For the third year running, Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, rallied colleagues around the world to support #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving. This movement, held annually, inspires the generosity of people and organizations to support local communities and non-profit organizations around the world.
For Schneider and its employees, the event this year was a great opportunity to build on the work already started through the Schneider Electric Foundation’s “Tomorrow Rising Fund.” This was set up in April 2020 to support response and relief activities for communities impacted by the fall-out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marcela Lazzari, an engineer in Schneider’s Energy Application Center in Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been volunteering for ten years -- it gives her a greater sense of wellbeing. “In the beginning, you want to completely change people's reality. Then you realize that even for a day, we can make such a difference.”
#GivingTuesday this year was on December 1, and throughout the month of December, Schneider employees, were encouraged to contribute either by volunteering or by making financial donations.
Employees choose causes close to their hearts
Employees are passionate about different causes, and Schneider was proud to support their choices so countries and individuals could choose who, what, and how to support on a local level.
This year saw an increased level of participation with employees from over 50 countries participating, and despite the restrictions of the pandemic, volunteers managed to help local communities.
You have to make the time to make an impact
For Schneider, #GivingTuesday is global giving movement with a local impact. It’s about making the time to give a helping hand to those less fortunate than ourselves.
“Time is a created thing,” commented Commence Nkomo, a Schneider Systems Architect in South Africa when asked why volunteering to teach students. “It was not because we had time, instead we made time...and it was worth it over and over again!”
