On January 25, 2005, sanofi-aventis organized a day of solidarity at 300 Group sites worldwide to allow Group employees to play their part in relief actions launched with partner aid agencies in the tsunami-stricken countries.
Thanks to the generosity of sanofi-aventis employees, the sum of
870,000 euros was raised to set up long-term twinning and child sponsorship projects in stricken villages in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand.
The highest employee participation rates were observed:
- on one hand, in the tsunami-stricken countries: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
- on the other hand, in the following countries : Brazil, Korea, Pakistan and Slovakia
Twinning projects
Twinning projects were chosen in close consultation with sanofi-aventis managers and teams in the countries affected, after visits to the devastated areas to assess needs and consult with partner aid agencies working on the ground.
The donations received (740,000 euros) will be distributed as follows:
- India: 325,000 euros for projects in partnership with the Association du Père Ceyrac, Isha Foundation and SEEDS
- Sri Lanka: 70,000 euros in partnership with Sarvodaya and Sewelanka
- Indonesia: 235,000 euros in partnership with Solidarités, UNICEF and Handicap International
- Thailand: 110,000 euros in partnership with the Thai Red Cross
The funds will be devoted primarily to:
- rebuilding livelihoods, through the purchase of fishing boats and nets, for example
- reconstruction of housing and communities
- access to health care (repairing dispensaries, financing mobile clinics)
- children's education (rehabilitation of schools, training new teachers, school equipment and supplies, etc.)
- psychological and social support for families.
Child sponsorship projects
1,269 employees in the sanofi-aventis Group have applied to sponsor a child.
- 861 through SOS Children's Villages (in India, Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka)
- 408 through Enfants du Mékong in Thailand.
Each employee will pay his or her donation to the chosen sponsorship project. The Group will contribute a further 130 000 euros to these projects.
Employees will be able to follow the progress of each project via the Group Intranet site.
Through this gesture of solidarity, the Group and its employees will be contributing to the reconstruction of shattered villages and providing aid for children in need, not just today but for the long term.
