Page 1 Newsletter 2 / 2012 United Buddy Bears in India The United Buddy Bears are currently visiting India – with a population of 1.2 billion the world’s largest democracy. Central Park at Connaught Place – the hub of New Delhi – is the venue of the exhibition. The bears will be presented until 6th May 2012 in the context of the German Year in India under the heading „Germany and India 2011–2012: Infinite Opportunities“. On 27th March 2012, Sheila Dikshit (Chief Minister of Delhi), Klaus Wowereit (Governing Mayor of Berlin) and Cord Meier-Klodt (Acting Ambassador, German Embassy New Delhi) launched the exhibition in New Delhi together with Eva and Klaus Herlitz. Photo (left) f.l.t.r.: Eva Herlitz, Klaus Wowereit, Sheila Dikshit and Cord Meier-Klodt with the Indian bear. Photo (right) f.l.t.r.: To mark the occasion of the exhibition opening, Klaus Wowereit presented Sheila Dikshit with a Buddy Bear that had been designed especially for her. Page 2 Opening the exhibition was a matter close to Sheila Dikshit’s heart: “The Buddy Bears represent love, affection, togetherness, peace and joy and I’m sure that people across age groups are going to enjoy this very much.” The visitors share the Chief Minister’s enthusiasm. When the exhibition was set up, people already shot hundreds of souvenir photos. Following the official opening, Central Park had to closed temporarily on several days due to the vast number of visitors. Partners and sponsors The United Buddy Bears project is non-commercial. The journey that has taken the exhibition into many metropolises of this world over the course of ten years would not be possible without the committed support provided by many institutions, organisations, companies and individuals. In India, the New Delhi Municipal Council, Hamburg Süd, the Clintus Network Limited, Lufthansa and the Taj Hotel support the exhibition. And a special Thank you! goes to the German Embassy in New Delhi and to Berlin Partner! Photo f.l.t.r.: Saurabh Bhargava (Taj Hotel), Axel Hilger (Lufthansa New Delhi), Heiko Mohn (Hamburg Süd), Eva Herlitz (Buddy Bär Berlin), Cord Meier-Klodt (Acting Ambassador, German Embassy New Delhi), Sheila Dikshit (Chief Minister of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi), Klaus Wowereit (Governing Mayor of Berlin), Clara Duske (German Embassy New Delhi) Harish Joshi (Clintus Network Limited), Dinesh Joshi (Vice President Clintus Network Limited) Page 3 Malaysia – Help for children in need At the end of a three-month long United Buddy Bears exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, the organisers were delighted about the donation amount of 285,750 Malaysian Ringgit (around 71,300 Euros) for children in need. During the final gala dinner on 16th February 2012 – with His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Selangor and the First Lady of Malaysia, YABhg Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor, as guests – 6 cheques were passed on to children’s aid organisations. The total amount was generated by donations and auction proceeds. Two large and several small unique Buddy Bear sculptures were among the bears sold at an auction in aid of children in need. The proceeds will support five local projects (photo f.l.t.r.: Angels Children's Home, Yayasan Permata, Yayasan Chow Kit, Tri-Ratana Welfare Society, Yayasan Raja Muda Selangor, Shelter Home for Children) and the Buddy Bear Help e.V. Aided by the auction proceeds, the Buddy Bear Help e.V. will be able to continue paying the monthly rent for the ARCHE in Berlin-Wedding. Personal support During the exhibition, excursions coupled with creative competitions and charity meals for orphans were organised on a regular basis. The ’Angel’s Home for children’ (photo on the left) was one of the organisations invited during the course of the exhibition. The private initiative gives a home and a school education to orphans and victims of abuse. Currently, 15 children between 4 and 16 years are in the organisation’s care. BUDDY BÄR BERLIN GMBH – GEISBERGSTRASSE 29 – 10777 BERLIN TEL.: +49(0)30 / 88 77 26 81 – FAX: +49(0)30 / 88 77 26 90 - www.buddy -bear.com - [email protected] .