SWIFT Supports the Syrian Arab Association for SOS Children’s Villages

SWIFT, a global provider of secure financial messaging services, announced today that it is supporting the Syrian Arab Association for SOS Children’s Villages as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility at the first Business Forum UAE.

The Forum, which was held in Abu Dhabi this week, brought together over 160 senior representatives from the financial industry. Sessions focused on how financial institutions can shape the future of the industry, with the central theme being ‘Building for the future: Regulation, innovation and the transformation of banking.’ Delegates debated the challenges and opportunities the financial sector is facing in the region.

For each of its events, SWIFT sponsors a cause within the framework of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. For the Business Forum UAE, SWIFT is supporting the emergency project in Syria that provides shelter and family reunification to protect the rights of unaccompanied and separated children in the Tartus coastal area.

The project will last three years, and includes vaccination sessions and general health checks, education for children and adolescents, art therapy activities, social support through psycho-social specialists and training for children on prevention of child trafficking, child labour, recruitment of child-soldiers and gender based violence.

The project also helps trace children’s families. The focus lies on finding long-term solutions, assessing the risks for the child and ensuring successful integration of children in their biological or extended families. These objectives will equip the children with skills and capacities not only to survive the crisis, but also to rebuild social cohesion at their household and community level.

Khaled Moharem, Head of Middle East, North Africa at SWIFT, said: “SWIFT has a long history of supporting local charities at its conferences and as part of its active social contribution programme. We are delighted to support the Syrian Arab Association for SOS Children’s Villages and help promote its excellent work in the community.”