As part of the programme, employees at AVEVA have committed to support three charities: WaterAid, CALM and Save The Children with initiatives that not only align to its Sustainability programme but reflect the need to step up support for vulnerable populations disproportionately at risk from the negative impacts of the pandemic.
Transforming millions of lives with clean water
Through its products and innovation, AVEVA empowers municipalities to maximise operating efficiency in water and wastewater facilities around the world. Beyond the positive impact it can have through its products, the company is committed to building a network of collaborators that can help it to reach those most in need on critical issues like access to clean water, one of its areas of focus under the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals framework.
WaterAid, the international non-governmental organisation that focuses on water, sanitation, and hygiene globally, was selected by AVEVA employees to receive just over USD $100,000 equating to providing clean water for 5,000 people. WaterAid aims to use its donations to provide running water and sanitation to recipients in 28 countries, including Rwanda, Malawi, Niger, and Colombia. Hear more about how AVEVA’s support helps WaterAid here.
Walking for wellbeing
Improving employee wellbeing, with a focus on mental health, is another long-standing priority area for AVEVA’s business. The company recognises mental health issues have taken on increasing significance during the pandemic. In October 2020, AVEVA employees came together to raise money while simultaneously spending time outdoors and in turn improving their own mental wellbeing.
Over 120 AVEVA employees across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) joined the Lost Hours Walk, organised by CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably), to increase awareness of suicide prevention. The organised walks raised enough money to fund 2,400 potentially life-saving calls.
Improving education for the next generation
AVEVA’s employees have also chosen to donate USD $130,000 to Save The Children which helps to improve the lives of children through better education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Save The Children works in over 100 countries and just last year alone helped 1.7 million children and supported 88 health facilities and 23 hospitals.
One of the key beneficiaries of AVEVA’s Action for Good programme, Save the Children, spoke of its heartfelt thanks for this critical support.
Gemma Sherrington, Executive Director of Fundraising and Marketing, commented: “I would like to say a huge thank you to all the staff at AVEVA! We are incredibly grateful to everyone who voted for Save the Children to receive this amazing donation. The generous support of colleagues at AVEVA will allow our colleagues in the UK, and around the world, to continue to help combat Covid-19 as well as continuing our other vital work.”
Employee-driven Initiatives inspired by the desire to support underserved communities
Lisa Johnston, Chief Sustainability Officer, AVEVA commented, “The pandemic has exacerbated the need for humanity to step forward and rally around people and groups or communities who are underserved in a multitude of ways. Our employee wellbeing during this time has been fundamental and so we encourage our colleagues to commit their spare time to supporting both humanitarian and environmental initiatives, in line with our global Sustainability programme.”
AVEVA has also recently been recognised by the Corporate Engagement Awards (CEA), which presented it with a bronze medal in the category Best CSR Activity or Programme to Support or Develop a Corporate Reputation and Highly Commended in the Best Engagement of an Internal Audience in a CSR Programme. This news follows AVEVA’s recognition in the FTSE4Good for the fourth year in a row, and its commitment to join the United Nations Global Compact as a participant member, as announced in January 2021.
For updates on AVEVA’s charitable initiatives, view the Action for Good webpage.