The fourth Best Practices Competition was won by our colleagues from Polymer Chemicals in Kyungju, South Korea with their ‘Surrounding orphans with love’ project, where a warm and comfortable family environment was created for the children at the Dae-ja-won Orphanage. Twelve employees set to work, cleaning and gardening, to help get the site in order. A roster is now in place for the team to visit each month, where they spend time with the children as well as continuing to provide practical support.
Second Prize winner was the ‘A self-sustaining home for street children’ project in Uran village from Decorative Paints in Mumbai, India. A simple request for paint led to a major makeover for the Jan Vikas School, which cares for around 800 street children. Volunteers from Decorative Paints swung into action - as well as painting the premises, they installed a water purifier to provide safe drinking water, organized medical checks and provided furniture. They even took some of the children on field trips.
Third Prize went to the ‘Providing hope for the future’ project from Surface Chemistry in Houston, USA. The Star of Hope Women and Family Emergency Center is thriving, thanks to support from the AkzoNobel volunteers. Activities last year included upgrading the shelter's conference room with new furniture and equipment, organizing several food and clothing drives and helping out with essential chores at the site. The shelter helps more than 2,000 people each year.
The three winners receive major cash prizes (EUR 30,000, EUR 20,000 and EUR 10,000) to be spent by employees involved in the winning projects on good causes in their own countries, in the spirit of the Community Program. In a special congratulations letter signed by our CEO, Hans Wijers, the employees involved in the winning projects were complimented with their contributions to their communities.
Former Winners
2008 Winner: ‘Clean water means healthy pupils’Our colleagues from Decorative Paints in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam helped to install water pipes and educate children and residents how to use the new system, as well as raise awareness about the importance of clean water in 22 primary schools in 6 provinces in Central Vietnam.
2007 Winner: Little Sunshine House
Visits to help children study, play and generally feel loved and happy, make a real difference at The Little unshine House. The youngsters there are seriously ill with kidney disease, and need love and care as well as financial support.
2006 Winner: Key to Life
Children in the Itupeva area of São Roque da Chave in Brazil are learning the Key to Life and face a brighter future with better prospects, thanks to the innovative project which won first prize in Akzo Nobel’s Best Practice Competition.