Yerevan /Mediamax/. The joint charitable program of UNICEF and “HSBC Bank Armenia” “Let’s help children live in families”## was launched in Yerevan today. The program aims to help the needy families of Armenia and prevent children’s appearance in orphanages.

Speaking in Yerevan today at a joint press conference with the “HSBC Bank Armenia” Director General Tim Slater, UNICEF representative in Armenia Sheldon Yet said that nearly 80% out of 1300 children living in Armenian orphanages have at least one parent and live there only because of tough social conditions, Mediamax reports.

“Our goal is to support the socially vulnerable families and help the parents keep their children in the family, as the children deprived of parental care are subject to higher risk of violence, trafficking and mistreatment,” Sheldon Yet stated.

According to him, within this program “HSBC Bank Armenia” and UNICEF have opened a special fund of money donations. After three years or existence, the means of the fund will be distributed between the local public and governmental organizations working in the sphere of children protection for meeting the needs of needy families.

Tim Slater noted that with its participation in the charitable action “HSNC Bank Armenia” fulfils the policy of corporative responsibility, taking into account Armenian traditions and culture.

The fund’s starting capital makes $10 000.