Azerbaijani mobile operator BAKCELL to support children in need

Ms. Botter, Bakcell has recently celebrated its 2 million active subscribers. As one of the leading mobile operators in Azerbaijan, which works on “getting closer” to its customers, Bakcell also carries out a corporate social responsibility project named “Bakcell Stars”. Could you please tell us more about “Bakcell Stars”? What projects and events do you plan within the new project?

“Bakcell Stars” is chosen for a corporate social responsibility strategy that is based on supporting children in need. Bakcell truly believes that every child is a star and they can realize their dreams. Children are the most vulnerable group in the society and with the aim of helping them to improve their lives, we launched “Bakcell Stars” program. Bakcell has signed an agreement with several well-known international organizations such as Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages, United Aid for Azerbaijan and Social Services Initiatives to support throughout the year certain educational projects for the children. Our long-term strategic aim is to invest in children's future in developing children’s potential and talents. For example, Bakcell Stars financed an extra curricula program for children of Save the Children in five schools of Baku, Sumgayit and Absheron peninsula that included theatre lessons and singing lessons with the theme of tolerance and child rights throughout the school year.

Bakcell Stars also supports educational programs for United Aid for Azerbaijan and Social Services Initiatives by financing a creative program for the disabled children of UAFA and implementing sport and play activities for deaf children of SSI. We also created a children’s choir at the SOS Children’s villages last year and hired a singing teacher to give children singing lesson. Last week Bakcell Stars organized a concert program for these children where children’s choir performed in front of a big audience. Followed the concert program we launched a SMS charity campaign and the SMS campaign will continue until October 5th.

What is the purpose of the SMS campaign and how do you plan to use the funds raised from this campaign?

We organize annual events followed by SMS campaigns for all our “Bakcell Stars” partners. The idea is unique and aims at engaging our subscribers to support the cause to improve the lives of children. We pay much attention to the transparency; a special bank account is opened for the contributions and anyone is welcome to audit how the funds are being spent. We conducted the first SMS Charity campaign for Save the Children in April and it was successful. The sms campaign followed the big event in the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic where the children from Save the Children’s “Bird’s Stories” project performed stories for an audience of almost 300 guests. Bakcell Stars then launched SMS charity campaign for its customers to contribute to the program.

Thanks to the generous support of our subscribers, Bakcell Stars collected AZN 55,000 for Save the Children educational program that now has the means to expand their projects to many more children. I am happy to announce that Save the Children has started the new phase of the project in 20 schools in five regions throughout Azerbaijan. Using theater to promote creative thinking about healthy behaviors, the “Bird’s Stories II” project will continue with its focus on improving cooperation, problem solving, effective communication, participation, and independent decision-making skills. In addition to extending its geographic area of intervention, Save the Children will use professional actors and older students as active mentors of younger participants to produce thoughtful and stimulating theater performances. Working also with a selected group of teachers at these schools, five rayon-level theater competitions will be held at which the educational plays will be performed by children themselves. The five winning schools will then perform at the Gala Performance or the National School Theatrical Competition in Baku. This program will be implemented through the 2010-2011 school year.

When is the next “Bakcell Stars” event?

Our next Bakcell Stars event will be organized for United Aid for Azerbaijan (UAFA) at the end of this year. We sposnor photography, drawing and dancing classes for the disabled children of UAFA. At the end of the project we will hold a big event for the children to demonstrate their talent and the collected funds from the sms campaign will be used for the expansion of the project.  In the meantime, I call all Bakcell subscribers to actively participate in the Bakcell Stars SMS charity campaign for SOS Children’s Villages. Starting September 21, we have been sending short messages to our customers from our 1155 short code. By replying to this short message or sending a new message to the short number 1155 each Bakcell customer can donate 1 AZN or 450 contours to the campaign. We want to thank you all Bakcell customers who have donated to the campaign so far. Bakcell has now more than 2 million active subscribers in Azerbaijan and by joining this campaign they can make a huge contribution to the lives of the children in need.


/Day.Az/