Part of our responsibility in running an international business is to maximize our contribution to communities among whom we work while minimizing our environmental impact.
Another part of that responsibility is to actively give something back. We do this by supporting initiatives which are broadly linked to the themes of empowerment for three groups – women, young people, and people who have been denied or have limited opportunity.
Issues that we support include gender equality, maternal and newborn health, family planning, and education. We also support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015.
Here are some organizations and programs we currently support:
Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC)
Eliminating extreme poverty
- Ultra-poor graduation
- Integrated development
Expanding financial choices
- Microfinance
Employable skills for decent work
- Skills development
- Migration
Climate change and emergencies
- Climate change
- Agriculture and food security
- Humanitarian programme
Gender equality
- Gender justice and diversity
- Community empowerment
- Human rights and legal aid services
Universal access to healthcare
- Health, nutrition and population
- Water, sanitation and hygiene
Pro-poor urban development
- Urban development
Investing in the next generation
- Education
Women’s Empowerment
World Hunger
Girls’ Education
HIV & AIDS
Clean Water
Poverty & Social Justice
Maternal Health
Child Marriage
Economic Development
Youth Empowerment
Violence Against Women
Climate Change
Emory University – Winship Cancer Institute
Seeing over 17,000 patients a year, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University is Georgia’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and serves as the coordinating center for cancer research, education and care throughout Emory University.
Family Planning 2020 (via the Jennifer Schlecht Memorial Fund)
The Family Planning 2020 (FP2020) partnership remains committed to the core tenet of the Cairo agenda: ensuring that every woman and girl has the ability to control her own fertility and decide for herself whether and when to get pregnant. Studies have shown that family planning is the most important step to take to eliminate extreme poverty globally. Nearly 1.1 billion fewer people are living in extreme poverty than in 1990. In 2015, 736 million people lived on less than $1.90 a day, down from 1.85 billion in 1990.
“In times of crisis, we depend on the most fail-safe of interventions: people helping people. In response to war, civil strife, floods or other disasters, a human health work force on the front lines saves lives.” — Jennifer Schlecht
Jennifer Schlecht was an unyielding champion for the rights of women and girls in crisis situations around the globe and left an indelible mark in advancing sexual and reproductive health services across the humanitarian response. Her contribution to transforming the lives of displaced women and girls will be felt for generations to come. Jennifer was a devoted mother to her daughter Abaynesh and brought warmth and light throughout her life.
To honor Jennifer and her tremendous contributions, the Schlecht family and Family Planning 2020 (FP2020), supported by the United Nations Foundation, have established the Jennifer Schlecht Memorial Fund to help women and girls in crisis situations access sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning.
Together, the Schlecht family and FP2020 will designate an appropriate charity(ies) working to provide sexual and reproductive health services in humanitarian settings to receive donations collected through this fund. We will be in touch in due course to let you know about the work your tax-deductible donation will support.
Kakenya’s Dream is leading the way to empower girls and transform communities in rural Kenya through education. Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya is a leading advocate for girls’ education & empowerment. Surviving female genital mutilation & avoiding an arranged marriage as a child, Kakenya went on to become the first woman from her community to go to college in the US. She founded Kakenya’s Dream to continue paving the way for the next generation of women leaders in her community in Kenya.
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University is one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. KSU offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its nearly 38,000 students. With 13 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the third-largest university in the state.
Malala Fund is working for a world where every girl can learn and lead. Malala and Ziauddin Yousafzai founded Malala Fund in 2013 to champion every girl’s right to 12 years of free, safe, quality education. Malala Fund works in regions where the most girls miss out on secondary education. Their priority countries are Afghanistan, Brazil, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
Tostan empowers communities to develop and achieve their vision for the future and inspires large-scale movements leading to dignity for all.
Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is Georgia’s flagship institution. A top value in public higher education and research, the University of Georgia tackles some of the world’s grand challenges, from combating infectious disease and creating a dependable food supply to advancing economic growth and strengthening cyber and global security. The university’s 17 colleges and schools enroll more than 37,000 students and have produced over 315,000 alumni living worldwide.
WaterSchool partners with local, grassroots organizations to save lives and increase school attendance in Uganda. We do this by providing simple, affordable methods for purifying drinking water and improving sanitation practices.