By Asiedua ADDAE
It was an unlikely pair. A top executive of a bank was seated on a wooden chair in a public school listening to a child read. In that moment, all social and age barriers were removed. It was just two people engrossed in a story that could have been about anything.
There at the Kanda Cluster of Schools, members of Standard Chartered’s executive committee were visiting learners, volunteering their hours and passion, guiding them through language and storyline, nurturing a love for reading that will last a lifetime.
This heartwarming scene has been replicated across various communities in Ghana with the Bank’s employees reflecting the spirit of Standard Chartered’s commitment to creating a brighter and more inclusive future for all.
Every year, staff of Standard Chartered offer their expertise and time to various charitable causes of their choosing as part of the bank’s Employee Volunteering programme. Employee volunteers deliver our community programmes, such as mentoring young people and female entrepreneurs to providing financial education to disadvantaged young people.
That is who we are at heart and fundamental to the Bank’s culture, purpose and values. We’ve observed that volunteering not only benefits the communities in which we operate as a bank, but it’s also rewarding for our employees hence entitled to three volunteering leave days annually to support a worthwhile cause of their choice.
Our Employee Volunteering Programme gives us the opportunity to celebrate the power of giving back and recognise the efforts of our employees who go above and beyond to make a difference.
Our dedication to social responsibility extends far beyond our role as a financial institution. We are motivated to serve our communities ensuring that our selfless actions empower individuals of all ages and social classes. This is the only way to leave a mark on our society.
We’re proud of how this programme has grown to transform every single staff member into an agent of change. This ensures that we not only give back but instil that same spirit within our staff. This freedom allows employees to align their passions with initiatives that are close to their hearts.
In years past, we dedicated a whole to month to Employee Volunteering activities. We’ve leveraged partnerships with Non-Governmental Organisations for financial literacy events, mentors’ den with University Students and partnered with the National Blood Service in blood donation activity. The impact has been big and wide-reaching.
Additionally, our commitment to environmental sustainability saw employee volunteers plant over 2000 trees at the Sakumono Ramser site basin alongside the Forestry Commission and Clean Technology Start Up – Sabon Sake.
These initiatives represent a core element of Standard Chartered’s Community Engagement Initiatives. Empowering employees to utilise their skills and talents to support education, employability and other critical areas puts us at the forefront of fostering a culture of inclusion, kindness, and support that extends far beyond bank’s branches.
This past September, we have come off another flurry of initiatives where for eight days our colleagues participated in skill-based volunteering activities.
From providing mentorship to university students, helping them with interviewing skills and resume writing to exposing entrepreneurs living with disability to the tools for their businesses to thrive in a digital world. Colleagues also shared knowledge on climate change and provided financial education to young people.
Through collective action and a shared commitment to giving back, we create ripples of positive change that transform lives and build a brighter future for all.
Asiedua is Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing, Standard Chartered Ghana Plc.
