Kaizers Orchestra. Photo: Kaizers Orchestra

CEO in Det norske, Erik Haugane announced Det norske’s contribution to the project under the Youth Conference at ONS 2010. Kaizers will, as thanks for the contribution perform twice for Det norske, the first of the two, at the Youth Conference in Stavanger today.

The UN's index of living conditions ranks Rwanda as 167 of 182 countries. Norway tops the list. Behind the Rwandan number hides a high infant mortality, low life expectancy, illiteracy and lack of education. 60 percent of residents live below the poverty line. Rwanda's about 11 million people are consuming the same amount of energy as a small Norwegian town with approximately 35,000 inhabitants. Only five percent of the Rwandan population has access to electric power.

That the announcement of the support comes during ONS is not incidental. ONS’ main theme for this year is Energy for more people.

"For Det norske, it felt natural that we who live in one of the richest countries in the world and have a very high consumption of energy, was to support a project in one of the countries with the lowest energy consumption, like Rwanda. This project helps perhaps the weakest group, the children, in one of the world's poorest countries. Education and access to energy are some of the most important premises for getting out of poverty", said VP Communication Torgeir Anda.

It is Nyamiyaga School outside of Kigali, which will now benefit from Kaizers and UNICEF's work, and Det norske’s support. The school has a total of 806 pupils and 12 teachers. 300 of these children are orphans or otherwise extremely vulnerable. The children and the school will now have new windows where light and air can be let in, a dense roof, access to clean water, latrines and sports facilities outside. Det norske will also support the campaign for funds to fill the schools with textbooks and other teaching materials.

At the start of the project Kaizers Orchestra traveled to Rwanda to do some field work and look at the conditions: 
 

The boys in Kaizers holding a small concert for students at school. Photo: UNICEF Norway		Some of the 806 students in Nyamiyaga school is delighted with the Norwegian visit, and that their conditions at the school will improve. Photo: UNICEF Norge

Kaiserz Orchestra will perform during the opening ceremony of Det norske's new headquarters in Trondheim in October. More information will come.

Read more about School for Africa campaign, on the UNICEF website.

About Det norske:

Det norske oljeselskap ASA has interests in a total of 72 licenses, with 35 operatorships.

Det norske is the second-largest operating company on the Norwegian Continental Shelf both considering number of operatotships and exploration activity. I 2009 the company operated nine exploration wells, and the high activity will continue in 2010. Det norske runs its activities in a safe and responsible manner in close cooperation with the authorities.

Det norske currently employs a staff of 190. The company`s registered office is located in Trondheim. The company also has offices in Oslo,Harstad, and Stavanger. Det norske is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (DETNOR).