Telekom Romania launches the "Call Santa" project and supports the elderly alongside The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation
The winter holidays have always had a special charm, representing a reason for joy, reflection, and reunion with loved ones. The situation generated by the pandemic has led to changes in the state of mind of Romanians, with 56% expecting the holidays to be sadder this year because they will be away from loved ones due to social distancing, as shown by data from the Christmas Habits study*.
Throughout this difficult period, technology has kept Romania connected, regardless of its purpose—supporting authorities, the business environment, the medical field, allowing the continuation of the educational process, facilitating reunions and dialogue with friends, or bringing entertainment, art, and culture into the comfort of Romanian homes.
Following Telekom's brand promise to use technology to do good, the company's new project, Sună Moșu’ (Call Santa), brings back the joy of meeting Santa Claus to children during the holidays. At the same time, it has a special component: helping elderly people who used to have this job and who, due to the current context, can no longer practice it, feeling abandoned and useless.
31% of the seniors who participated in the Senior Perceptions study** say that the pandemic made them feel lonelier than ever, 72% state that they see their loved ones less often than before, and 24% have been strongly affected financially by the current situation. Additionally, 41% claim they would like to know more about how to use the internet to stay in touch with loved ones.
To support both causes while respecting social distancing, safety, and health conditions, Telekom created the Sună Moșu’ project—a work-from-home program for several Santas, employing elderly people who in previous years wore the Santa suit and are now without occupation. Thus, through this project, children will benefit from a unique experience: an online meeting via video call with Santa Claus.
Parents who wish to offer their children such an experience between December 18–24, 2020, must choose a date and time on the website sunamosu.ro, from today until December 24, within the limit of available spots. After making the online appointment, the reservation is finalized by sending a standard-rate SMS to the number 1206 with the text MOSCRACIUN, followed by receiving a taxable SMS with a cost of 1 Euro plus VAT.
"We must continue to offer children beautiful memories and make their childhood a fairy tale, even in this new paradigm we are navigating. Through the project launched today, we want the magic of the holidays to continue and the meeting with Santa Claus to take place, even if it takes a new, digital form. We believe it is truly a unique experience that we are happy to offer to the little ones, but also to the elderly who enjoyed the holidays in the role of Santa Claus and who, in the context of the pandemic, were left without the chance of this encounter with children. We want the video call with Santa to represent a memorable moment for the little ones, which we hope they will remember fondly for years to come," stated Andreas Elsner, Executive Commercial Director, Residential Segment, Telekom Romania.
The amount resulting from the SMS messages will be donated by Telekom to The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation to contribute to programs dedicated to helping the elderly. Additionally, those who wish to join the cause and donate to help elderly people, even if they do not want an online meeting with Santa, can donate 2 Euro directly to the Foundation by sending an SMS with the text SINGUR to the number 8844.
"Through the Sună Moșu’ project, we want to give a chance to seniors who have been affected both financially and emotionally by the pandemic. Thus, we are not just offering a temporary job to the people who joined us in this project in such an important role with special meaning, but also the possibility of being part of a family's joy. At the same time, we hope through our endeavor to reach even more elderly people; therefore, Telekom will donate the amount resulting from the SMS to The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation to contribute to social programs dedicated to this category," stated Ruxandra Vodă, Communications Director, Telekom Romania.
More details about the campaign are available at sunamosu.ro.
* Christmas Habits, a national representative online study conducted by ISRA Center for Telekom Romania in November 2020. ** Senior Perceptions, a national representative study conducted by Reveal Market Research for Telekom Romania in December 2020.
