Community
Omega’s mission to be “Big enough to deliver, small enough to care”, extends beyond the bounds of our organisation and industry, and sees us offering a helping hand to the less fortunate. By supporting and driving worthy causes aligned with Omega’s company values, the Omega team is able to share its success with those people that need it most.
From one of Save the Children’s homes in Murmansk, Russia. (Photo: Redd Barna)
Our Focus
Omega sees the value of supporting the upcoming generations. Not only do the children define our future, but helping and developing them yields tangible and lasting results. We have been involved in projects close to our headquarters in Ølensvåg, Norway, as well as commitments in developing regions of Ukraine and Russia. In November 2009, we started working with the Norwegian Blue Cross to support their TUBA project to help teenagers and young adults who are victims of alcohol and substance abuse in the family.
There are great benefits to engaging in the development of our local community. Ølensvåg, Norway, is a small community with a dynamic business life. We wish to support the continued growth of the town, and we engage actively in creating better growing up conditions. Omega has been involved in the building of sports grounds to contribute to the increased availability of recreational activities.
Our Projects
We have been involved in a number of community projects both in Norway and abroad:
Blå Kors – TUBA Project
Location: Norway
Duration: From November 2009
In November 2009 we started working with the Norwegian Blue Cross organisation to support their TUBA project. TUBA is aimed at helping teenagers and young adults who are victims of alcohol and substance abuse in the family. The offer is free and users need no referral from doctors or psychiatrists. Blue Cross opened their first TUBA office in Bergen in October 2009, and we are excited to be working with them for the next three years.
Building Local Sports Fields
Location: Ølen, Norway
Duration: From January 2006
In our local community of Ølen we have been active in the buildings of two new artificial grass football fields. At Lundeneset Vidaregåande Skule (boarding school), Omega worked with several other Ølensvåg companies to build a floodlighted field right next to the school. The field was finished in spring 2006, and is free to use for students, local sports teams and the public alike.
Another field has now been constructed in central Ølen. Omega has contributed to the financing, as well being the construction developer for the project. This is another joint effort with local companies, which led to a state-of-the-art artificial grass field now being used by all ages in the Ølen sports clubs.
Street Children in Murmansk
Location: Murmansk, Russia
Duration: December 2006 – December 2008
The town of Murmansk and the areas surrounding it struggles with social problems, mainly due to poverty and unemployment. Children are especially victimised by this, as they often have parents who are not capable of giving them the sufficient care, both materially and emotionally.
Some of the Murmansk children visited the Sommer-Melbu festival in Norway in 2008.
(Photo: Redd Barna)
Many children live in poor conditions, and even on the street. Save the Children has been working to better the situations of these children, and Omega has supported their street children programme since 2006. In building refuges and activity centres for children, the organisation is hoping to reach underprivileged children throughout the area, and make their lives better by giving them a safe place to stay.
The Murmansk office of Save the Children has a few key points that they especially highlight in their work with the local community:
- education for vulnerable groups
- assaults on children
- protection of children living on the street
- help for children with AIDS
- children’s rights
- better the conditions for imprisoned children
Several hundred children living on the streets of Murmansk have already been helped by these projects, and Omega is proud to contribute to the good cause.
Ukrainian Children’s Home
Location: Korosten, Ukraine
Duration: November 2003 – November 2006.
Korosten is a small city in Ukraine that was struck by disaster on April 26, 1986, when the Chernobyl nuclear plant exploded. The city is located less than 100 kilometres from Chernobyl, and the effects have been felt ever since.
Today’s children in Korosten did not live through the Chernobyl disaster, but have felt the social and economic effects of the radioactive blast every day of their lives. Many of them live life on the street, often due to the loss of family members and always through desperation. Omega was moved by the plight of the local children to the extent that we entered into a three-year joint venture (administrated by THK Stiftelsen) to fund the establishment of a mother and child centre in the area.
Additionally, from 2003 to 2005, Omega employees have opted not to receive a Christmas gift from their employer, and rather put the money towards the Ukrainian Children’s Fund. With the help of Omega’s employees, the children’s home in Korosten was built and finished by the Christmas of 2006.