Staefa, Switzerland, October 22, 2013
The Hear the World Foundation has its very own anthem: the Hear the World song is now available to download from iTunes, with proceeds going to the non-profit foundation, while an accompanying video can be seen here. The song was composed by Sonova employee Martin Kirchberger and produced by the HitMill team led by top Swiss music producer Roman Camenzind, who has recently also committed to becoming an ambassador for Hear the World.
By supporting the charitable Hear the World Foundation, Sonova is campaigning for equal opportunities and a better quality of life for people with hearing loss. With this in mind, programs have been set up to actively involve Sonova staff in the foundation’s work. One employee who has made a unique contribution is Martin Kirchberger, a research engineer based at the Sonova head office in Stäfa, Switzerland. In addition to his role at Sonova, Martin is a keen amateur musician and he composed a song for the Hear the World Foundation during nights and weekends.
The Hear the World song: a hymn to good hearing
The song’s catchy melody struck such a chord with employees at Sonova, so Hear the World asked successful Swiss music producer Roman Camenzind to lend his support. He was enthusiastic about the idea and, with the help of his HitMill production team, set about creating a stirring anthem about good hearing. The result is the Hear the World song, which is now available on iTunes and has a video that can be seen at www.hear-the-world.com/song. All proceeds from song downloads will go to projects run by the Hear the World Foundation.
Roman Camenzind as an ambassador for Hear the World
Roman Camenzind has also recently become an ambassador for Hear the World and has therefore had his picture taken by musician and photographer Bryan Adams in the Hear the World pose synonymous with conscious hearing – with one hand behind his ear. In doing so, he has joined the ranks of over 70 celebrities who have been photographed in a bid to raise awareness of the long-neglected topic of hearing and hearing loss. “My hearing is my most important tool and it is what enables me to earn my living as a musician. That is why I am keen to get involved with the Hear the World Foundation. I want to encourage people to take an interest in music every day, so that, together with Hear the World, I can help them appreciate the importance of good hearing,” Roman Camenzind explains.
From an idea born from the initiative of a single Sonova employee, a collective campaign has been created which is having a great impact. Sarah Kreienbühl, Group Vice President Corporate HRM and Corporate Communications at Sonova and a member of the Hear the World Foundation Board, comments on this: “At Sonova, we consider it our social responsibility to support people with hearing loss who are in need of help, and to make a contribution toward prevention and raising awareness. It is fantastic to see how actively our staff are getting involved in the work of the foundation, which makes them our most important ambassadors for good hearing. Special thanks are due to Roman Camenzind – not just for his musical support, but for his overall commitment too.”
Sponsorship for a foundation project in Panama
As part of his commitment to Hear the World, Roman Camenzind has agreed to sponsor one of the foundation’s projects in Panama. The Hear the World Foundation is working with the Panamanian organization FUNPROI to help give children with hearing loss who need support the chance to enjoy better hearing and integrate into society. Roman Camenzind will soon be paying a visit to the project, showing his active support for the foundation’s work.