22.12.2009 - MAIRE TECNIMONT ALONGSIDE OF SAVE THE CHILDREN TO FINANCE TWO IMPORTANT PROJECTS IN INDIA

Rome, 21 December 2009 – Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. will be alongside of Save the Children, the largest global independent organization that defends and promotes the rights of children all over the world, in a new important initiative of charity in India.

Two new projects will be launched in January 2010: one in the Vidharbha Region and the other in the city of Mumbai, in Maharashtra State. Both projects aim at improving the primary schooling system in India and at responding in the best possible way to the learning needs of about 6,500 children, aged between 6 and 14, that, due to the lack of infrastructure and training of teachers, risk dropping out of school, therefore increasing the danger of being involved in viscous cycles of abuse and exploitation.

In particular, the Maire Tecnimont Group will make a 140,000 € donation that will allow to restructure 43 schools through the “Building as learning Aid (BaLA)” program. This is an approach that faces in an integrated and original way the education needs of children, teachers and local communities. Thanks to this aid, schools will become places where Indian children will be able to develop their curiosity and imagination in addition to their skills to interact with the surrounding environment.

In order to better follow the two new projects and their implementation, Maire Tecnimont will operate through its Indian subsidiary Tecnimont ICB (TICB) while Save The Children Italy will work through its sister organization “Save The Children India”. TICB which was created in 1958 and is active in the engineering and construction sector, boasting a consolidated experience in the country, and currently has a highly qualified staff made up of over 2000 people. Over the years it has received several awards in Mumbai and all over the Country for its performance in export, in implementing best practices in the engineering field and in completing projects in a punctual manner.

Save the Children, which boasts a significant experience in India, where it is present in 10 States, started this program in 2009 in four districts of the Maharashtra Region with the aim of improving the quality of education and teaching, strengthening the capability of assessing and monitoring the implementation of adequate schooling for children and fighting child labor. The Save the Children projects foresees the organization of a series of training courses and educational activities both for teachers of the schools involved and public officials of the local departments of the Ministry of Education. Members of the local community will play a fundamental part. Through the creation of Education Committees, they will take on a lead role in training activities and adopting measures to increase parents’ awareness in order to reduce the drop out rate of their children.

“Work side by side with Save the Children to support Indian children is for us a reason of great satisfaction, given the importance that our Group gives to social responsibility,” said Gianni Bardazzi, Senior Vice President, Strategic Marketing and Special Initiatives of Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. “Thanks to these two important projects, we want to prove our desire to actively support the education system in India, a country where our Group has been operating since the 1930’s, with the aim of giving concrete help for human development of local communities.”

“We are grateful to Maire Tecnimont for the support and help that it will offer to thousands of children that do not have access to the basic right to receive a quality education,” said Valerio Neri, Director General of Save the Children Italy. “Education is a crucial element for the growth processes of children and for their full integration into society. By going to school children start becoming, to all effects, citizens of the world.”

Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. 

Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. is the parent company of an international industrial group which provides a comprehensive, integrated system of services and installations in its sectors: Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Oil & Gas, Power, Civil Engineering and Infrastructure. The Group has established itself thanks to advanced skills in Project Management and Main Contracting, by implementing complex turnkey projects all over the world, combining high quality and planning standards with a focus on multicultural and environmental issues. The Group, listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, with a presence in 24 countries and 4 continents, currently controls 37 operating companies and can rely on a workforce of about 4,500 employees, more than half of whom are outside Italy. More information: www.mairetecnimont.it

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Save the Children

Save the Children is the leading independent child rights organization that fights for children's rights and delivers immediate and lasting improvement to children's lives worldwide. Save the Children a federation of 28 members (including Italy and India) with similar vision, mission, and values for children, works in more than 110 countries to form a truly international movement for children.

Save the Children Italy was founded in 1998 and is based in Rome, Italy. The organization supports program abroad and has developed a strong domestic department providing protection to the rights of children also in Italy.

Save the Children has existed in India since the pre-Independence days. Save the Children, Bal Raksha, Bharat is the 28th independent member of the International Save the Children Alliance. The organization is working on 5 core issues in 12 states and union territories and has reached over 3 million children across India.