Employees of global trade enabler DP World around the world have reached a new record of 4,700 volunteer hours in a week of volunteering activities, delivering over 60 projects in partnership with 47 organisations to benefit 5,000 people.

The company’s Global Volunteer Week programme gives employees the opportunity to take time out of work to support their local communities. This year they supported a variety of initiatives in 19 countries, which included delivering career workshops in the Dominican Republic, sorting food packages for Foodbanks in Australia, arranging blood donations across India in Mundra, Cochin, Chennai and NhavaSheva, visiting the elderly in Yantai, China and organising free medical examinations in Senegal.

Now in its fourth year, the initiative developed around the UN’s International Volunteer Day. Since 2014, DP World is committed to growing its volunteering efforts in local communities.

DP World Group chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, said: “Our leaders designated 2017 as the Year of Giving in the UAE and we’ve continued that sentiment across our operations around the world.

“Our long-term commitment to partner with the communities where we operate is designed to make a positive impact and is something we’ve been doing for many years. Our commitment to sustainability is central to our business and by playing a major role in contributing to societies, our people are helping others. Their enthusiasm and willingness to participate in local activities is admirable.”

DP Word Global Sustainability Director Kathryn Wightman-Beaven, said: “Our Global Volunteer Week has been gaining momentum over the years and the number of volunteering hours this year are more than double what they were when we first launched the initiative in 2014.

“We’re proud of our employees who contribute every day to our goal of building vibrant and resilient societies through investing in issues of social importance. We are committed to helping improve the lives of people in the communities in which we operate and look forward to developing this programme further to deliver even bigger impact in the coming years.”

As part of Global Volunteer Week in the UAE and in support of the Year of Giving, the company ran eight projects with 89 employee volunteers, while supporting 319 people in the community. Employees planted Ghaf trees with local sustainability enterprise Goumbook, relocated mangroves with the Emirates Marine Environmental Group, supported people at local charity Senses and women at the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, while conducting a blood drive with the Dubai Health Authority.

They also delivered DP World’s Global Education Programme at Raffles International School and taught students about the UN’s Global Sustainable Development Goals at the Hartland International School in Dubai.  
Global Volunteer Week is one part of DP World’s global programme to bring sustainability into every aspect of its work, brought together under its “Our World, Our Future” sustainability programme.

The company is involved in a range of activities to help improve people’s lives, strengthen communities, and protect the environment with initiatives such as the Carbon Ambassadors Programme in the UAE, focusing on engaging and educating young people on environmental issues. – TradeArabia News Service