Coatings World - July 2017

education and renovation to drive a positive impact on youth unemployment. The partnership aims to reach the young people of SOS Children’s Villages with AkzoNobel’s “Let’s Colour” program and professional training through AkzoNobel’s painter academies around the world. The partnership kicks off with three countries in 2017: Brazil, Nigeria and Indonesia.

In addition, the trained young painters will collaborate with AkzoNobel volunteers to renovate and improve the living spaces of SOS Children’s Villages program participants.

Kei Heikkilä, head of International
Corporate Partnerships at SOS
Children’s Villages says: “We are de-
lighted to welcome AkzoNobel as our
new international corporate partner.
Our experience at SOS Children’s
Villages shows that a collaborative ap-
proach actively contributes to the em-
ployability of young people coming
from a disadvantaged background.
Together with a partner like AkzoNobel,
who has all the color expertise needed
to make people’s lives more colorful
and inspiring, we help prepare young
people for the job market and to lead
independent lives.”
Rainer Schmidt, global director
marketing consumer at AkzoNobel’s
Decorative Paints business says: “We
believe in the power of paint to uplift
communities and make living spac-
es more fun, liveable and enjoyable.
The partnership with SOS Children’s
Villages is a way to reach more com-
munities with our Let’s Colour pro-
gram, which aims to help children
and families in need, by improving
their chances of independence through
education and creating happy homes
where they can flourish.”
The partnership was announced
today in Johannesburg at the launch
of the youth employability initiative
YouthCan!, together with Deutsche
Post DHL Group and the Youth
Career Initiative, among others. The
YouthCan! initiative brings together
AkzoNobel, SOS Children’s Villages,
and other corporate organizations and
partners to focus on creating opportu-
nities for young people.

AkzoNobel Supporting
Education of Special Needs
Children in Egypt

More than 200 children in Egypt’s 6th of October City have benefited from a major renovation of their school’s facilities, which was organized as part of AkzoNobel’s global Human Cities initiative.

The youngsters, aged six to 12, attend the El-Tarbia El-Fikrya public school for special needs children. As well as undergoing a colorful transformation, the renovation included building a customized sensory development room, constructing a football field, repairing the basketball and volleyball

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