The world’s leading postal and logistics company Deutsche Post DHL Group called on employees around the world to take part in its annual Global Volunteer Day (GVD) initiative. Over several days, employees were invited to support social projects in close cooperation with non-profit organizations. The GVD today embraces all Deutsche Post DHL Group divisions worldwide. The initiative attracted some 108,000 participants in 117 countries last year. Employees engage regularly on issues such as the environment, education, and employability, or support disadvantaged people as well as charitable organizations. With this, they also contribute to the Deutsche Post DHL Group sustainability strategy under the motto “Living Responsibility”. The Group supports these long-term activities with a dedicated funding instrument which provides financial support to selected employee projects year-round. Independently to Global Volunteer Day, each year employees can apply to the fund on behalf of “their” regular project. “As a globally operating company, we aim to take on responsibility towards the environment and society throughout all our business operations. This leitmotif is an integral part of Deutsche Post DHL Group’s corporate strategy, Strategy 2020,” says Christof Ehrhart, Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications and Corporate Responsibility at Deutsche Post DHL Group. “Many of our employees are active throughout the whole year, but during the dedicated period of Global Volunteer Day we see an additional level of commitment from them. Socially engaged employees are not only giving back to the communities in which we conduct business, but also bringing fresh ideas and perspectives back into the company.”
In the Philippines, DHL Express employees proactively participated in programs that include a benefit gathering where employees enjoy a fun night of music and camaraderie; a fundraising activity where proceeds from coffee vending machines in DHL offices were donated to charity; a workshop organized for children to educate them about the benefits of healthy living; and a disaster preparedness workshop to better prepare airports for natural disasters. Other activities included were a benefit gathering, a bloodletting activity and a donation drive for Typhoon Koppu survivors, employee bazaars, and Win for Cause bingo game. “Lending a hand comes naturally for DHL Express employees. We have consistently incorporated a sense of social and environmental ownership to all of our employees through volunteerism”, shared Nurhayati Abdullah, Country Manager, DHL Express Philippines.
