Thursday, July 29, 2021
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News
Brought to you by: Monaco Life
ML: Can you describe the daily life of a Ugandan child before C4C steps in?
GC: Many of our children have lived on the streets, either in gangs or on their own. Their parents died having contracted HIV and then they were abandoned by aunts and uncles unable to care for them.
They would collect and sell scrap on the streets, or simply beg. They’d sleep in dire conditions, sticking in groups to survive. They’d pick in rubbish bins for food or queue up at soup kitchens when they were on offer, often having their food stolen from older tougher kids once they were served.
ML: Can you give us some key facts and figures about the association?
GC: The organisation was originally founded in 2011 by Martin Male, an AIDS orphan. We look after 56 orphaned children between the ages of 5 to 15, rescued from slums and hospitals, as well as from other organisations that were shut down due to lack of funding or poor conditions.
None of our children are HIV positive, they are all healthy although none of them had a birth certificate or passport when we rescued them.
In 2016, we raised €76,200. Every single euro raised goes straight to the children; we don’t take admin fees or pay our European team.
ML: Tell us about the Sponsor a Child program.
GC: Each child has a sponsor – either €2.50/day for a full sponsorship or €1.25/day for a co-sponsorship – and this funding is used to pay for food and education, utilities, basic medical care and upkeep for each child.
In return, the sponsors receive regular updates, with letters from the children, a general behavioural report, school report and photos three times a year. The sponsors are encouraged to have as much contact as possible with their child – they can organise a video chat or even send over presents for their birthdays and Christmas, if they so choose.
ML: What are C4C’s main fundraising events?
GC: We run an annual fundraiser event – for example, Raise the Roof or Chill for Charity – to pay for the rent on the children’s accommodation and also to subsidise their school fees and supplies. These events are usually in Monaco or the surrounding areas and always a lot of fun. We don’t like to take ourselves too seriously!
ML: On November 10, C4C is hosting ‘Music, Magic and More” at the Yacht Club. Can you give some details?
GC: This fundraiser will help to pay next year’s rent for our 56 Ugandan children. Bring your friends to the most chic venue in Monaco for an evening of fun and fabulous magic with Neil Henry, DJ Max Avril from Nikki Beach St Tropez and electric violinist Katharina Putska. Plus, there will be a raffle and silent auction of paintings by 
Chances for Children's first "home" and school in 2014-2015.[/caption]
ML: What are C4C’s plans for 2018?
GC: Our main focus in 2018 will be raising funds to build our own self-sustaining campus, so that we no longer have to rely on landlords as we keep having to move and its very expensive and stressful. For this we will need to raise around €300,000.
It will have a large farm attached to it, to provide enough to feed our own children but also enough to sell produce to provide income to the centre. We will also set up our own school with tech and sports facilities, and take in fee-paying children to make the operation entirely autonomous.
We hope this centre will be the first of many, a business model that can be replicated to provide a safe, welcoming home to children all over Africa from the most vulnerable backgrounds.
[caption id="attachment_24517" align="alignnone" width="640"]
Chances for Children's first "home" and school in 2014-2015.[/caption]
ML: Does the association need members, volunteers or accept donations?
GC: We always welcome 
Photo: Charly Gallo/DC[/caption]
The Auditorium Rainier III played host to the 7th edition of the Training Choices Forum and the 12th Meeting of the Professions of Banking and Finance on Wednesday, February 21. This day, organised by the Employment Service and the Youth Employment Unit, under the aegis of the Department of Social Affairs and Health, was aimed at students aged 16 to 26 at all levels, allowing them to meet specialists, acquaint themselves with work-study programmes and meet companies in the Principality that are partners in the scheme.
With the presence of more than 630 visitors throughout the day, Sophie Vincent, Deputy Director of Labour, was very positive about the results: “The target for attendance at the Forum was 500 young visitors, we are well beyond this figure.
“A total of 87 brands were represented: 45 Monegasque companies, 15 banks and management companies and 25 schools in the region, plus the Information Centre of National Education.”
[caption id="attachment_28763" align="alignnone" width="984"]
Best Apprentice Award, a tie between Coralie Sategna and Pastor Immobilier, Alizée Sassi and the Monaco Yacht Club. The Jury Prize went to Daniela Guerra-Flores and the company Mobee. Photo: Manuel Vitali/DC[/caption]
As has been customary for the last five years, the day ended with the presentation of the Fifth Apprenticeship Trophies awarded by the Minister for Social Affairs and Health, Didier Gamerdinger, to three exemplary apprentices, both at school and professional level, and at their host company: Best Apprentice Award, a tie between Coralie Sategna and Pastor Immobilier, Alizée Sassi and the Monaco Yacht Club. The Jury Prize went to Daniela Guerra-Flores and the company Mobee.
The Training Choices Forum, together with the presentation of the apprenticeship trophies, has become the highlight of a continuous initiative throughout the year by the Employment Service.
