Bangkok--10 Jul--PR & Associates
Banking on a proud 200-year history, Citigroup is the leading global financial institution committed to responsible finance and good corporate citizenship. As part of the corporate value, the ‘Citi Global Community Day’ was launched globally in 2006, encouraging Citi employees, their families and friends to actively leverage their professional skills and experience by volunteering their time to develop the communities where they live and work,
This year, the ‘Citi Global Community Day’ was organized in more than 100 countries around the world on the same day to mark Citi's 200th anniversary and its seventh annual global volunteerism event. In Thailand, with only 3,000 employees, Citi Thailand has achieved a historic record of over 4,000 volunteers participating in the ten local social service activities in various locations spanning activities about education, underprivileged children, elderly and environment.
Mr. Darren Buckley, Citi Country Officer (CCO), said “The Global Community Day provides an excellent opportunity for Citi employees and corporate partners, together with their families and friends around the world to gather as one to demonstrate their long-standing commitment to make a difference in their communities. This shared commitment has been embodied in Citi employees since the company was established in 1812. It is this spirit of common purpose that Citi proudly honored and celebrated on its 200th anniversary.”
Starting with the first activity, the “200 Forces for Flooded School Restoration” a joint effort with the Kenan Institute Asia for which Citi Country Officer Buckley has led a troupe of 250 volunteers who are Citi executives and employees, families, alumni and friends to show the power of social deeds in the communities devastated by last year’s flood in Nonthaburi area. Their crucial aspiration and voluntary bonding mission is to bring back the physical landscape of the Plai-bang Wat Singh municipal schools in Nonthaburi which has been severely damaged under the 1.5 meter high flood. This also includes a two million baht donation for monetary support, educational equipment and learning materials, essential medicine and first-aid kits, as well as granting 200 scholarships of 1,000 baht each for underprivileged students in four municipal and public schools; namely Plai-bang Wat Singh School, Plai-bang Wat Som-kliang, Plai-bang Wat Ko Non-rat Bumrung School and Numprasong Wittaya School.
The proceeds were raised under the sixth “Fund Raising for School of Dream… Make It Reality” project, established in 2007 to help and support underprivileged schools for the renovation of buildings, classrooms, libraries, computer laboratories, etc. Currently there are over 3,000 volunteers registered for the fundraising campaign which covers various activities from product merchandises, auctions, and donations.
At the same time, Ayutthaya villagers welcomed another group of 105 Citi volunteers taking part in the “Citi Loves Bang Ban” event helping building foundation structures for the emergency shelter at a relief center for Bang Ban communities. Last year the flood level in the areas were as high as 3 meters. The shelter construction is a part of the flood relief measures by the “Habitat for Humanity Thailand” to help Bang Ban villagers. Ayutthaya Province is considered at risk as the natural kaem ling (monkey cheek) water retention areas.
Another activity called “Painting for a Future” (Long Mue Long Rang Long Jai Pour Look Larn Thai Pattana) was a team comprising of Citi scholarship students, Citi volunteers and the National Council on Social Welfare of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King heading to Ban Na District, Nakhon Nayok Province. The mission of this 60-work force was to renovate Wat Tang Kra-bue School building heavily affected from the flood last year. This project is a part of the Youth Development Camp funded by the Citigroup scholarship program.
Apart from the urgent supports needed in restoring and enhancing the human livelihoods for a better future from the worst flood disaster, Citi also organized six other social service events for this global volunteerism act.
Citi and the “Plant A Tree Today Foundation” took 260 volunteers led by Mr. Narasimhan Rajashekaran, Citi Country Business Manager to Ban Sub-tai, Khao Yai, Nakhon Ratchasima Province under the “Citi Grows .. City Green” project, Preservation and conservation of environment is core mission of the event. While appreciating the existence and beauty of Khao Yai Natural Resource, the team jointly planted 2,000 trees including Paka (Oroxylum indicum) Lagerstroemia loudoni, Afzelia xylocarpa, Cassia Fistula, Pterocarpus macrocarpus, Wrightia Arborea (Dennst.) Mabb, etc.
On the coastline of Sattahip, Chonburi Province, 130 volunteers joined the “Citi Deep Blue Sea” event to get first hand information on the marine environmental issue and plant 300 corals at Vachiralongkorn Cliff under the supervision of the Royal Thai Marine.
“Care for Senior Citizens”, was another activity that reflects Citi’s commitment to the society. A lunch and music entertainment was hosted for 270 senior citizens at Ban Bang-kae Home. The elderly truly enjoyed singing and dancing with the company of 70 volunteers from Citicorp Leasing (Thailand) Ltd. and Citibank.
“200 Kilograms Loss for 200 Days of Kids’ Breakfast”, an innovative effort created by Citi employees by inviting 200 volunteers to join this one single-target healthy weight loss campaign - a total of 200 Kilograms loss in two weeks (14 days) to win the Citibank breakfast fund for 20 children for 200 days through CCF Foundation under the Royal Patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The effort yields mutual happiness to a better health for all volunteers and 200 days of healthy breakfast for the underprivileged children.
“Build Puppets for Kids’ Learning” project aims to enhance children education process. Forty 40 volunteers were taking their time to fabricate handmade puppets as teaching materials in support to the History and Thai Language classes to make the subjects more education fun, enjoyable and easier to memorize.
The last embracing activity is called “Volunteer Photographer” gathering Citi volunteers who have photography skills to join in any of the activities to bring valuable and memorable moments through lens and prints.
Ms. Poranee Phairintr, one of the volunteers who has not missed the Citi Global Community
Day during the past five years reflected that this global volunteerism day gives all of us a great opportunity to come as one to demonstrate what we want to do good for the our society. A shared commitment in making each act meaningful to the communities is the most important. Her happiness is from seeing what she had contributed.
Mr. Raywat Matevelungsun has been proud of his dedication since the launch of the Citi Global Community Day supporting the organization’s commitment to the society where we live and work. He encourages colleagues to participate and offer their expertise in their free times regardless it be a small contribution. He added that one of his memorable activities was the time when he helped build homes for underprivileged villagers.
Citi Global Community Day started in 2006 is a validation of Citi’s social responsibility approach demonstrating its long-standing commitment in helping to develop communities and support disadvantaged people in countries around the world where Citi operates its businesses. For the past seven years, Citi has encouraged its employees and partners, together with their families and friends, to volunteer their special skills and expertise to help make a difference to the society. Please visit ‘www.facebook.com/citi’ for more information.