TEHRAN, 18 April 2007 – Iranian Mineral Water
Company Damavand and UNICEF Iran launched a new partnership today whereby
Damavand will donate a portion of the revenues of its water bottle sales to
UNICEF Iran to help finance girls’ education projects. This is the first time in
Iran that a share of the sales of a product will benefit a charitable cause.
Under this one-year partnership, Damavand mineral
water bottles now feature the UNICEF logo and describe how this partnership
benefits Iranian Children. Both the words ‘Water’ and ‘Education’ begin with the
letter ‘A’ in Farsi, which explains why the partnership campaign is called A as
in Water, A as in Education.
Some 4,500 children in the areas of Hormozgan, West
Azarbaijan and Sistan & Balochestan are targeted in this initiative.
Activities will include promotion of community-based school management and
providing quality education.
“This is a win-win situation,” said Jan-Pieter
Kleijburg, Deputy Representative UNICEF Iran. “It is good for UNICEF, as it
helps us to expand important activities without relying too much on funds from
abroad. It is good for Damavand Mineral Water Company, as it provides a channel
for the company to fulfil its corporate social responsibilities. And it is good
for the children in remote parts of the country, who will benefit from quality
education and a better chance to have a good future.”
For the Iranian mineral water company, the
partnership with UNICEF highlights the company’s awareness of its social
responsibility.
"Damavand is very proud to start this pioneering
programme with UNICEF Iran to help provide education to thousands of children of
our country,” said Farhad Besharat, chairman of the board of Damavand Mineral
Water Company. “Our shareholders currently support several other youth and
education programmes because we are aware of our responsibility to invest in
Iran’s future generations.”
About UNICEF
UNICEF is on
the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and
thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest
provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and
nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and
girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and
AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of
individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
For more information please
contact:
Pantea Masoumi, Fundraising Officer, UNICEF Iran, +2259
4994 ext 105, pmasoumi@unicef.org
Bahareh Yeganehfar, Communication Assistant, UNIEF Iran, 2259 4994 ext
110, byeganehfar@unicef.org
... Payvand News - 4/19/07 ...
