The future of a society depends on the children of today. How we raise them deeply influences their development and later life as adults. Hypo Alpe Adria is very aware of this fundamental truth and, in 2010, supported several social projects to help children in seven European countries. “On-the-ground help should be delivered swiftly and unbureaucratically. Assistance needs to lead to a sustained improvement in the lives of the children supported,” emphasises Gottwald Kranebitter, CEO of Hypo Alpe Adria, who is a passionate advocate of Hypo’s efforts and activities in the area of CSR.

Local activities benefiting kids:

• In Italy, Hypo Group’s donation to the A.B.C. Burlo Association enabled them to rent a house next door to the children’s hospital, thus allowing parents to be able to stay with their sick children.
• In Austria, Sebastian, who has cancer, and his father, who is also ill, have received financial aid enabling them to have their flat adapted to their medical needs.
• With the help of Hypo Croatia, schoolbooks suitable for children with special educational needs were purchased for the primary school in Vukovar.
• In Serbia, children created presents and drawings for the children living in the Kolevka children’s home in Subotica. These works of art were presented in a little ceremony on World Children’s Day.
• Hypo Alpe Adria also committed to help children with special educational needs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Blejave children’s home in Sarajevo and the Majčino Selo children’s village in Međugorje, which give orphans a school education and prepare them for their future careers, are being supported there. In December, the "Protect me" Centre in Banja Luka was supported with a donation of 4500 euros. Children with special needs receive an individualised education at this centre. The money provided by Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank a.d. Banja Luka was used for reconstruction and refurbishment of the classroom. Following the reconstruction, the kids can use the carpentry cabinet again, which is very important for their further development.
• Montenegro launched a book campaign. Hypo Alpe Adria donated copies of children’s classics to school libraries and underprivileged families, thus giving every child the chance to immerse himself/herself in the world of books and to develop reading skills further.
• In Slovenia, Hypo Alpe Adria - working together with the SAFY Association - organised sporting and leisure activities for children from broken families.

Even if funding priorities shift regularly, Hypo Alpe Adria continues to support and protect children and young people. They deserve to grow up in a safe and caring environment, in order to make the world a better place.