SANDEFJORD, Norway - Jotun Paints, one of the world's leading producers and suppliers of paints and coatings, has partnered with the Friends of Children with Cancer (FOCC), an Egyptian non-government, non-profit organization registered with the Ministry of Social Solidarity to support the treatment of cancer-afflicted children in Egypt. Driven by its belief in the power of colors to bring smiles to people, Jotun Paints will paint the first phase of FOCC’s project, the Health and Hope Oasis, a nutritional and recreational center located in Wadi Al-Natrun at the Beheira Governorate. The facility serves children with cancer who are undergoing treatment.

The Health and Hope Oasis aims to offer children with cancer the opportunity to escape the confines of the hospital and be in a healthy and nurturing environment where they can receive nutritional support critical for a successful recovery and cure. Jotun Paints’ involvement in the project will be to provide the paint on the project's first phase, which includes 64 accommodation units for children and their families, kitchen facilities, a multipurpose activity center and staff housing.

“The capacity of color to influence human emotions is a core belief that continues to inspire us in the Jotun Group to become involved in initiatives supporting charity organizations,” said Per Harald Engesaeth, General Manager, El Mohandes Jotun Paints Egypt. “By filling Health and Hope Oasis with vibrant and calming hues, we are hoping to supplement and assist with the treatment of Egyptian children with cancer, and provide them and their families encouragement in their fights against the disease. We also want to acknowledge the wonderful work that Friends of Children with Cancer’ has done and continues to do with such great dedication, and we are proud to be working with them in this excellent initiative.”

Interior and exterior paints for the first phase of the Health and Hope Oasis extension have already been delivered by Jotun Paints at the project site, which mainly operates with donations from charitable groups, corporations and individuals. In addition to providing emotional support to the children and their families during the critical stages of chemotherapy and recovery, Health and Hope Oasis' core focus is to provide nutritional sustenance to the patients through an operating farm that has been donated to ensure the quality of food provided and to help sustain the project. It also conducts awareness drives and training for families of the children about the importance of continuing the cancer treatment, safe hygienic practices and appropriate nutrition, infection control and the children’s emotional needs.

“Our longstanding support for charitable causes is in line with our commitment towards corporate social responsibility and the value we place in being a model for successful CSR undertakings among regional organizations. We have seen significant success in the Middle East since we started our regional operations 30 years ago, and as a means of giving back, we are dedicated to lending our support in any way we can in order to enhance the development of the community that has nurtured our growth,” concluded Engesaeth.