Holcim’s 80,000 employees to celebrate centennial through community outreach
Swiss construction materials giant Holcim Ltd. is celebrating its 100th birthday this year by deploying its 80,000 employees in 70 countries to give back to their communities by dedicating one workday of service.
These activities are in recognition of the role strong community support played in the Holcim Group’s success, and in line with the company’s values and commitment to sustainable development.
Locally, cement-maker Holcim Philippines declared May 24 as its Community Service Day, instructing its 1,700 employees to participate in outreach efforts in its host communities in La Union, Bulacan, Misamis Oriental and Davao.
The company, which has been actively supporting community initiatives for education, infrastructure, and environment protection, also launched Sagot Ko ang Bukas. It is a campaign to encourage employees, customers, partners, suppliers and other key stakeholder groups to pledge on how they can contribute to a better future.
“We know we have to keep pushing so that we extend beyond our walls – to our families, business partners, and even to the man on the street. We know that we have to find a way to bring the concept of sustainability to a personal level,” said Holcim Philippines Chief Operations Officer Roland van Wijnen.
“This can mean many different things to different people – for a student, it may mean developing good study habits to ensure that he has bright future; for a parent, it may mean working hard to ensure that he is able to continue sending his children to a good school. It could be as simple as making sure we sort out our garbage, or as challenging as helping design green structures for more sustainable communities. The point is, we all have to count ourselves in,” he added.
For this campaign, Holcim Philippines has created a Facebook page and microsite in its corporate website where people can register their pledges. It has also commissioned artist Ebe Dancel to compose the Sagot Ko ang Bukas Holcim Centennial Song to help encourage pledges.
Aside from these, Holcim Philippineswill also expand its Project Fostering a Child’s Education (FACE). Piloted in the Holcim Bulacan Plant in 2010, Project FACE allows employees to contribute their time and funds to help deserving but underprivileged children finish high school. It is set to be implemented in other Holcim plants nationwide.
Holcim started in the Swiss village of Holderbankand has risen to become one of world’s leading construction materials company. It first ventured into the Asian market in 1974, when it acquired a stake in Philippine company Alsons Cement.
