“Donating rather than giving” is the motto again this year at the dental manufacturer VOCO. As in previous years, the family-run company is foregoing Christmas presents and cards for customers and business partners and is instead once again donating 20,000 euros to the international aid organisation Doctors Without Borders. This is the 5th time in a row that the company has taken part in the “Company Christmas Donation” campaign, bringing the total amount donated to 100,000 euros. Doctors Without Borders provides medical aid worldwide in crisis and war zones and following natural disasters. The organisation was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999 for this work.
“The suffering in many parts of the globe deeply affects us. It is therefore a real affair of the heart for us to help people in need. We hope our donation will make a small contribution to alleviate misery and save lives”, says Olaf Sauerbier, Managing Director of VOCO.
No emergency assistance without donation
The employees of Doctors Without Borders – such as doctors, nursing staff, midwives and logistics specialist – are active worldwide. They treat sick and wounded people, take care of malnourished children or provide clean water and latrines. Doctors Without Borders work without state funding, so that only private donations make emergency aid possible.
“We are delighted with the generous donation of 20,000 euros from VOCO”, says Parnian Parvanta, chairwoman of Doctors Without Borders. “As a gynaecologist, I have seen time and again during my missions that births become a life-threatening situation due to a lack of medical care. It is often the little things that help effectively: an ultrasound device for diagnostics, sterile material such as scissors, needles and thread or bandages. We are active in more than 70 countries worldwide. It’s great to know that companies like VOCO have been at our side for years.”
Photo: Oliver Barth/MSF