Winners in 2011
The 2011 Solidaritest Awards
These model companies were presented with the Solidaritest Award on 25th May 2011.
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SWIFT
Telecommunications company SWIFT scores highly in terms of internal and external solidarity. For example, disadvantaged groups are put to work and employees are involved in solidarity action, volunteer work and fundraising. In 2010 SWIFT supported a range of projects such as United Fund for Belgium and One Laptop per child. That’s worth about a million euros.
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Care
The Care cleaning company attained a high score for social solidarity for the third year running. This company provides financial support to development partnerships. Disadvantaged groups are well-represented in the company. The company also has an ambassadors group of 13 people who coordinate social action.
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Pidpa
Drinking water distributor Pidpa scored well on external social solidarity and the employment of disadvantaged groups. In 2008, it launched the HidroPLUS project. This project helps to expand sustainable water policy, drinking water facilities and waste water treatment. In 2010, Pipda supported 17 water projects in developing countries. The company also donated 10,000 euros for aid to Haiti.
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Besix
BESIX is a building company. The company supports many projects in Belgium and abroad for various underprivileged target groups. A selection Committee composed of 13 staff members, is responsible for selecting the projects within three themes: environment, agriculture and education.
BESIX also motivates the patronage of expertise and encourages volunteer work of its employees for the benefit of various social projects.
The 2011 Solidaritest Best Practices Awards
The Solidaritest Best Practices Awards spotlight projects for the socially disadvantaged. The winners of these awards are:
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GSK Biologicals
In 2008, GSK Biologicals kicked off the ‘Orange Day’ social initiative. This initiative allows employees to work as volunteers, one day a year, individually or as part of a group, for a local charity or project (relating to health, education or the countryside). In 2010, the company’s employees provided 797 days, or 6,376 hours of volunteer work.
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D’Ieteren Auto
In 2010, the first company volunteer days took place at D’Ieteren Auto: the ‘Give & Gain Days’. Employees from all levels dedicated a whole working day to a charitable or environmental project. The management of D’Ieteren Auto uses these days to involve employees in the company’s commitment. D’Ieteren hopes to deploy 400-450 volunteers in 2011.
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Besix
Besix launched the ‘Solidarity Day’. A day on which employees roll up their sleeves to help an association or project in need. The BESIX Foundation was founded to this end: a group that handles the management, budget and sponsoring of the day. In 2010, over 250 employees took part in ‘Solidarity Day’.
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Caterpillar
L’amicale du Personnel de Caterpillar (APC) was founded in 1977 by 30 employees of Caterpillar. They work for disadvantaged children and people with a handicap. Between 1977 and 2011, APC helped over 100 associations involved in the social integration of disadvantaged children and the disabled. They receive financial support. The active members of APC put in 5,130 hours of volunteer work a year.
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Dexia
The vzw Dexia Foundation Belgium was founded in 2005. The foundation supports microcredit in Belgium. The Hefboom and Crédal projects were set up for this purpose. These projects provide credit only to those who do not have access to bank credit. In 2010, it helped 48 micro-businesses.
Congratulations to all those who took part!
This year again, a great many companies are taking part in the fifth edition of Solidaritest. All of them demonstrate that they consider social solidarity important.
