A: As the market leader in baby food and clinical nutrition, with a mission of helping the most vulnerable of society; helping orphans, some of society's most vulnerable children, is an obvious theme for our philanthropic initiatives. SOS Children's Villages is an ideal partner, as it is a sustainable and professional global organisation with a proven concept and track record.

SOS Children's Villages is an international non-governmental organisation working in 132 countries to build futures for children in need. SOS Children's Villages endeavour to give orphaned and abandoned children a permanent home and stable environment. Rejecting the idea of orphanage institutions, SOS Children's Villages are based on a family-like structure formed by four basic principles: mother, brothers and sisters, house and village. The villages have an average of 10-15 family houses, providing the background of an extended family community. The village concept provides children with cultural roots and gives them a sense of familial belonging.

^ Back to top

A: Numico supports the mission of SOS Children's Villages worldwide. Our first projects of the Supporting Lives programme are the construction of a village in Medan and a Medical Clinic in Aceh – both on the Indonesian island Sumatra. Numico companies will support the work of the local SOS Children's Villages associations around the world; we currently have operations in 37 nations where SOS is also present.

^ Back to top

A: Following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, there was an outpouring of generosity from all parts of Numico – at the employee and company levels. We decided emergency relief was not enough to help orphaned and abandoned children. In addition to being a professional and global NGO, SOS Children's Villages operates in areas wrecked by the tsunami disaster. Though South Asia is not the only place Numico plans to coordinate with SOS, beginning in Indonesia is a much-needed first step to protecting and supporting vulnerable children.

^ Back to top

A: We currently have a 5-year partnership, lasting until 2011. Numico believes the cooperation with SOS Children's Villages is an ideal beginning to our long-term commitment to helping vulnerable children.

^ Back to top

A: Numico can help SOS Children's Villages via its international network, financial commitment and shared expertise and know-how. An alliance with SOS supports Numico employee pride, both in the Netherlands and around the world. By adopting local projects, the national companies of Numico can be very much engaged and determine their own level of involvement. Projects with SOS members may also provide motivational and teambuilding opportunities.

^ Back to top

A: Yes. Numico wants to drive awareness of social responsibility in our workforce and needs your assistance in supporting our global communities. As a company, Numico is generating better career tracking and development avenues for employees — both in business and for community outreach. A close cooperation with SOS Children's Villages gives employees the opportunity to grow personally and be active in local regions while supporting a greater company mission.

^ Back to top

A: Our company's community dedication to helping vulnerable children is only as strong as the employees behind it. Ways to get involved in Supporting Lives include programme support, in-kind support, knowledge and technical sharing, sponsorship and employee fundraising.

^ Back to top

A: No, product support is not currently planned as part of the overall alliance. However, in appropriate local markets, or in the case of emergency relief products could be distributed.

^ Back to top

A: As this is a long-term partnership, we hope to help an innumerable number of children over the years. Our first project in Medan, Indonesia will provide three new family units, providing and sustaining homes for 45 children. Medan will also receive a new kindergarten able to support 100 budding students. The medical clinic we are building in Aceh will provide necessary medical care for 2.000 children and adults.

^ Back to top

A: We recently adopted a set of Core Values – Care, Agility, Commitment and Integrity – which reflect how we see ourselves, and how we wish to behave towards others – as people in business and people in the community. We published our first sustainability report, "Sustaining Life," in 2005 and our 2006 report will be available in the summer.

^ Back to top

A: The SOS partnership is Numico's first long term partnership, but we have always been involved in helping our local communities. Some examples of recent projects include:

• In 2004, the Baby Food management team in Turkey focused their efforts on an orphanage in Istanbul; out of the joint contributions of the company and local staff; the wages of seven new 'mothers' are now covered
• In Brazil, we helped set up the Instituto Canguru, bringing together medical experts, patient groups and opinion leaders to establish the first national screening programme for phenylketonuria (PKU)
• Numico's employees were among the first to respond to the Tsunami in South Asia, through the Helping Hands initiative launched by the Executive Board; the company-wide fundraising campaign raised nearly €1 million in contributions
• Sari Husada, the leading baby food company in Indonesia in which Numico is the majority stakeholder, undertakes many local community projects including the financial support of 30 Panti Asuhan orphanages and 2,000 foster children and their carer families

A: The partnership helps Numico achieve its company Corporate Social Responsibility goals. Our products and research and development work seeks to nourish the young, old and disabled. This initiative lends the brand a socially involved image giving Numico products added value.

^ Back to top

A: Today, almost 60.000 orphaned and abandoned children are cared for in 450 villages around the world. In 2008 SOS wants to offer more than 80.000 children a permanent home and to continue serving hundreds of thousands of people via medical clinics, social centres and training facilities. To realise these objectives, SOS Children's Villages wants to continue allying with international partners. With Numico's long-term support, we can help SOS achieve these goals and aid more orphaned children and disadvantaged communities.

^ Back to top

A: SOS operates 7 other programme and facility types around the world:

• 341 Youth facilities help young adults prepare for life on their own, find a job and/or continue studies
• 271 Kindergartens are open to local communities
• 182 Hermann Gmeiner Schools exist outside of Europe, providing education at numerous levels to Village children and the local communities
• 130 Vocational Training Centres for SOS youth and disadvantaged community members
• 271 Social Centres aim to help neighbour families, particularly women and children, escape from poverty
• 55 Medical clinics outside of Europe provide basic medical care in communities
• Emergency relief programmes enable quick, humanitarian response in times of catastrophe

A: SOS Children's Villages is an umbrella organisation with active member associations in 132 countries. Each country has a local board of trustees and local management. There are 450 villages around the world. Our partnership is coordinated through SOS Children's Villages Netherlands.

^ Back to top

A: SOS gives permanent support to 58.000 orphaned and abandoned children and aids more than 500.000 people through other family-strengthening programmes and facilities.

^ Back to top

A: SOS NL is dependent on gifts and donations from private donors, foundations, companies and the National Postcode Lottery. More than 60% of SOS NL's total income is raised through long-term partnerships and commitments. Other annual income is generated by legacies (10%), emergency support (5%) and corporate donations (10%). As in 2005, SOS Children's Villages will receive a subsidy from the Dutch government in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The CBF cost percentage for fundraising is 20%. Bookkeeping for SOS NL and partner organisations is controlled by external accountants.

^ Back to top

A: Yes. Kuoni and Swarovski have supported SOS-Children's Villages for many years. We expect the impact of the alliance with Numico to be particularly successful. SOS plans to work with more international partners in the near future. Visit www.sos-childrensvillages.org for more information on other SOS partnerships.

^ Back to top