OMV opens psycho-social center for distressed children and adolescents in Tripoli

• OMV offers children and adolescents the prospect of a more carefree future with the Libya Youth Center
• Support already being provided to 260 young locals before the official opening on May 8, 2012
• Training of Libyan volunteers in the social sector increases number of children and adolescents under care

Today, May 8, 2012, the official opening of the Libya Youth Center in Tripoli, Libya takes place. The psycho-social center was initiated by OMV to offer the prospect of a more carefree future to children and adolescents who have suffered from acts of war and their consequences in Libya. The primary goal of the center is to enable young people to work through their experiences with professional support.

To implement the center, OMV works with the Hilfswerk Austria International, a relief organisation with many years of experience and extensive knowledge in the field of development co-operation. The co-operation agreement was signed in October 2011 for a period of two years with a total budget of EUR 2.1 mn. OMV and Hilfswerk Austria International worked closely with the National Transitional Council and local stakeholders during the project planning and implementation phase, and, after 24 months, the centre will be handed over to the Libyan authorities, who will continue to run it.

Speaking about the Libya Youth Center, OMV CEO, Gerhard Roiss, said: “True partners prove themselves during times of crisis. We have a responsibility towards the citizens of Libya as well as to our local staff. Just as we continued to pay our local employees during times of unrest even though production was halted, we are now helping the younger generation to overcome their fears and carry the hope of a better future.”< /p>

Since spring 2012, the psycho-social center has acted as a drop-in centre for distressed children and adolescents between the ages of six and 25. Both international and Libyan experts are working at the center to provide the best-possible support and therapy to all visitors. In addition, psycho-therapeutic counselling and support, leisure and outdoor activities and educational programs (language courses, IT courses, etc) are provided, with a particular emphasis placed on the inclusion of parents and families. Moreover, mobile teams carry out educational work in schools, hospitals and local community centres to help those affected overcome any inhibitions and fears. It is through the co-operation with schools and public institutions that we are able to carry out this additional support work outside the centre.

As there are only a few centres of this kind in Tripoli, the need for psychosocial support is particularly high. 260 children and adolescents are currently being given counselling and support and to increase this number further, training and education will be offered to local volunteers who are active in the social sector. The goal is to give support to around 1,200 children and adolescents in the next two years.

According to official estimates, the violent struggle has resulted in some 30,000 deaths, with tens of thousands wounded. Around 170,000 children and young people in Tripoli and Benghazi have been badly traumatized.

Background information:

OMV Aktiengesellschaft
With Group sales of EUR 34.05 bn and a workforce of 29,800 employees in 2011, OMV Aktiengesellschaft is one of Austria’s largest listed industrial companies. In Exploration and Production, OMV is active in two core countries Romania and Austria and holds a balanced international portfolio. OMV had proven oil and gas reserves of approximately 1.13 bn boe as of year-end 2011 and a production of around 288,000 boe/d in 2011. In Refining and Marketing, OMV has an annual refining capacity of 22.3 mn t and as of the end of 2011 approximately 4,500 filling stations in 13 countries including Turkey. In Gas and Power, OMV sold approximately 24 bcm of gas in 2011. In Austria, OMV operates a 2,000 km long gas pipeline network with a marketed capacity of around 101 bcm in 2011. With a trading volume of around 40 bcm in 2011, OMV’s gas trading platform, the Central European Gas Hub, is amongst the most important hubs in Continental Europe. OMV further strengthened its position through the ownership of a 97% stake in Petrol Ofisi, Turkey’s leading company in the retail and commercial business.

Sustainability
OMV is a signatory to the UN Global Compact, and an active supporter to the values enshrined in its Code of Conduct. These include a strong sense of responsibility towards the social and natural environment, especially in economically weak regions. OMV continuously addresses economic, environmental and social issues related to its business in a responsible manner. The company reports on its activities in a sustainability report in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative Guidelines.

Hilfswerk Austria International
Hilfswerk Austria International is a humanitarian, non-partisan and non-denominational organization that is part of the Österreichisches Hilfswerk relief organization. It provides support for civilian victims of war and environmental disasters on a global basis as well as development co-operation. Under the motto “face-to-face with Austria”, the organization has successfully helped others to help themselves on a sustainable basis – on a professional, non-bureaucratic and local level, for many years. The organization’s focus is on people and their health, improving their chances of survival and supporting families - especially children.
 
17 employees in Vienna and 92 employees and 1,002 volunteers within the project countries provide the best possible support for people in need.
 
Hilfswerk Austria International ensure that all donations are used carefully and effectively and adhere to strict accounting controls carried out by independent auditors. Donations to Hilfswerk Austria International are tax-deductible.