Community initiatives
In addition to encouraging businesses around the group to play their part in improving their local communities, G4S plc provides funding for five major, long-term community-based initiatives around the world
The main aim of these projects is too engage our workforce in their local communities, give something back to the communities in which we operate and provide a long-term stable commitment to key issues.
China
Jifu Action
G4S has developed a partnership with Nan Hui Tao Yuan Orphans Foster Home in the Pudong district of Shanghai. The Home provides education for local children with physical handicaps or learning difficulties. Since 2007 G4S has equipped three classrooms and pays the salaries of five teachers, enabling 50 children aged between eight and twelve to learn life skills, numeracy and literacy.
Malawi
Acacia Project
The Acacia Project tackles two of Malawi’s core needs: food and energy. Since 2006, G4S plc has funded the collection and planting of acacia seeds, as well as cultivation of maize, cassava and legumes. The wood from the acacia trees supplies energy, particularly when burnt as charcoal, whilst the other crops are eaten or sold.
Initially some 50,000 acacia seeds were cultivated and planted in 10,000 m2 plots of land in the northern regions of the country. Since these early beginnings, the Acacia Project has grown to support three villages and provide a sustainable living for 1,200 people.
Most of the villagers involved in the programme are women, many with dependent children. The scheme also provides a valuable income, often enabling them to send their children to school.
Greece
Ark of the World
In partnership with G4S plc, G4S Greece supports “Kivotos tou Kosmou” or “Ark of the World”, a community programme helping children and their single parent mothers in the run down district of Kolonos, one of the most under developed and dangerous areas of Athens.
The programme’s main focus is to support single mother families, not only from Greece, but also from 18 other countries, to get back on their feet by affording financial and non-financial assistance in various forms and providing childcare while the mothers are working.
G4S supports the Ark in a number of ways, including the funding of a social worker to provide assistance to the mothers and their children, and the rental for a period of six months for mothers who have rejoined the working community and need help in their first steps.
Jamaica
Gifts 4 Schools
G4S Jamaica has focused on helping children from low-income families attend well-equipped schools. The key activity has been supplying chairs, uniforms and desk units to schools across the island, to help tackle a shortfall of furniture which means tens of thousands of students have nowhere to sit in class or have to share with two or three others.
Other initiatives including providing 200 school bags containing basic study equipment to needy children. Staff have also built a new toilet for children at one school, fitted doors, windows and donated equipment to another. G4S Jamaica has also made donations to community centres, homes for children living with HIV, and an adult skills training centre.
India
Shiksha School
The Shiksha School for underprivileged children opened in April 2010, located near Sangam Vihar, one of Delhi’s poorest slums. The school, which is run in partnership with the Hope Foundation, is providing free education along with books, uniforms, stationery items and nutritious cooked meal for 60 young girls and boys. Lack of education is one of the main reasons why street children get involved in drugs and crime, so the school hopes to help the children and their families escape from poverty.
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