The fifth Best Practices Competition was won by a cross-BU initiative in Bangalore, India. Our colleagues from Marine & Protective Coatings, Industrial Coatings and Powder Coatings were chosen as First Prize winners with their ‘Help with Healthy Living’ project.With this initiative more than 150 volunteers have helped establish a health clinic which has become an indispensable part of life for residents of four villages in Bangalore. As well as offering consultations, basic medication and treatment free of charge, the center gives information on matters such as HIV/AIDS, personal hygiene and the hazards of smoking, while also providing advice for managing conditions such as diabetes.
Second Prize winner was the ‘A Home from Home’ project from Pulp & Paper Chemicals (Eka) in Guangzhou, China. In this project many important services were provided by our volunteers at a Disabled Persons’ Federation center – along with practical support such as supplying winter clothing and new bed linen. Particularly the regular visits to the residents, making them feel they have friends who care about them, were highly valued.
Third Prize went to the ‘Definitely not a waste of time’ project from Surface Chemistry and Functional Chemicals in Itupeva, Brazil. The Waste Recycling Cooperative in Itupeva, which provides employment for street-sweepers and the unemployed, has significantly benefited from our volunteers’ expert knowledge. The conditions were dangerous and the workers lacked awareness about risks and potential issues. Our volunteers stepped in to help make health and safety improvements and also organized an open day to raise awareness about the effect of collecting recyclable waste.
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
2009 Winner: ‘Surrounding orphans with love’
A warm and comfortable family environment was created for the children at the Dae-ja-won Orphanage with the ‘Surrounding orphans with love’ project . Our colleagues from Polymer Chemicals in Kyungju, South Korea 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.
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.