Supporting our global communities: a year of charitable activities
On International Day of Charity, we reflect on the ways our colleagues around the world have been supporting their local communities during the last year.
Today marks International Day of Charity, a United Nations day that aims to encourage people all around the world to help others through volunteering and charitable activities.
We see partnering with educational charities internationally as key to supporting our local communities, and our colleagues get involved through volunteering and fundraising.
During the last year, our colleagues all around the world have been imaginative in their charitable efforts, reminding us that despite recent challenges, community support remains an important part of our purpose and culture.– Heidi Mulvey, Head of Community Engagement
In Brazil, our colleagues organise the Cambridge Day, a free event for English Language Teaching professionals across 13 cities. The last event moved online, with more than 103,500 people supporting the national charity, Ação da Cidadania, which provided more than 10,000 meals for families in need. The team also spent a week buying and packing presents to give to 250 families, working with the NGO Grupo Amar.
We need to offer opportunities to our people to give back. It’s good to feel that you belong to an organisation that does this kind of community volunteering and it’s very good for morale.
– João Madureira, Brazil Office Director
In India, our team partner with One Billion Literates Foundation, which improves rural livelihoods through education, English Language and computer literacy as well as building up rural women's skills and empowerment. Last year the charity focused on remote training for para-teachers, re-starting worksheets-based learning programs and a pilot digital learning program.
Our team in Nigeria donated English, maths and science textbooks to primary school pupils in Lagos State in collaboration with Unicef. Country manager, Lawrence Aladesuyi, said at a presentation ceremony that “the pupils are our future. When they are educated it will help the country.”
In the Philippines, colleagues supported non-profit organisations Caritas Manila, which helps communities and families in Metro Manila; PGH Medical Foundation, which supports health and welfare; and Project Inclusion Network, which improves access to opportunities for people with disabilities.
Our team in Cape Town, South Africa, partnered with The Bookery, supporting an initiative to donate Rainbow Reading books to libraries in disadvantaged schools. As part of their annual support for Mandela Day, colleagues donated to Food Forward SA, which supports vulnerable communities facing difficulties due to the pandemic.
In the UK, Cambridge Assessment’s Charity Partner Fundraising Committee produced a charity cookbook in collaboration with the catering team at the Triangle office in Cambridge. More than 300 copies were sold and funds were donated to local food banks. Our colleague choirs made an online recording, with donations going to a local special needs school, The Castle School, and Jimmy’s, which helps people experiencing homelessness in Cambridge.
Charity cookbook by Cambridge Assessment’s Charity Partner Fundraising Committee
Our colleagues gave nearly 1600 hours to local communities in 2020-21. We’ve learned so much about how we can continue supporting our communities virtually and we’re looking forward to building on this in the coming year. We very much hope to be back in our communities around the world, in person, as soon as that’s possible.
– Heidi Mulvey, Head of Community Engagement
