Business First Issue2 Vol5 CH6:Layout 1 23/10/2009 14:45 Page 40
Trocaire
How to make Corporate Social
Responsibility work for your business
T
he rewards for companies in Northern Ireland who demonstrate “The continued support Trócaire receives from the public
corporate social responsibility, (CSR) can be immediate and demonstrates the goodwill and high regard felt toward our work
tangible according to Trócaire’s Belfast manager Eithne McNulty. overseas. Research has shown that Trócaire’s brand is recognised by
According to Eithne, Trócaire’s Belfast office has seen a steady 85% of people in Ireland. Companies and businesses choosing to
increase in interest from companies and businesses looking to partner support Trócaire as part of a corporate social responsibility initiative
with Trócaire for corporate fundraising initiatives. “More and more can be guaranteed that their association will be instantly recognisable
companies are raising funds for Trócaire’s projects overseas for many and appealing to their stakeholders”
reasons including building goodwill among their clients and staff. For “The options are endless for companies or business looking to
this reason we developed our new corporate support pack to help partner with Trócaire” according to Eithne. “Companies or businesses
companies to tailor a Trócaire initiative that meets their needs as well often have very specific objectives and Trócaire has lots of ideas to
as ours.” help them meet these goals. For example, a Trócaire coffee morning
Irish aid agency Trócaire has been working in the developing world in response to an emergency appeal like the recent Indonesia
for over 30 years throughout Africa, Latin America, Asia and the earthquake is good for staff moral, while buying Trócaire’s ethical gifts
Middle East and enjoys loyal support from the public. for clients at Christmas time will help to generate goodwill among
Pilemina Aceng from northern Uganda is living proof of this
customers” says Eithne.
support. Twenty years of vicious civil war have taken their toll on Trócaire’s ethical Christmas gift campaign has been a real success in
Pilemina and her children. Her husband was killed and four of her Northern Ireland according to Eithne, “In the past eight years since we
children were taken by the militia. She has not seen them since. For began, people across the island of Ireland have spent over £24 million
five years Pilemina and her children struggled to survive in a camp on Trócaire’s ethical gifts on behalf of family and friends. These gifts,
where thousands of people from the area came for safety. The hunger like the gift of seeds and tools that Pilemina and her family received,
and despair the family faced in the camp is etched in Pilemina’s are having an incredible impact on the lives of families and
memory forever. communities across the developing world.”
“I struggled to feed my children there,” said Pilemina. “Often I would This year Trócaire has also developed a range of corporate
leave the camp and go back home to try to get some food for us.” Christmas gifts for businesses. Eithne says there is increasing interest
Every time Pilemina left the camp she risked being attacked or even in ethical gifts from a corporate perspective. “Companies and business
killed by militia. are always looking for ways to strengthen relationships with their
Pilemina’s teenage son, Sunday, remembered the fear he felt when
stakeholders and boost customer loyalty. Choosing ethical corporate
his mother left the camp. “Every time she left I was afraid,” he said
gifts for clients or staff at Christmas time is a tangible way of fostering
quietly. “I thought she wouldn’t come back, that she was gone
goodwill towards an organisation at a time when markets are hugely
forever.” When the civil war ended people in Pilemina’s camp were
competitive.”
encouraged to go home but many were still too terrified. But Pilemina Trócaire’s corporate Christmas gifts range from £40 to £450.
found the camp’s misery too much to bear. “I decided I would rather “Generating goodwill and positive PR can be a time-consuming and
die at home than in the camp,” she said. The family moved home. expensive affair for companies, but Trócaire can offer solutions that
Trócaire has helped Pilemina to grow food and she has been able to
are simple and manageable for companies of every size,” said Ms
rebuild her home and her small farm. Now Pilemina is growing
McNulty.
enough food to feed her family and send her grandchild to school.
“Pilemina and thousands of families like hers have benefited from To become involved with Trócaire’s work or to receive one of
the generosity of people in Northern Ireland over the years” says Trócaire’s corporate support packs please contact Gemma McCourt,
Trócaire’s Eithne McNulty. Marketing Officer, 9080 8030 or email gmccourt@trocaire.ie
Pilemina Aceng (56) with her son Sunday Akot (17) and daughter Mily Akello (35). Pilema was the first person to return to her village after
the war in Uganda. She has rebuilt her small farm with support from Trócaire. Photo: Gary Moore
40
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84