The Unilever Foundation Challenge is a global programme offering all employees the chance to become a Foundation Ambassador and visit one of the Foundation’s partner programmes on the ground.
Chosen from 1,500 entries, Jade travelled to Cambodia in March with Unilever’s partner Oxfam, to see firsthand how our support is helping improve the quality of life in local communities. . “I am really excited to see how we are helping to create a positive social impact within the Cambodian community,” Jade says.
Her first stop was the Thnoat Primary School where they are implementing the WASH (Water and Sanitation Hygiene) programme to encourage children to wash their hands to improve sanitation and increase school attendance.
The WASH programme is run by Oxfam and is just one of the many projects Unilever Foundation is involved in to help the quality of life of people around the world.
Jade saw how the initiative is already changing the behaviour of children towards handwashing while encouraging community building: “It was really amazing because they were able to save water by washing hands together but you can see it also brought them closer as friends,” comments Jade.
Jade also met some of the members of the Women’s WASH project, a group that work closely with Oxfam GB to help make improvements to sanitation in their community.
“It really has been an incredible experience, and it was very humbling to see how despite the poverty that surrounds them, the people of the Kratie province still remain in good spirits. It has really encouraged me to go back home and share my experiences with my colleagues at Unilever, ” Jade adds.
The Unilever Foundation
Launched in 2012, the Unilever Foundation partners with global organisations Oxfam, Save the Children, PSI, World Food Programme and UNICEF to help reach its ambitious goal of helping 1 billion improve their health and well-being a commitment we’ve set out in our Compass Strategy and the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan.
The Foundation challenge was Unilever’s most successful employee engagement in 2012. The initiative saw employees from more than 90 countries participating. Over €13,000 was raised with the amount matched by the Unilever Foundation.