At Giva, we like to recognise not only organisations dedicated to corporate social responsibility (CSR), but also their leaders who work to make the world a better place. Emerald Araiza, a CSR strategist, is one of many Australians committed to advocating for social change both nationally and globally, and she was recently recognised for her accomplishments at the 2016 World CSR Congress.
Homelessness is a significant social issue throughout Australia affecting thousands of adults and children every year. A 2015 Annual Report from Homelessness Australia revealed that almost 256,000 people were struggling to get by due to homelessness, and the need for these people to access services continues to grow. Resources dedicated to helping people who are homeless, such as shelters, food banks, and counseling, are necessary to getting these people the support they need.
Fortunately, the Australian government has recognised the need to connect homeless people with services in order to help them live better lives. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has recently spoken at the Salvation Army in Melbourne about the launch of a new mobile website, Ask Izzy, connecting people to over 350,000 different services all over Australia. The website is well-organised and easy to follow, letting people search through categories like housing, food, health, counseling, finances, and education to find services dedicated to their needs.
If you work at a business that has recently begun to focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR), then first of all, congratulations! You are now part of an international movement toward creating better businesses and a healthier world. According to Wikipedia, CSR is "a company's sense of responsibility towards the community and environment (both ecological and social) in which it operates". Through CSR efforts, businesses like the Newmont Mining Corporation and the ABC have made major contributions to social issues, such as human rights and environmental sustainability.
Committing to CSR enables businesses to make a difference in the world community, but it can also open up a world of questions. First and foremost is the question of where to begin. There is no right or wrong way to start a CSR campaign, but here is a list of five suggestions to assist you:
The 2nd Annual Innovative Business Models for Not for Profits conference will take place at the Radisson Blu in Sydney 11th-13th May of this year. The event's host, Akolade, is known for organising various conferences, professional training programmes, interactive seminars, and large-scale summits that address issues such as the environment, oil and gas, mining, law and finance.
Australia's National Volunteering Conference is one of the country's largest events focused on highlighting opportunities in the volunteering sector. Various not for profit leaders, volunteer managers and policy contributors will be attending the conference and participating in events related to volunteerism.
In 2014, businesses in the Sydney metropolitan area alone produced 190,000 tonnes of food waste. Yet according to Foodbank, 200 million Australians deal with hunger each year and more than 500,000 turn to food relief services each month. Despite the fact that businesses are producing food surpluses, people are going hungry.
Fortunately, there is a new app that is helping to bridge the gap between businesses with extra food and people facing hunger. Through the Yume app, Australian restaurants and cafes can choose to either donate their excess food to charity or sell it at 50% of its original price. Yume helps food reach the homeless community, as well as other individuals who may not be able to afford a full price meal.
Here at Giva we value organisations, big and small, that are working to change the world around them; and we are pleased to salute them here!
The Fred Hollows Foundation is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to ending avoidable blindness, or blindness that can be treated or prevented with access to affordable, quality healthcare. The organisation was created by its namesake, the late Fred Hollows, who worked as an ophthalmologist in Australia and dedicated his life to restoring eyesight for thousands of people in Australia and worldwide. By providing eye health services and blindness prevention programmes, the Foundation has continued Hollows' mission of changing the world for the better.
Every year the Sustainable Living Festival (SLF) in Victoria draws more than 150,000 visitors. As Australia's biggest sustainability festival, the three-week event draws in a diverse group of communities, organisations and individuals. Each day of the festival has a unique lineup of workshops, live performances and exhibits, among other things.
In 2015, Facebook, the world's top online social networking service, increased endeavours to be socially responsible with the creation of their Facebook for Social Good and Fundraiser pages. The company hopes to encourage its users to be more engaged with social issues through these campaigns.
Canon Inc. is internationally known for its quality products; however, many may not be aware of the company's varied efforts to materialise its corporate philosophy through sustainable programmes and methods. Following the standards and guidelines of its parent company and upholding its corporate mission based on Kyosei, interpreted as "all people, harmoniously living and working together towards a common good", Canon Oceania has adhered to recycling programmes, such as TechCollect and the Australian Packaging Covenant. It has also published a yearly sustainability report showing the company's challenges, opportunities, and performance in the regions it operates; and lastly, it has engaged communities and organisations to protect the environment.
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