The Hear the World Foundation, a Sonova initiative, is celebrating 10 years of supporting projects for disadvantaged people with hearing loss around the world. Over 100 celebrity ambassadors and 1,000 Sonova employee volunteers have helped the organization achieve its goal.
STAEFA, SWITZERLAND (PRWEB) DECEMBER 19, 2016 - The Hear the World Foundation, a Sonova initia-tive, has supported disadvantaged people with hearing loss around the world since 2006. So far the Swiss foundation has supported over 80 projects in 39 countries, helping thou-sands of people to hear better. It has received support from Bryan Adams and over 100 celebrity ambassadors, as well as from 1,000 Sonova employee volunteers. To mark its tenth anniversary, many of Sonova’s 13,000-plus employees have posted photos of them-selves on social media, each striking the Hear the World pose for conscious hearing and using the hashtag #weareheartheworld.
Since its establishment, the Hear the World Foundation has supported over 80 projects worldwide with funding, expertise, and hearing technology worth over $8 million USD. For example, in 2015, more than 500 children around the world received the chance to hear and 24,000 people in the Domincan Republic were provided audiological care. “The value of our support for projects goes far beyond the financial aspect,” explains President of the Hear the World Foundation and Sonova CEO Lukas Braunschweiler. “By using the latest hearing technology and sharing our Sonova em-ployees’ knowledge with local project team members, we create long-term added value.”
Supported by more than 100 celebrity ambassadors
In addition to its development work, the foundation has successfully drawn attention to the im-portance of good hearing and the consequences of hearing loss through its global awareness campaign. The initiative is backed by over 100 celebrity ambassadors, such as Plácido Domingo, Cindy Crawford, Sting, Annie Lennox, and Kate Moss, who were photographed by Bryan Adams in the pose for conscious hearing. "The work that the Hear the World Foundation is doing is second to none,” says Adams. “They’re helping people of all ages to hear again, which is why I have been supporting its awareness campaign with my photography for over ten years.”
1,000 Sonova employees spent more than 10,000 hours volunteering
As well as support from these prominent figures, the foundation also highly values the Sonova employee volunteers. It’s the volunteers who work to build up the necessary audiological knowledge in projects all around the world and make a significant contribution to sustainable hear-ing care. Since 2013, more than 1,000 employees have contributed their time and expertise for more than 10,000 hours, working on site at projects in various countries and raising funds for the foundation.
Many of Sonova’s employees around the world have shown their ongoing commitment during the international social media campaign to celebrate the tenth anniversary. As official ambassadors for conscious hearing, they have been spreading the message of the Foundation by posting pho-tos of themselves in the Hear the World pose and using the hashtag #weareheartheworld.
A glimpse into the future: expanding the commitment
The Hear the World Foundation plans to extend its commitment to people with significant hearing loss by also donating cochlear implants for those who receive little or no benefit from hearing aids. Moreover, the foundation plans to send more Sonova employees to volunteer on projects, to help reinforce knowledge transfer, and to help more people help themselves.
About the Hear the World Foundation
By supporting the charitable Hear the World Foundation, Sonova is campaigning for equal opportunities and a better quality of life for people with hearing loss. As a leading provider of hearing care solutions, Sonova fosters social responsibility and contributes towards a world where everyone has the chance to enjoy good hearing. For instance, the Hear the World Foundation supports disadvantaged people with hearing loss around the world and gets involved in prevention. It focuses particularly on projects for children with hearing loss, to enable them to de-velop at the appropriate rate for their age. More than 100 celebrity ambassadors, including celebrities such as Cindy Crawford, Plácido Domingo, Annie Lennox and Sting champion the Hear the World Foundation. https://www.hear-the-world.com
