old village with about 6.000 inhabitants. The SOS Children's Village is located near the village centre. Secondary schools can be easily reached by bus.

The SOS Children's Village of Gammarth comprises 10 family houses, a Village Director's house, a Community Centre and a SOS-Kindergarten for 100 children, who predominantly come from the surrounding area. There is also a laundry, a shop, workshops and an administrative building. For the elder youths a Youth Community was established where they can live and grow up in relative independence and get gradually accustomed to living on their own without the help of SOS.

In 2007, together with its local office, Lundin Petroleum decided to make a direct contribution to SOS Tunisia; the decision was taken after a visit to the Village and as recognition of the great work being carried out there. The contribution goes towards covering running costs of one House within the Village: the “Lundin Petroleum House”.

 

Jakarta Village, Indonesia,
Lundin Petroleum decided to make a direct contribution to the SOS Children’s Village Jakarta, at the recommendation of Lundin Petroleum’s General Manager for Indonesia, who, after paying a visit, noted the good work being carried out and the need for additional funds to provide the required services.

SOS Children's Village Jakarta was built on a three-hectare site and officially inaugurated by SOS-Children's Villages' founder Herrmann Gmeiner on 14 March 1984. It consists of 15 family houses, the village director's house, an aunts' house (aunts are family helpers who support the SOS mothers), a community house, a garage with a workshop and an administrative and service area. Up to 150 orphaned or abandoned children can find a new home there. The Village has a kindergarten, a computer laboratory, and a Social Centre which offers family strengthening, health counselling, community support, counselling and psychological support.



Go Vap Village, Vietnam
Lundin Petroleum decided to sponsor via SOS Barnbyar a village in Vietnam, a country where it has recently aquired an interest but has no physical presence in.  The Go Vap Village is situated near Ho Chi Minh city. It consists of 20 family houses, which were constructed in the local style and are ideal for the hot climate. There is a kindergarten, where up to 165 children can be taught, a primary and secondary school for up to 1’100 students and a medical centre; services in all these facilities can be sought by members of the neighbouring communities.

Redd Barna, Norway
Lundin Petroleum has decided to sponsor Save the Children Norway, (Redd Barna) in April 2007; this organisation tends to the needs of children throughout the world and in particular in Darfur, Sudan, where Lundin Petroleum has no operations but is concerned with the severe humanitarian crisis which it recognises requires immediate and significant attention.

The Bridges of Hope, Sudan
Bridge of Hope cares for street children in Khartoum, Sudan. In addition to providing room and board and schooling to 35 street boys, it offers classes to another 35 children, as well as meals for up to 120 children daily. It also conducts some special vocational training for the older boys.

Lundin Petroleum’s contributions in 2007 cover approximately half of BoH’s monthly expenditures, as well as some ad hoc initiatives, such as the creation of a learning centre and a bakery.

Through Lundin Petroleum’s direct intervention, a Sudanese and a Swedish company, have become sponsors of BoH. Another main sponsor of the BoH is the Lundin for Africa Foundation (www.lundinforafrica.org), set up by Lundin Petroleum’s chairman, Ian Lundin and Board member, Lukas Lundin.

It is possible to support Bridge of Hope on an individual basis through a sponsorship program. $67 per month or $800 per annum will provide a child with room and board and an education. For more information regarding the sponsorship programme, contact Bridge of Hope director, Barbara Gouldsbury at barbaragouldsbury@hotmail.com.