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to the Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland, Ian Talbot. “The shortlist for our CSR awards this year highlighted the depth of commitment to CSR from the business community in Ireland. We know that each company brings unique elements to their endeavours, and involvement in a CSR initiative can really benefit employees by introducing them to another side of life here. For businesses, the CSR work strengthens ties with their communities as well as the groups, charities and organisations they donate funds, time or experience to.” Here we meet some of the companies going above and beyond.
C
l Lessons ineadership Leadership for Teens is an
IBM Ireland initiative that began in 2016 and grew out of two programmes the firm was involved in: a mentoring initiative with Riversdale
Community College in North Dublin, and a leadership programme for St John’s Ambulance cadets. Both of these programmes in turn came about through the employee engagement initiative, ‘I Like it here!’,
which encourages employees to give back to their local communities, particularly through skilled volunteering.
“It has changed my thinking process and it has changed my goals because I now strive to be the best I can be, because I have the tools at my disposal.”
Two kits were developed by IBM employees enabling volunteers to deliver the programme: an Introduction to Teen Leadership, and a Teen Leadership full-day workshop. The goal is to help students identify what a leader is and does, recognise the different types of leader and understand that they all have leadership traits that they can use in their daily lives.
Deirdre Kennedy, Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs Manager at IBM Ireland, believes that, “If we want to develop future leaders, we need to help those future leaders develop and recognise the skills that are required. This isn’t something that is taught in school in a formal capacity so whilst many of the tasks they conduct may mean that they assume leadership roles, they may not necessarily recognise them as such. ”
Marco Cavicchia was one of the IBM employees involved in developing the programme and creating the volunteer kits, as well as delivering them to children in the school and the cadets. “I am originally from Italy and working with local communities is a great opportunity for me to understand more in depth the Irish society, which is quite international and diverse.”
“Adding value to the local community is very important for me,” he goes on, “and it’s great that IBM supports our involvement and volunteering in the community. In particular, working with young adults is very stimulating as they are honest and open in their comments which makes the sessions vibrant and very enjoyable.”
Cara McAllorum got involved in the programme as she is currently in a leadership role within St John’s Ambulance cadets in Ongar. “I found it to be very helpful and practical and what I took from the course is that there are all sorts of leaders and most leaders have a balance between being on task and knowing when to give everyone some slack. It has changed my thinking process and my goals because I now strive to be the best I can be because I have the tools at my disposal.”
ibm.com
Getting online
Who better than a world leader in IT to teach computer courses to the uninitiated? Cisco in Galway has been working with Age Action for over five years to teach computer skills to the ageing generation. The classes, led by software engineer Joe Skehill, initially took place in local libraries and community halls, but when Age Action lost these venues, Cisco stepped in and offered their Galway offices as a new base.
positive impact on their life.”
Students get two-and-a-half hours of one-to-one tuition across a range of technological topics, from using a smart phone to booking a flight. “It’s great to see the students getting to grips with technology,” says Skehill. “Often they have a eureka moment where they figure out something that has been previously beyond them and once they get into the groove of learning new things, computers and IT start to have a really positive impact on their life.”
Acquiring practical skills is just one of the benefits of the initiative; another is combating loneliness. “Coming into Cisco every Wednesday gave me a reason to get up in the morning and put a smile on my face,” shared a student named Mary. The rewards are monetary too, with Cisco donating $10 per hour to Age Action for every employee who volunteers.
The students aren’t the only ones impressed as the initiative won the award for Excellence in Community Volunteering, MNC at the Chambers Ireland CSR Awards.
cisco.com
41 ISSUE 13
things, computers start to have a
“Once they get into the groove of learning new
orporate Social Responsibility initiatives are an enjoyable way of engaging with a community and are becoming mainstream in companies across the country, according
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