For the ninth year in a row, the O2 Foundation will provide ten million crowns in support for disadvantaged children and youth
Prague - The O2 Foundation has announced its 9th annual Regional Grant programme, in which it will distribute 10 million crowns among non-profit non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that support children and youth all over the Czech Republic. Selected projects will be supported by grants totalling 1.25 million crowns in each of eight regions.
"As in past years, we will support the best projects from non-profit organizations designed to help children and youth. In accordance with Telefónica O2's new Europe-wide strategy, we are also for the first time providing an opportunity to young people from the age of 16 to 26, who have their own ideas and projects to help disadvantaged children, but lack the confidence and finances to implement them. We believe in young people, and that they can and want to have a positive effect on the society in which we live," says Ivana Šatrová, director of the O2 Foundation.
Non-profit NGOs may submit their grant applications up to 10 May 2010. Young people up to 26 years of age, both individuals and groups, may submit their projects under the auspices and via a selected non-profit organization that they approach. Detailed application conditions are available at www.nadaceo2.cz. Projects received will be judged in individual regional centres by local committees composed of specialists in children's and youth issues, representatives of the non-profit sector, Telefónica O2 employees, and representatives from the media. Thanks to the fact that members of individual committees live and work in the given region, they are familiar with the local environment and applicants' needs. Winning projects will be announced at the end of September/beginning of October 2010. Non-profit organizations may draw on the grants they receive during all of 2011.
The culmination of the grant process will be the now traditional O2 Foundation Prize of 1 million crowns. Out of all the grant applications received, one to two projects are nominated for this grand prize from each region by the regional committees. The winner of the O2 Foundation Prize is then selected by the Foundation's board of directors. Through this prize, the O2 Foundation expresses gratitude to the non-profit organization for having the courage to change established habits and its efforts in initiating society-wide changes. Last year, this prize was awarded to the Rozum a Cit (Sense and Sensibility) Foundation for its project supporting grandparent foster families. These foster families do not receive the same level of state support as regular foster families, which is why the Sense and Sensibility Foundation supports and educates them, in order for them to be able to manage all demands posed by often-unexpected situations.
