Fiskars and SOS Children’s Villages in partnership
Fiskars Corp. Press Release August 30, 2012
Fiskars Group and SOS Children’s Villages will start co-operation in Finland. Through the partnership Fiskars aims to support the organization’s efforts and activities for children who cannot live in their own home and children from families living in difficult circumstances.
Fiskars aims to be a responsible corporation that contributes to the communities in which it operates. “Children – our future” represent one of Fiskars’ philanthropic focus areas. We seek to nourish our future: every child is entitled to a safe and happy childhood.
”Helping the young is a great decision by Fiskars. It is important that the work done during foster care is achieved by supporting the young person, and also during the phase of his or her becoming independent,” says Jari Ketola, Managing Director of SOS Children’s Villages in Finland. “Independence is reached gradually and during this process the young person needs encouragement and guidance, as well as financial support.”
As a partner, Fiskars will particularly support youth leaving care, i.e. young people moving from Children’s Village to their first homes. One form of this support will be a “Fiskars Start-Kit for your Home & Kitchen”, a basic set of dishes, cutlery, pans, and other practical items, intended to help a young person develop independent living.
“We truly admire the work SOS Children’s Villages is doing: providing a safe environment for children who have probably experienced many losses in their lives, and giving them a possibility to live an ordinary childhood,” says Max Alfthan, Chief Strategy Officer.
“For most of us, it is natural to receive our first set of tableware from our parents or grandparents, but not all children are that fortunate. Our perspective in the co-operation is to provide support in the critical transition between childhood and adulthood, when these young people leave SOS Village and start standing on their own feet,” continues Alfthan. “In addition, we want to be active in providing trainee and job opportunities for young people in or just leaving SOS Villages.”
For further information:
Max Alfthan, Chief Strategy Officer, tel. +358 204 39 5262
Fiskars is a leading global supplier of consumer products for the home, garden and outdoors. The group has a strong portfolio of respected international brands, including Fiskars, Iittala and Gerber. Founded in 1649 and listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Fiskars is Finland’s oldest company. Fiskars recorded net sales of EUR 743 million in 2011, and employs some 3,400 people in over 20 countries. www.fiskarsgroup.com