Currently, 215 million children living in third world nations are being sold into some form of child labour, a shocking and disturbing fact that has prompted Australian pharmacy brand Discount Drug Stores to lend its support in the fight against child exploitation.
Linking with humanitarian group FreeToBeKids, a team of Discount Drug Stores staff will this year volunteer in Kolkata to help the charity on its mission to rescue and give victims of child exploitation a better life.
The third year that Discount Drug Stores has provided support to the worthwhile not for profit group, which has helped over 100 children to escape devastating circumstances, it now is hoping to make a real difference through its aid mission.
“We really wanted to help this wonderful organisation in a more physical way,” explained Discount Drug Stores’ Volunteer Charities Coordinator, Sharyn Clark. “By going to Kolkata, we’ll not only be able to use our skills to hopefully further enhance the centre but we’ll also get to see first-hand the remarkable work of this organisation and to meet the children who we’ve watched grow from afar.
“It will also allow us to experience the many facets of their culture that we would be unable to truly grasp without being there in person,” she continued.
A humanitarian group that was founded by Benj Geerling after a girl was offered to him on the streets of India for just a few dollars, FreeToBeKids focuses on reaching the most vulnerable children and providing them with a space where they can thrive.
The organisation currently has four children’s homes across India and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with Discount Drug Stores to volunteer at its Kolkata location where staff will undertake building and painting tasks as well as activities to help further the children’s education.
“We’ve deeply invested in this cause,” explained Mrs Clark. “We believe all children should be afforded a chance in life and anything that we can do to make the lives of these kids better is well worth it.”
Discount Drug Stores currently sponsors two FreeToBeKids children and has donated more than $20,000 to the organisation through special fundraising campaigns run throughout its stores.
This month for example, the pharmacy brand is running a special catalogue promotion with all stores set to donate up to 50 cents from each sale of over 50 popular products including a range of Bioglan vitamins, Berocca and Discount Drug Stores’ own brand of medications.
However despite all of Discount Drug Stores’ on-going efforts, Mrs Clark says the group feels compelled to do even more to help fight child exploitation.
“The exploitation of children, no matter where in the world it occurs, is shocking and needs to stop,” she said. “FreeToBeKids is an organisation with a mandate to stand up for these children, to protect them and to give them back their human rights and that is something that we just have to be a part of.”
Seven employees from Discount Drug Stores, including Mrs Clark and a Discount Drug Stores franchise owner will be travelling to Kolkata in August to work at the FreeToBeKids home for one week. Project Manager of FreeToBeKids’ Kolkata Child Rescue & Development Centre Jeanette Thompson states the charity is incredibly grateful to the pharmacy brand for its continuing contribution.
“We’re so thankful to Discount Drug Stores for all they’ve contributed and continue to give to FreeToBeKids,” she said. “We rely on donations and support from people and organisations to keep our shelters running and Discount Drug Stores has proven absolutely invaluable to our cause over the past three years.”
For more information on Discount Drug Stores’ partnership with FreeToBeKids, please visit http://www.discountdrugstores.com.au/charity.
Media Enquiries: Suzanne Ross at Graymedia on 07 3250 9406 or 0488 441 589 or email s.ross@graymedia.com.au
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