Right to Read

The second edition of the national waste collection event, „Let`s do it, Romania!”, which took place on September 24, gathered over 250.000 people. Among them, 75 employees of OTP Bank Romania, most of them coming from Moldavia area.

„In our daily activity, among numbers, reports, sales etc., the human factor has a deciding role. Why? Because we symbolically hook the soul with the mind, becouse we feel hurt when somebody suffers and we are joyfull of others` happiness. You can`t be a good banker without the human quality, without involving yourself in local or regional projects. Passivity doesn`t characterize us and the decision to sustain our statement, to mark our existence is unanimous.” said Mitruca Puscasu, Regional Director, OTP Bank Romania and the coordinator of the volunteer team.

The bell announcing the beginning of a new school year also rang for the „Right to Read” campaign. Starting today, over 3640 children from rural areas with limited access to reading will step into the magic world of fairy tales and will be able to discover fascinating things in dictionaries and encyclopedias.

We gave back the „Right to Read” to the little ones studying in schools from the villages: Raca, Comuna Raca (Arges County), Sangeorzul Nou (Bistrita County), Podari (Dolj County), „Nichita Stanescu", Ceptura (Prahova County), Halceni, Sipote (Iasi County), Sarafinesti, Corni (Botosani County), Negresti, (Neamt County), „Emil Dragan", Gradistea (Braila County), „Constantin Stefan”, Albesti (Ialomita County), Horea, (Alba County), Baia de Cris (Hunedoara County), Urziceni (Satu Mare County), Sambrias (Mures County), Tamasfalau (Covasna County), Cobatesti (Harghita County). Over 7500 of volumes donated by the campaign supportes and by OTP Bank Romania will delight the children.

We thank all of our supporters! Whether they donated books or recommended schools from rural areas, their gesture helped us to offer stories to unfortunate children.

From the beginning of the campaign, „Right to Read” arrived at almost 15000 children.  You are more than welcomed to join our cause and to bring the books closer to more children.

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  The corporate social responsibility campaign “Right to Read”, by OTP Bank Romania with Nicola Porter Novelli, “Best campaign in Balkans”

• 2000 entries were registered in the competition, with an average of 20 entries in each category

 A whole team worked for its dream to be found in the world of stories with princes and princesses … a magical world of a happy childhood, and so the “Right to Read” campaign was born. Its aim was to supply primary schools in disadvantaged rural areas of Romania with books to create their own libraries.

 „Children are the future of tomorrow. Let’s give them back their Right to Read!”

 „Reading gives future generations a healthy education – donate  a book!”

 The campaign really resonated with the Romanian people, and more than 40,000 books were donated by the public, publishing houses and other stakeholders during March, 2010-May, 2011 (double the target). Thus, more than 12.500 children from 72 schools in rural areas now benefit from books. The campaign was so effective that many organisations, publishers and celebrities offered their help without it being solicited.

 With such outstanding results, the subscription to one of the most prestigious competition dedicated to the PR industry came naturally. The news that the Right to Read campaign was shortlisted at EMEA Sabre (Superior Achievement in Branding and Reputation Excellence) Awards 2011 came as a true recognition of the CSR program. The Right to Read campaign was shortlisted in The Balkans Geographic Category, along with other 4 programs: OMV Move and Help – Moving on with reading (OMV); Live Actively! (Nestlé, Bulgaria); Talents on Board (Coca-Cola) and Cross on Safe (Postbank).

The Gold award received by the Right to Read campaign, for the „Best Campaign in Balkans” emphasized the campaign’s impact on local communities. The awarding ceremony took place on May 18, 2011 at Prague Castle.

And the story goes on... The campaign successfully continues in 2011 as well! 

From the stories about dragons, princes and princesses to the spectacular science fiction writings, every book page brings smiles and arouses emotions. This week, hundreds of children are to enjoy the childhood books…

After the recommendations coming from the  campaign supporters  on Facebook,  we departed to schools in the follwing villages:  Bivolari, Fantanele, Probota (Iasi county); Vorona, Corni (Botosani county); Savastreni (Brasov county); Delureni (Bihor county); Vacareasca (Buzau county); Fiscut (Arad county) and Plenita (Dolj county).  Thus, approximately 5000 volumes donated by the campaign supporters will arrive to the children from rural places.

We thank both those who donated books and those who recommended schools!  The Right to Read brings the books closer to the childhood! The campaign continues and collection centers keep their doors open for all those who want to offer books! With your help, we could arrive in many other schools from rural places!

During the Holy Week, we gadly receive packages filled with stories from the fans of The Right To Read campaign.

Do you remember Danut, Olguta, Monica and Vania? Or Creanga's childhood memories? Once upon a time they were all a part of us, animateing our childhood and surpriseing us with tricks and intrigue. When we think about those times, we look back and smile. Now its their time to enjoy the childhood stories, and we thank our campaign supporters for giveing back the right to read, to those deprived of it. The campaign continues and collection centers keep their doors open for all those who wish to offer a book for a smile!

Electrical and electronic wastes thrown away or randomly abandoned are not biodegradable. They become dangerous factors of pollution. This is why it is better to get rid of used equipment and collect them in special places! OTP Bank Employees take action!

Starting with March 22, they accept the challenge and take part in the internal campaign - The Big Spering Cleaning! Together with our partner Greentronics - expert in electrical and electronic wastes recycling, will contribute to a cleaner environment for family and community we live in!

How? Wastes will be collected in each of the headquarters and stored in specially designed boxes. Moreover, getting rid of the waste, will be chosen a winner and the prize willl be a digital photo frame, offered by Greentronics!

In 2011 the "Right to Read" debuted with six other schools from rural area.  All schools were included in the program as a result of the recommendations received from campaign supporters whom we thank for their involvement!

Thus, starting with January, pupils from the villages Cucerdea and Lunca (Mures county), Mircesti (Iasi), Sahateni (Buzau county), Saelele (Teleorman county) and Siculeni (Harghita county) enjoy an important number of books.

The "Right to Read" continues, so we expect you with books in our collection points!

If last year we launched the campaign “The Right to Read” at a national level and we had as an objective the equipping of gymnasia disadvantaged schools with books, in 2011 we have the desire to take this program to another level, we would like to give you the chance to become more involved and receive from you proposals for the schools that can benefit from our aid.

We’ve started this journey thinking that we will equip 20 schools and we’ve ended up, by the end of 2010, equipping 53 schools with more than 30 thousand books and we brought happiness to over 11 thousand children.

Your support in this campaign overwhelmed us: you have donated books, proposed schools and endorsed our Facebook page.

For all these reasons, we would like to thank you and invite you to keep up with the donations and to send us more proposals of schools that need our help because together we can give back to children "Their Right to Read"

OTP Bank Romania continued the development of the partnership with ViitorPlus – “Adopt a tree”. Because we are aware of the importance that forests have in preventing climate changes we decided to adopt another 60 trees along 100 from our past actions.

We had 25 colleagues that answered to the campaign message and adopted as many grown trees. They did not stop there; they also helped in with the other program activities; they cleaned the place to support the growth for the young trees and also they planted 400 of them.

We didn’t stop here either. We did a new thing for this program; we initiated 115 students in ecology and plating. Together with them we have succeeded to plant 1000 young trees in a record time, three hours, combining in the best way fun with serious work.

In December, the holidays and gifts month, the Right to Read baited in Salaj. On December 6, Saint Nicholas brought 500 new volumes, the related equipment and lots of joy on their faces to children from „Horea” (Cizer village) and Plopis (Plopis village) schools.

Along with these two schools, within the social responsibility program „The Right to Read” there have been equipped no less than 47 schools from 18 counties up to the present. But we do not stop here. After a holiday period, in 2011 we continue our efforts to restore the “right to read” to the children from the rural area!

Between 8 and 10 of November, we have divided into two teams and hit the road again. We have equipped two schools in Ciceu and Malnas villages.

Malnas School (Covasna) has been completely renovated four years ago, but funds were not sufficient for them to purchase new books. Together with the school master Kovacs, we equipped the library in a special dedicated hall, which now houses 500 new volumes: tales, stories and poems, but also atlases and dictionaries.

The Ciceu School (Harghita) has 219 pupils, divided into 11 classes. The school is quite close to Miercurea Ciuc. The library consisted of some old books, to which were added 500 new volumes!

Since the beginning of the school year and up to the present, we have reached the following  villages: Tamaseu, Tarcaia, Saniob and Uileacu de Beius (Bihor), Apata (Brasov), Lemnia (Covasna), Lazu and Agigea (Constanta), Priseaca (Olt), Zabrani (Arad), Simian (Mehedinti), Golaiesti, Coropceni and Ciortesti (Iasi), Cotatcu and Podgoria (Buzau), Sarmas, Livezi, Plaiesii de Jos and Suseni(Harghita).

Saturday, September, 25th, started the initiative of clearing the natural areas of the country through an international social involvement project launched in Estonia and successfully continued in other four countries.
"Let's do it, Romania!" exclaimed the 69 employees of OTP Bank Romania, which joined the teams of ecologists from all around the country in the fight against wastes. Those who attended the event brought their friends with them. The work thus became a socializing and good mood opportunity.
OTP greens readily joined the campaign, enthusiastically telling stories about the experience they lived. The entire OTP team managed to collect 360 waste sacs!
Thus, the teams of ecologists gave us the hope for a cleaner Romania and fired a warning regarding the importance the environment has!

Between 23-25 of July, OTP Bank Romania took part as partner in SLOVE book and educational offers fair in Campulung Muscel. The initiative is part of the Right to Read campaign.


The event was organized by the University of Bucharest, University of Pitesti and “Dinicu Golescu” County Library, with the support of Arges Council and the Campulung City Hall and gathered representatives of some of the most reputed publishing houses, universities and academic libraries.


During the fair, we donated 700 books to social assisted children from “Complexul de Servicii pentru Copiii în Dificultate” in Campulung. Because they also have the right to live the childhood stories! The reward was very impressive and emotional: as a sign of appreciation, children made drawings especially for us with the theme “We love books”! We thank children for bringing us back emotions in warm pastels of aquarelles!

In July, we launched a big challenge to some of the most famous bloggers from our country. So, Adrian Ciubotaru, Dragos Bucurenci, Alice Nastase and those from bookblog.ro wrote us with love about the book they used to read once, which “learned them to love”, standing "legged on the couch".

The pleasure of writing about memories can be read between the lines; from East Immortal Tales to Count of Monte Cristo, Uncle Tom's Cabin or La Medeleni.

And the row of stories does not end here, because these four nostalgic gave the topic further on to other friends from their list, which quickly generated 94 discussions on 9 blogs. Through their writings, those involved managed to transmit the readers the importance of offering children from rural area stories that can make their childhood happier.

When the fury of nature was unleashed on others and, in an instant, it collapsed the universe which they have built during their entire life, we decided without hesitation to help them overcome these difficult moments.

We joined the "Water flows, Romania remains" campaign, initiated by Antena 1 and Antena 3, and we raised, with the help of OTP Bank’s staff, about 200 kg of cleaning and hygiene products (detergents, soaps, toothbrushes and toothpaste, washing solution, shampoo, cleaning supplies etc.). All these products have arrived at people affected by flood, in Doljesti, Neamt County.

Our colleagues from the OTP Bank units in Moldova region were mobilized in order to help the victims. They managed to gather 280 Kg of clothing and linens, 20 beds, 150 Kg of food and 200 packages of cleaning and hygiene products. All these were offered to the people from the special camps prepared for flood victims in Patrauti – Suceava, Dorohoi – Botosani and Saucesti – Bacau, with logistical support BGS Association for Disasters and Calamities. The initiative was part of “BSG, Zoom on Romania” program.

We encourage you to help those people from affected areas; any support, no matter how little, is worth a lot during these difficult times!

In June, Dani Otil made an announcement on his blog (www.daniotil.ro) that he had over 250 books he wanted to donate, together with his friend Bobo, to children who really needed them. We knew from the very beginning that it was the proper occasion to bring the Right to Read in other schools from rural area. We wrote to him and the answer came naturally, in just a few hours. Dani gladly accepted our invitation to join the campaign.

In only few days, we all mobilized and hundreds of titles beautifully kept in covers that reminded us of our parents’ times, took the way to other schools from disadvantaged rural areas. So that more pupils can feel the same emotions we have when reading beautifully written lines, because they have the Right to Read as well.

We thank Dani and Bobo for supporting the Right to Read!

...we are happy to have managed to offer children from 25 schools from rural area the books that will beautifully shape their childhood. We hit the road in March, with a list of 20 schools recommended by the Ministry of Education. We equipped libraries in 12 of them and, as donations were consistent, we managed to reach other 13 schools from which we received messages.

We thank the children who welcomed us with open arms, in: Brasov (Maierus and Persani schools), Valcea (Budesti and Titesti schools), Teleorman (Calinesti and Gardesti schools), Buzau (C.A. Rosetti and Vadu Pasii schools), Bacau (Horgesti and Brusturoasa schools), Suceava (Argel, Izvoarele Sucevei and Poiana Marului schools), Olt (Ganeasa school), Dolj (Campeni school), Vaslui (Parpanita and Pahnesti schools), Arges (Berevoiesti and Brosteni schools), Mehedinti (Balta Verde and Garla Mare schools), Vrancea (Spulber and Paltin schools) and Timis (Foeni and Batesti schools).

Surely at least one of you opens a magazine each month, where you see beautiful dresses, beautiful girls and articles that make you dream of travelling to distant lands. Magazines are alive with journalists attending the desire to make you feel beautiful, and to appreciate the value the world around you.

But at the end of the school year, journalists from magazines Elle, Avantaje, Joy, Look, Viva, Psychologies, Baby have accepted our invitation to give them more reason to appreciate life and another 'public': students from rural areas.

We started early in the morning towards two villages in Buzau: Vadu Pasii and C.A. Rosetti, in order to equip libraries and thus manage to develop the project in 12 out of those 20 schools approved by the Ministry of Education.

It was a day of spiritual rewards for everyone, a real „going out with the class”. We also read the books, journalists fell in love thumbing them and, in the evening, back in Bucharest, we could add a good deed to the list each of us should have. We thank them for supporting the Right to Read!

The Social responsibility campaign Right to Read extends beyond the 20 schools scheduled to start the program. In just two months of the campaign through collection points have been collected over 6,000 volumes.

The first two libraries from the schools that just entered the program will be equipped with the help of Meteor Press, which donated over 600 volumes of new school books (collections, vade or dictionaries). The publishing house thus continues, along with OTP Bank Romania, the tradition of donating books to disadvantaged schools each year, in May.

The publishing house will also host collecting points in all its libraries – Dulimex network – and will offer school books at special prices to encourage the donation of new volumes.

The two schools which will benefit from new libraries are from Arges (Berevoiesti school) and Vaslui (Parpanita school). They entered the Right to Read program after the messages teachers have sent to OTP Bank Romania requiring books.

Between 13 and 16 of April the entire team was in Valcea County. We equipped two schools in Titesti and Budesti villages.

Budesti school has almost 200 students, is quite close to Ramnicu Valcea, but the library consisted of some old books.

Together with the headmaster, Ms. Oprescu, we have equipped the new library room, in the former teachers’ common room. The school in Titesti, a mountain village, has a bit over 100 pupils and had no library until our coming there. The over 600 new books are a perfect teaching support and the teachers were very happy to deliver their lessons in a more attractive manner.