Press Release 2 / 2004-2006
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HELP THE CHILDREN HIT BY THE TSUNAMI DISASTER
January 2005 / M.C. Posada
The International Board on Books for Young People is initiating a worldwide voluntary collection among its National Sections to support children’s literature projects in the Asian countries that were affected by the tsunami following the seaquake in the Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004.
The starting point will be an existing project in Aceh (Sumatra) where donations will used to purchase books and set up libraries – both static and portable. The project includes training in reading animation for the support workers. Further funds will be directed to other areas of the affected region that require particular help. The projects will run under the direction of the IBBY members in India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia: the IBBY Executive Committee will oversee all projects.
Though this is only a small token, IBBY’s membership believe that reading and children’s books are very effective in alleviating children’s sorrows after tragedy, and that the best way for IBBY to achieve this objective is by stressing its main objective: to bring children and books together. While the most urgent needs of the people, such as food, water and medical services, are being met by many organizations, governments and individuals, the children need special attention if they are to recover from this trauma.
Please mark all donations with the phrase “Help for children in the tsunami region”.
Donations should be sent to the following bank:
Basler Kantonalbank, Postfach, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
Account: IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People)
For donations in Swiss Francs: Bank Account number 16 566.242.46
IBAN: CH38 0077 0016 0566 2424 6
BIC (SWIFT address): BKBBCHBB
For donations in Euros: Bank Account number 16 5.414.137.37
IBAN: CH66 0077 0016 5414 1373 7
BIC (SWIFT address): BKBBCHBB
For donations in US Dollars: Bank Account number 16 5.401.382.71
IBAN: CH29 0077 0016 5401 3827 1
BIC (SWIFT address) BKBBCHBB