SOS Children’s Villages and DNA to collaborate

A child protection services provider SOS Children’s Village Association Finland (SOS-Lapsikylä ry) and DNA Ltd have agreed on long-term cooperation, with DNA offering financial support and data communication connections for the association's offices. DNA is one of the main cooperation partners of SOS Children’s Village Association Finland.

At the heart of SOS Children's Village Association Finland are its homes in SOS children’s villages in Kaarina, Espoo, Vihanti, Punkaharju and Ylitornio. In these homes, children taken into care can live an ordinary life with their foster parents. The association also has an adolescent home in Jyväskylä and a camping centre in Pello. The mission of the association is to help children who are without parental security or who are in danger of losing their parents.

In previous years, DNA has supported work with children and adolescents by promoting, e.g. data security awareness and the prevention of bullying in schools. In the first year of partnership between SOS Children’s Village Association Finland and DNA, the financial assistance will be directed towards therapy activities. DNA employees will also be given the opportunity to take part in voluntary work, and efforts will be made to support the association’s other fundraising activities.

– We are pleased to have the support of DNA in our operations and child protection projects, says Executive Manager Jari Ketola of SOS Children’s Village Association Finland.

– In addition to supporting our work through financial contributions, it is equally wonderful that DNA will provide us with high-quality data communication services. With its extensive and high-quality network, DNA is an excellent telecommunications partner for us.

There is a growing need in Finland for SOS Children’s Village activities since the number of children taken into care is constantly increasing. Currently, almost 17,000 children are placed outside their own homes, and more than 70,000 children and adolescents are in open care.

SOS Children’s Village Association has operated in Finland since 1962. A total of some 160 children live in its villages and adolescent homes, and approximately 50 children are covered by open care support measures.

Further information:
Aija Rikala, Communications Manager, SOS Children’s Village Association Finland, tel. +358 50 555 2515, aija.rikala@sos-lapsikyla.fi
Minna Robertson, Financial Communications Manager, DNA Ltd, tel. +358 44 044 9877, minna.robertson@dna.fi

DNA Ltd is a Finnish telecommunications company providing high-quality voice, data and TV services to private customers and corporations. In 2010, DNA recorded a turnover of EUR 690 million and an operating profit of EUR 65 million. DNA has more than 3 million mobile and fixed-line network customers. For more information, please visit www.dna.fi .

Established in 1962, SOS Children’s Village Association Finland (SOS-Lapsikylä ry) is a member of the global, independent SOS Children’s Villages child protection organisation. The task of the organisation is to help children and young people to grow up in families. SOS Children’s Village provides child protection services in open and foster care in children’s villages and an adolescent home. The association employs some 160 professionals.

SOS Children’s Villages operate in 133 countries. Please find out more about the operations in Finland at www.sos-lapsikyla.fi and about the work of the international SOS Children’s Village organisation at www.sos-childrensvillages.org .