Children and seniors provided for in Hradec Králové's hospital

• Trained volunteers provide hospitalized children with entertainment
• Seniors have their own companions and guides in hospitals
• The T-Mobile Fund contributed CZK 70,000 to the project

Prague, 10 January 2007 - In the children's surgery and traumatology ward at the University Hospital in Hradec Králové, the period after parents and caregivers leave and before fairy tales begin on TV used to be long and boring. There were simply no great possibilities for the kids to play and be entertained. That boredom is now a thing of the past, however. Volunteers from the Civic Advisory Centre (Občanské poradenské středisko - OPS), a non-governmental organization in Hradec Králové, are helping to liven up the time kids spend in the hospital. These volunteers most often play with the young patients, or simply talk or read to them, or help them with their homework.

"Volunteer work almost invariably involves communication, especially that which is personal, immediate and deeply human. And it is true that today's hectic world of computer networks and mobile telephony does not promote this type of communication too much," says Martina Kemrová, spokesperson for T-Mobile, adding: "Patients of the First Internal Medical Clinic and of the Gerontometabolic Clinic for the elderly are also visited by volunteers."

In addition to being very well trained by OPS, the volunteers get additional training from the hospital's staff and thus make life a great deal easier for them by helping the patients. "They also accompany elderly patients around the hospital or on their way to medical check-ups in different wards, or just simply stay with them and talk and listen to them. It is not only in the children's ward where the mood needs to be brightened," says Renata Suchomelová, the project's co-ordinator.

The T-Mobile Fund contributed CZK 70,000 to the project through the Via Foundation. The money is intended for reimbursing the cost of training and insuring the volunteers as well as for their compulsory psychological examinations before they can start participating in the project, and for related expenses. Due to the financial support, OPS will be able to sustain its activities until this June. The volunteers perform their tasks in their free time, without any financial compensation.

OPS was established seven years ago and has been involved in volunteer work since 2003. The project involving volunteers working in the University Hospital has been underway for two years and is accredited by the Ministry of the Interior. At present there are 14 volunteers visiting the hospital regularly while one additional person is being trained for this work. OPS wants to broaden co-operation with other wards of the hospital as well and to increase the number of volunteers to twenty.

T-Mobile Czech Republic, a member of the international telecommunications group Deutsche Telekom, has almost 6.2 million customers, the number-one operator in the Czech market. T-Mobile is an integrated operator: in addition to telecommunications services, it offers comprehensive ICT solutions not only for companies, but also for other organizations and individuals. It provides outstanding services in the high-speed network, which was proved repeatedly by benchmark testing performed by umlaut (former P3) with Best-in-Test seal.

T-Mobile Czech Republic places emphasis on taking a responsible approach to the environment and society. It adheres to fair business practices, helps beneficial applications and services to see the light of day, supports non-profit organizations, small businesses and individuals, and lends a helping hand whenever crisis situations arise. The company’s employees serve as volunteers in many places across the entire Czech Republic.

More information about the company is available at www.t-mobile.cz, www.t-press.cz (the portal for journalists) and www.t-mobile.cz/pomahame (information on the company’s CSR activities).

Contact details of the press unit: press@t-press.cz.