VIRGIN

The profile

Change for Children is at the centre of a network of local and global social investment programmes that enables Virgin Atlantic to give something back to communities in the destinations they fly. Over the next seven years, Virgin Atlantic has aligned their community investment programme to support the UN Millennium Development Goals. These goals are set to address the biggest issues that our world currently faces. In 2009, the goal is to fundraise over £1 million for projects focusing on poverty and hunger. These projects support holistic and sustainable community development for marginalised children and their families. Their aim is to provide access to education, health care, water and sanitation, and alternative income streams. This is where Hand in Hand comes in.

The project

In November 2008, Hand in Hand was approached by Virgin Unite about being a potential partner for Virgin Atlantic’s onboard Change for Children appeal, where passengers donate loose change and foreign currency for their projects around the world. One of Hand in Hand’s strengths is our ability to listen and adapt to the requirements of different donors. This resulted in Virgin adopting the Village Programme. The Village Programme ran in January 2009, reaching its target of USD 70,000 and enabling Hand in Hand to uplift two villages.