HSBC Future First continues to change lives with SOS Children

Two years into our five-year partnership, the HSBC Global Education Trust, through its ‘Future First’ programme, has supported a staggering 170,000 children through SOS educational projects. So far, donations have exceeded US $2million, and 77 projects in 28 countries have benefited.

The range of SOS projects supported is huge; here are a few examples of the work we have been able to achieve thanks to the Trust:

Playbuses in Poland, Indonesia and Kazakhstan

A Playbus is like a nursery school, or a youth centre, but on wheels. Each one visits thousands of vulnerable children facing domestic violence or abuse in deprived areas in and around Warsaw in Poland, Jakarta in Indonesia, and Temirtau in Kazakhstan. The creative activities run by its teachers help children to overcome trauma and behavioural difficulties through play, drama and counselling, and to help these children make friends and support their schoolwork.

Education in Mauritius

Some of the 150 children on the ‘family strengthening programme’ (FSP) in Bambous come from such poverty-stricken families that they have never been out of the city. So, with the Trust’s support, we arranged some excursions: for example, in the summer, the older children visited one of Mauritius’ smaller islands, and the FSP paid for the boat fees and lunch packs. This outing enabled our children to visit and explore the island, to observe beautiful waterfalls and to see the importance of protecting fauna and flora. Furthermore, for most of them, it was the first time that they travelled on a boat. To ensure the children continue learning, the Trust provides them with the fees to attend school.

Education in Jordan

Following their tough start in life, and lack of early education, we are so proud that our children at SOS Children’s Village Aqaba in Jordan are scoring an average of 80% in their schoolwork. The children firmly believe in the importance of education - they’ve seen what a lack of it can do. Some of the children also need extra tuition, others require speech therapy, and others are helped to overcome past trauma through music therapy. The HSBC Global Education Trust is paying all these costs.

Education in Venezuela

The renovation of two community centres with lots of fun educational materials in a deprived area of Ciudad Ojeda, northern Venezuela, means 160 little children can receive the start in life they need. Nutritious food is provided three times a day too, to help the children concentrate and grow properly. Local mothers are also supported by the Trust to run community schools, where they can educate and feed their children.

Training in Bangladesh

130 boys, most of whom have missed out on formal secondary education due to severe poverty, can gain the skills they need so they can obtain secure employment and support themselves and their families in the future. The boys study electrics, electronics, carpentry or automobile repair. The ‘Future First’ HSBC donation has bought more equipment and training materials for this Vocational Training Centre.

Youth Centre in Spain

The district of Sant Adrià del Besos in Barcelona, Spain, is deprived and the local teenagers are bored, vulnerable, and engaging in risky behaviour. The Youth Centre supports 30 teenagers with their schoolwork, and offers counselling, art and craft classes, and IT education. In the summer, they participated in sports competitions - football and swimming - so they could learn more about teamwork. The Trust supports the continuing costs of this Centre.

Thank you

Our grateful thanks to all at HSBC for their commitment, determination and hard work over the past two years to ensure all these children receive the educational support they need; particular thanks must go to Bob Pankhania, Lorraine Thomas, Malini Thadani, Madhuri Vijaykumar, Unmesh Brahme and Dame Mary Richardson.