Banque Edouard Constant and FNAC team up with UNHCR on World Refugee Day

Banque Edouard Constant, the main sponsor of the world famous annual Bol d'Or boat race on the Lake Leman in Geneva, agreed to partner with UNHCR and publicise the agency's role and mission on the occasion of World Refugee Day this year.

Since the theme of World Refugee Day 2002 was refugee women, one of the boats in the June 15-16 race carried two women refugees and UNHCR staff members, accompanied by the crew. Several other participants in the Bol d'Or race agreed to sport various UNHCR visibility insignia on their T-shirts, sails and hulls.

Videos of UNHCR's work were screened during participants' registration and various brochures and pamphlets were distributed among spectators. The Bol d'Or's official magazine featured a commentary from High Commissioner Ruud Lubbers and also a three - page introduction of UNHCR mandate, operations and funding sources. An appeal inviting individual and corporate donors to enter into partnerships with the UN refugee agency was also included in the magazine.

Besides showcasing UNHCR at the Bol d'Or, Banque Edouard Constant also bought some 600 CDs of "Refugee Voices" - collection of songs by famous African refugee singers - from the agency and distributed them in the bank's branches in Switzerland. Proceeds of the sales went to UNHCR.

FNAC, a major French retail chain with outlets in Switzerland, also entered into partnership with UNHCR for World Refugee Day. The chain, which sells records, books, videos, stereos, computers and photography equipment, conducted a photo exhibition on refugee women and hosted debates on the themes of refugee education and integration at its stores in Geneva. UNHCR posters and information leaflets were also prominently displayed for FNAC customers. Selected items were advertised and sold, with a percentage of the proceeds going to the refugee agency.

Opera singer and UNHCR's Honorary Lifetime Goodwill Ambassador Barbara Hendricks also gave a special performance benefiting the agency in the FNAC-Rive shop in Geneva.

UNHCR welcomes more partnerships with companies around the world which can contribute to the agency's awareness and fundraising goals.

June 2002