Over 3.5 million somoni raised to help children with developmental disabilities by UNICEF Gala Dinner participants in Dushanbe

On June 12, the first UNICEF Charity Gala Dinner in Tajikistan was held at the CROWNE Plaza hotel. A total of 3,600,981 somoni was raised to develop early intervention services for children with developmental disabilities or at risk of developmental delays. This amount is sufficient to open 26 new Early Intervention Centers in various regions of the country, according to the organization’s press release.
The amount includes funds raised from ticket sales, sponsorship support, a charity auction, as well as direct commitments from participants to finance the opening of new Early Intervention Centers (ECI), and contributions that continued to come from concerned guests after the initial amount was announced.
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»It is important to understand that early intervention is not a miracle. However, it helps a child become more independent considering their condition. Over the years of working with early intervention departments, we have seen how specially trained staff of the early intervention departments, which we opened jointly with the Ministry of Health, achieve visible progress in just a few months,» said UNICEF Representative in Tajikistan Arthur van Diesen in his welcoming speech.

                                         Charity Auction LotsAs part of the Gala Dinner, a charity auction was held, and one of its most striking lots was an exclusive private tour of the Louis Vuitton museum in Paris accompanied by world-renowned philanthropist and goodwill ambassador Natalia Vodianova.

The lot was provided by the British Embassy in the Republic of Tajikistan and sold for 115,000 somoni.
Other auction lots included an antique gold bracelet by Bukhara craftsmen from the jewelry house «Akika,» a Paris Saint-Germain club jersey signed by players, an Arsenal football club pennant, a «Lord of the Rings» movie poster signed by Sir Ian McKellen, a painting by famous Tajik artist Farrukh Negmatzade, and other works of art and sports memorabilia with autographs.

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