The Business Contribution to the Millennium Development Goals

The attainment of the Millennium Development Goals in 2015 will change the world into a different place with less poverty and hunger

Businesses make the world a different place

On June 14 the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan addressed in Paris the meeting of representatives of more than 140 companies participating in the Global Compact. Joined by French President Jacques Chirac and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, the Secretary General praised the central role of businesses in achieving the Millennium Development Goals which were derived from the declaration adopted by world leaders at their September 2000 Summit at the United Nations.

"....If the goals are met by the target year of 2015, the world will be a very different place. 500 million people will be lifted out of extreme poverty. More than 300 million people will no longer suffer from hunger. 30 million children will be saved from dying of preventable illness 115 million children will be enjoying primary education instead of labouring in factories and fields. Two million mothers will have been spared death from childbirth complications. AIDS will no longer be spreading, but at last beginning to retreat. Business generates employment and wealth. The tremendous human, technical and organizational capacities have direct applications in virtually all realms of development. These capacities are every bit as important as capital. It is the absence of broad-based business activity, not its presence that condemns much of humanity to suffering. Indeed, what is utopian is the notion that poverty can be overcome without the active engagement of business. Business is of vital importance to the Goals. The value of the goals to business is equally undeniable. ." said UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

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"Walk the World 2005"

The world produces more than enough food for everyone, and yet every day children die of hunger

TNT employees from around the world, their families and friends walked together the distance of the Earth's equator to join in the battle against child hunger. In over 200 cities, the event reminded people of the heartrending fact that in a world, which produces more than enough food for everyone, some 18,000 children die of hunger every day.

The event took place on 12 June 2005 - World Day against Child Labour - at the meadows in front of the St. George Hotel in Simeonovo. The march was followed by a special program featuring dance performances by a Roma children's ensemble, a game of paintball and other sport events.

The Walk raised over BGL 1,500 which will be transferred to the UN World Food Programme for funding student school meals. "A child needs 15 euro cents for a school meal. Out goal is for each o ne of us to provide a child with a year's school meals" said Mr. Ivan Vassilev, manager for TNT Bulgaria

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National Anti- Hepatitis Campaign: "Take Protection in Your Own Hands"

"Take Protection in Your Own Hands" seeks to raise awareness of the threat of hepatitis and the available prevention options against this serious disease 

"The Bulgarian Charity Aid Foundation organized a public discussion on the effectivness of charity in Bulgaria

GlaxoSmithKline organized an info-day on anti-hepatitis protection. Open throughout the day was a "hepatitis data stand" providing information materials on hepatitis and the ways of preventing it. A flowerbed of yellow flowers was planted in the shape of an umbrella - the symbol of the anti-hepatitis protection.

The initiative took place at the entrance of the South Park on 15 May 2005. The event was motivated by the desire to raise awareness of the problem and the available solutions and set a positive example of well informed decisions.

The GlaxoSmithKline-organized national anti-hepatitis campaign "Take Protection in Your Own Hands" started in September 2004 with the support of the National Center for the Protection of Public Health, the Hygiene and Epidemiology Inspectorate in Sofia, the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases and the Infectious Diseases Hospital.

Within the framework of this initiative immunized free of charge were over 1,000 children from the Roma community of Sliven, orphanated children from the home in the village of Doganovo and many more children from around the country.

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Effectiveness of charity in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Charity Aid Foundation organized a public discussion on the effectiveness of philanthropy in Bulgaria. The event took place on 8 June 2005 at the Press Club of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency. The discussion focused on themes such as the confidence crisis regarding non-governmental organizations, the need for an infrastructure of charity, the role of the government in charity and trends in charitable activities.