The number of street children in Lebanon increased drastically after more than one million Syrians found refuge in the country. Unsure of where their money was going, the Lebanese stopped giving the needy children money. Reason for one supermarket chain to issue The Good Note, a currency that can only be spent on good things.
Good Notes are issued by supermarket chain Bou Khalil and can be spent at the 11 branches of the supermarket and a partner pharmacy on necessities such as food, water, household supplies, personal hygiene items and small treats, but not alcohol and tobacco. The notes can be purchased at the Bou Khalil supermarkets and several other shops. One note values 1000 LBP (0,66 USD) and in Arabic is called ‘Alf Kheir’, which means ‘1000 blessings’. All profits of the scheme go to a NGO that works with the street children. The initiative, developed in cooperation with JWT MEA recently won the PR Grand Prix, Direct Grand Prix and Integrated Grand Prix at the Dubai Lynx Awards.
More details can be found on www.thegoodnote.com