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Swiss foundation donates hearing aids to disadvantaged Cambodian children

Xinhua, November 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

Hear The World Foundation, which is an initiative of the Switzerland-based Sonova Group, on Friday donated 150 sets of hearing aids to a Cambodian charitable organization in order to help children with hearing loss.

Sarah Kreienbuhl, Group Vice President of Sonova and board of directors of the Hear The World Foundation, handed over the devices to Sintith Makara, outreach manager of local organization All Ears Cambodia, here.

Sarah said the value of the 150 hearing aids, hearing aid batteries, equipment and financial funds donated this year amounts to around 150,000 U.S. dollars.

"We are very pleased to have chance to assist poor Cambodian children with hearing loss," she said. "Sonova's vision is to bring the delight of hearing to as many people as possible in the world."

She added that the foundation is committed to improving the quality of life and to promoting equal opportunities for people with hearing loss globally.

Sonova has developed and manufactured hearing aids and sold those products over 50 countries worldwide, Sarah said.

"However, some countries including Cambodia, children in poor families cannot afford to buy these instruments, so we need to assist them through making donations," she said.

According to Sarah, since 2010, the foundation has provided a total of 350 hearing aids, batteries, equipment and financial donations to All Ears Cambodia with a value amounting to around 500,000 U.S. dollars. Moreover, it has sent its experts to Cambodia to teach the organization's staff about how to use those hearing aids.

Founded in 2006, the Hear the World Foundation has a special focus on projects that support children in reaching their development milestones and realizing their full potential in life regardless of their hearing loss, she said.

To date, the foundation has been involved in over 60 projects on all 5 continents and has already given thousands of people with hearing loss the chance of a better life, she added.

Sintith Makara said hearing loss in Cambodia has many causes. They range from incorrectly treated inflammations of the middle ear, overdosed malaria medications, acoustic trauma due to landmines, and damage to the cochlea nerve in cases of leprosy.

"The donation is very important to improve the quality of life for poor Cambodian children with hearing loss," she said, adding that the instruments would be provided to disadvantaged children free of charge. Enditem