DHL employees in Kenya mark Global Volunteer Day with environmental and educational activities in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages

DHL, the world’s leading express and Logistics Company over the weekend marked the company’s Global Volunteer Day 2012 in Kenya with over 150 employees taking part in community clean up and educational initiatives with SOS Children’s Villages community outreach programme. The employees also donated foodstuff, clothing and other basic necessities to the children.

The event was part of the company’s global drive to give back to local communities and to inculcate a passion for volunteerism among employees.

DHL Express Equatorial Africa Managing Director, Alan Cassels, said the activities were testimony to the company’s commitment to giving back to the community.

“At DHL, we believe in engaging ourselves in the communities we are a part of. We focus our efforts on environmental protection, championing education and delivering help,” said Mr. Cassels. 

Under environmental protection DHL volunteers cleared waste and drainage within informal community settlements and planted trees.

“We want to contribute to community and national efforts to protect the environment ensuring that needy members of our society directly benefit from cleaner and healthier surroundings,” said Cassels.

4,000 households covering a population of about 10,000 people and more than 300 school children benefitted from DHL’s activities as the local subsidiary gave their local contribution to a global programme. .

“We are grateful that partners like DHL have always been on hand to support our activities. Informal community settlements require our collective and concerted effort, to lift living standards through education and environmental conservation and I am happy that DHL takes these as a priority,” said Mrs Ruth Okowa, National Director SOS Children’s Villages, Kenya.

DHL Global Forwarding Kenya, Country Director Shreekesh Karia, whose team also took part in the event said “DHL believes that people are its greatest resource. The company aims to encourage employees to actively participate in community efforts, as well as inspire the spirit of volunteerism.”

On his part DHL Supply Chain Kenya Country Director Mr Ben Clay reiterated the importance of sustainability in the company’s corporate culture and the commitment to deliver to its Corporate Responsibility strategy via its three programs – GoGreen, GoHelp and GoTeach.

DHL has been carrying out ‘Volunteer Days’ since the early 1990s. From its origins in the UK, the idea was developed further in Asia Pacific and spread from there to the Americas, Middle East and Africa over the years, and continues to build on its success by involving more employees than ever before.

In 2011, the initiative was rolled out globally with tremendous success – 60,000 volunteers in over 130 countries and territories participated in more than 600 community programs.

From 6 to 16 September this year, DHL offices around the world are participating in many diverse community projects in support of various local causes.