community
Germany's
side-switching a
huge success
Lighting Belgium's
candle
Chinese fortune
American ardor
X f
What sNewS Issue 6' June 1999 I I
Dubbed 'seitenwechsel', Frankfurt's
centenary-inspired eharity exchange
has been, and continues to be, a resoun-
ding success. Not content to simply
donate funds, the corporate volunteer
scheme (first established by RI but now
adopted by other corporates Frankfurt-
wide) attempts to provide first-hand
experience over a variety of charities
through direct personal involvement. The
ongoing seitenwechsel exchange program,
ito date, incorporates more than 20
Jommunity organizations, including for
example initiatives to assist the homeless,
helping immigrants to assimilate into
society, schools for physically and men-
tally disabled and voluntary associations
supporting FflV positive and AIDS
sufferers. According to joint Rabobank
Frankfurt seitenwechsel organizers
Thomas Penzkofer and Llli Mertens, the
centenary-inspired scheme has exceeded
all expectations. 'More than two-thirds of
our people here in Frankfurt have been,
and continue to be, involved in this
project,' they explain. 'For one day of
Rabobank time, staff have the oppor-
tunity of visiting an organization of their
choice to observe and to get a feeling for
what goes on behind the scenes in order
to help our community. And the expe-
■tience has had a lasting effect. Back in
Wie office colleagues now chat over coffee
- often emotively - about their percep-
Otions and personal experience with the
various organizations. It's not "talking
shop" for once but instead encompasses
social concerns which tends to bring our
coileagues much closer together. Many
have also taken action themselves. One
Rabobanker collects used mobile phones
for use in emergency situations on the
school bus, another organizes clothing
drives and others help in the printing of
HIV positive information newsletters, as
examples. And that community focus is
what we feel working for Rabobank is all
about, there's more to it than just making
money.' To further elaborate on the two-
way personal experience dialogue now
established, the Frankfurt team is arran-
femg an open day event to be held in
August/September, giving volunteers
within the community the opportunity to
also switch sides and experience the
banking profession first-hand.
Last year the Rabobank Antwerp team,
along with the highly regarded
volunteer Juvare organization, adopted the
Krauwelenhof home and day care centre
for Down's Syndrome children, a partner
ship that is clearly set to last. Antwerp
general manager Willy van den Floudt was
last month witness to the official opening
of the school's Rabobank-sponsored
candle making workshop. 'The kids make
candles which are then sold to friends and
family, or to local restaurants. The funds
all go back into the school.' Small scale it
may be, but it's still imparting our
Rabobank ethos of sustainability.
For good reason much attention was
focused last year on the Rabobank
Shanghai team's sterling efforts in their
sustained contribution towards education
in China's rural province of Anhui.
Construction nearing completion of China's
second Rabobank-inspired HOPE schooi
Following the success of the first I lOPE
school, a second is well on the way. The
three-storied Heshidu Flope School, under
construction since the beginning of the
year, is now nearing completion. Once
finished - in time for the September start
of the school year - it will be one of the
main primary schools in the region,
responsible for educating several hundred
otherwise school-deprived students. New
Rabobank Shanghai Ltd general manager,
Lai Chongtuck is also fully behind the
project and has scheduled regular visits to
supervise progress. To date, more than 80
children have been financially adopted by
the Rabobank network, a charitable
gesture that expands with each new visitor
or staff member. And, further supporting
the project, Dutch consul Marion Pennink
Rabobank bringing HOPE to children in China
together with local Chinese officials have
been informed - and expressed satisfaction
- at the progress of this notable centenary-
inspired initiative.
It almost goes without saying that for
North America, centenary enthusiasm
continues unabated. So much so, in fact,
that for the Rabobank team, community
involvement is considered business as
usual. Working in conjunction with the
Future Farmers of America, a nationwide
organization committed to agricultural
education for the young, New York
Rabobankers are planning yet another
career day for students of the centenary-
adopted Professional Performing Arts
School (PPAS) later in the year. Presen-
tations will be offered to the PPAS students
to provide an insight into the academie
side of agrieulture. In addition, the school's
Rabobank set-up green house, complete
with client-donated seeds, has now been
incorporated into the school's science
curriculum. North America's other cente
nary activity, its involvement with the
Columbia Presbyterian Medical Centre, is
also ongoing. A carnival - similar to the
successful one held last year - is scheduled
for the children in October this year. Also
echoing last year, our San Franciso office
will be sponsoring a rest stop for this
year's September Multiple Sclerosis
fundraiser cyclists. The highly visual rest
stop will be complete with Rabobank
t-shirts and well deserved refreshments.
These are just a few of the ongoing
'teamplay for the future' initiatives. For a
recap of all the many worthwhile activities
the network was involved in last year,
refer to the series of Teamplay Special
supplements pithlished with What's NewS
over the course of last year. For additional
copies of Teamplay Specials, contact
marketing RI, tel. +31 30 216 2804.
