Ecommpay, the truly inclusive global payments platform, recently held a charity auction like no other.  Employees from the UK, Latvia, Kazakhstan and Cyprus offices came together to raise funds for Street Child, a charity dedicated to working with local organisations around the world to ensure every child has access to an education. Employee bids raised more than €2400 which was then trebled by the company to give Street Child €7395.

Ecommpay chose Street Child as the auction’s beneficiary based on its global reach and the shared mission to fight for a fair financial world and create equal opportunities. 

Commenting on the donation, Asha Howard-Birt, Supporter Engagement Officer, Street Child said:   “Your donation will make a real difference where it’s needed most, whether by providing essential school supplies, supporting families to build sustainable incomes, or keeping children safe and learning. Your gift will also help Street Child to respond swiftly in emergencies, delivering essentials to families and creating safe spaces for children. Beyond that, you are helping to give children the lifelong gifts of education—the joy of playing with friends at school, the "aha" moment when they grasp something challenging, and the sense of stepping into the world with excitement for the future”.

Ecommpay’s unique auction included an array of wildly different lots, from delicious baked treats to one-off art pieces and mentoring sessions. Also, up for grabs were handmade items and tech including a VR experience. Plus there were several mystery items and secret lots on which the braver bidders were excited to take a chance in the name of charity.

A mystery box and a handmade unicorn both proved extremely popular, receiving the highest bids when the hammer went down at €150 for each item. A product workshop hosted by the company’s Chief Product Officer, Max Ryzhov, and a mentorship programme with Chief Marketing Officer, Miranda McLean, both sold for impressive sums after intense bidding wars.

Miranda McLean, Ecommpay Chief Marketing Officer, added: “Our fantastic team didn't just donate items, they put their skills and passions on the market. There were guitar lessons, baked Kozinaki, social media training and incredible artwork. We are delighted with the total raised for this important charity and look forward to hosting more exciting fundraising events in future.”

Run by experts in education, economic empowerment and protection programming, Street Child brings change for children and increased capacity for caregivers, communities and schools, helping children and families in over 20 of the world’s poorest and most disaster-affected countries, including Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Somalia. Working to address all the barriers that stand in the way of children being safe, in school and learning, Street Child provides emergency aid and mental health support, builds schools, trains teachers, reunites families, develops livelihoods and helps out-of-school children get into education.