OKD employees donated CZK 352,000 to the Saint Barbora Civic Association in 2010, almost a hundred thousand Czech crowns more than they gave in the previous year.
Workers of individual mine shafts raised the highest amount in company history at traditional „Jumping over the leather apron“ events, at which new mining guild members are enrolled and the concluding year is evaluated in an entertaining fashion. The association, known by miners as ‘Barborka’, provides funds for mining orphans to help support their education, leisure and health care.
„Raising funds for Barborka is a traditional part of the jumping over the apron events, with each shaft always raising tens of thousands of crowns. However, this year’s level of donations really surprised me, as I had thought the ever present economic crisis would produce the opposite effect on the tally. But the miners showed their solidarity again. They do not want to save money at the expense of the children of their former colleagues,“ said association vice chairman Josef Hoďák. The highest sum – almost CZK 109,000 – was raised at the apron jumping occasion of Darkov Mine.
Barborka last year distributed approximately CZK 2.5 million to assist the orphans. In addition to what the association collects from the mine employees, it receives contributions to its budget from association member companies, the OKD Foundation, sponsors and OKD managers. The collected money goes towards tuition, accommodation at student dormitories, school equipment, skiing courses, summer camps and medical assistance for the children. „We also pay for monthly language courses abroad or sometimes a driving school course, among other things, so that we can help prepare children to successfully begin an independent life,“ explained Hoďák. Saint Barbora Civic Association had 87 children recorded for assistance last year, three less than in 2009. The number has gradually fallen in recent years, in line with the positive impact that OKD investments have had on the number of fatal accidents.