Citi lends a helping hand
More than 1,900 volunteers join up to repair school roofs, conserve coral and take part in community activities
CITI RECENTLY HELD the eleventh edition of its annual Global Community Day (GCD), bringing some 1,900 Citi volunteers in Thailand to join more than 85,000 colleagues, family members and friends in more than 500 cities across 91 countries and territories to engage in service activities in their local communities. In the days leading up to and including Global Community Day, Citi volunteers participated in 1,400 service projects ranging from urban revitalisation to literacy and education, career readiness, environmental conservation, and disaster relief.
Darren Buckley, country head and Citi country officer, said: “Volunteerism is a key part of both giving back and paying forward to the communities we serve around the globe, including those in Thailand. It’s a way for the worldwide Citi family to tackle many of challenges impacting our communities. The worthwhile causes we are engaged in range from environmental protection programmes to education and literacy initiatives for the underprivileged.
We are proud to be able to use our knowledge and resources to promote social responsibilities and the betterment of the communities in which we operate. We are also proud that Citi Thailand’s ‘The School of Dreams’ initiative – now in its 10th year – has raised more than Bt14 million and benefitted 28 schools and more than 3,500 students.”
Vira-anong Chiranakhorn Phutrakul, consumer business manager for Citi Thailand, added: “We had around 1,900 people taking part in Global Community Day activities in Thailand this year. It is very pleasing that more than 150 of these helpers are actually external volunteers who have enrolled in the GCD initiative after seeing our announcement on Citi Thailand’s Facebook page.
It just goes to show that the spirit of volunteering has a powerful network. All of those taking part, either from the bank or external parties, make a valuable contribution to our local communities.”
This year Citi volunteers participated in 10 community projects in Bangkok, Chon Buri, Rayong, Hua Hin and Surin.
As part of the School Of Dreams project, more than Bt1.3 million was raised for the renovation of a school roof, refectory building and playground at three schools in Rayong, Sakaeo, and Chiang Mai. The project also worked with Phramongkulklao Hospital to offer medical services to the students and people in the community around Nikom Sang Ton Eang School No 10 in Rayong province. To date, medical service volunteers have helped more than 70 people in the community near the school in Rayong.
Coral reef conservation is another area where Citi volunteers helped out. Today many of Thailand’s coral reefs are in a state of crisis and 260 volunteers joined forces to imbed natural fossils in a layer of cement as a foundation to rebuild the reefs.
More than 250 corals were planted off Toei Ngam Beach in Chon Buri Province.
The Family Communities project, which was centred on five do-it-yourself workshops, also drew a great response, encouraging more than 400 volunteers to produce rubber bands, baby bibs and exercise tools for patients, orphans and elderly citizens.
