S IMMO extends Caritas collaboration

Since 2008, the listed company S IMMO AG has been supporting Caritas projects aimed at helping disadvantaged children and youths in Romania and Hungary as well as elderly people in Bulgaria. This collaboration will continue in 2013, as well. In addition, S IMMO supported the Sonnenmond children’s hospice in Carinthia as part of its Christmas campaign.

“In line with the theme of ‘providing shelter’, we support various social projects in the countries in which we operate. Our activities are focused on regions in which social standards are not nearly as high as in Austria. We can only make lasting, positive changes by being an ongoing, reliable partner, and this is exactly why we are very happy to be continuing our existing collaborations in 2013”, said Friedrich Wachernig, Member of S IMMO AG’s Management Board.

The Caritas projects in detail:

Hope House in Romania
Caritas has been operating four Hope Houses for orphaned children and youths in the Romanian city of Alba Iulia since 2000. The goal of the project is to offer young people a safe home and positive prospects for the future as well as to support them in their integration into society. In addition, a counselling centre was founded in 2010 that accompanies young people along their path to independence. A professional team of psychologists and social workers help them to find work and a permanent place to live, and also assist with official business as well as legal and psychological matters.

A future for children in Hungary
Another project supported by S IMMO AG is a community centre in the Hungarian city of Esztergom that has been operated by Caritas since 2002. The goal of the project is to improve the living conditions and future prospects of Romani children through education. In total, the centre serves around 90 children and youths along with their families. The centre concentrates on helping young people to successfully complete their schooling.

Ageing with dignity in Bulgaria
Roughly 90% of the inhabitants of the Bulgarian village of Pokrovan are over the age of 70. There is no city nearby, and the village is completely isolated in winter. The majority of the residents live alone and have to get by on very small minimum pensions that are often not even enough to cover the barest necessities. For this reason, Caritas operates a day centre and a soup kitchen in this village and arranges medical care for the elderly population, all with the support of S IMMO AG. Mobile teams also provide assistance to ill or bedridden persons.