CSR - Corporate Social Responsibility - Satisfy your corporate training objectives whilst upholding your corporate responsibility aims
World Of Rhythm’s approach to linking UK corporate training and development programmes directly with sustainable development projects in poor rural communities around the world.
We have developed a new and unique teambuilding session, in which participants create and build a dome for a local school or community in which the fee for the event pays for a dome to be built for disadvantaged communities of the world.
Concept:
Team development programmes that combine Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) objectives with effective training and development for corporate leaders and teams has traditionally meant painting a school wall or digging ‘eco’ gardens within the boundaries of the M25. Time and resources have always capped the impact of these programmes.
World of Rhythm has a refreshing approach to this area. We have teamed up with Mission Performance to create a unique combination, working towards sustainable change. World of Rhythm is driven by Pegasus, its own charity. Within Pegasus the aim is to house homeless children in Nepal and this was achieved by building ecological domes for a community of 65 children and staff from poor backgrounds. |
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The results were outstanding and it gave birth to the idea of incorporating dome-building within our Team development programmes; the synergies of which within CSR are almost limitless.
The projects involve building domes for schools in the UK, which in turn creates the resources to build houses for poor rural communities around the world. But World of Rhythm had to ensure that the project had real, substantial depth to it; first it established the aim; to link the activities of UK corporate organisations directly to tangible benefits in developing rural economies around the world. Secondly it defined some principles against which projects would have to be assessed. These were:
- Transparent – clear direct links into poor rural economy
- Measurable – benefits linked specifically to concrete improvements in people’s lives in the rural economy
- Technology neutral – these improvements rely on readily available local resources, materials and expertise
- Cost effective – a disproportionate improvement in peoples lives stemming from minimal financial investment
- Time effective – corporate teams can create tangible benefits in under one day – “build a house for a family in one day”
Thirdly it drew up some plans for a typical programme which included one day programmes for corporate teams working in the UK but providing permanent shelter for poor rural communities in developing countries. Shelter is a fundamental basic human right and one that we in the West take for granted. For many in poor rural communities around the world the prospect of owning their own house exists in dreams and not reality. |
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 “I would like to give feedback for your leadership event at HR Club, at which I had the pleasure to participate. It was educational, relaxing and I will strongly recommend with great enthusiasm both, to my colleagues and to all my friends. As feedback, I can say just one word: Excellent!” Diana Curta – Training Manager Coca Cola HBC
How does it work in practice? - The BIG IDEA
Corporate teams in one working day build a house/dome in a UK location that benefits a UK based charity, a school or similar organisation. By building this shelter in the UK an overseas rural community benefits on a ratio of 2:1 by receiving the resources to build 2 houses for the benefit of their community.
What practical steps are involved?
- Step 1: The corporate team select a UK based partner from a list of established UK based charities, schools and other non-governmental organisations.
- Step 2: The corporate team selects their partner rural community as the focus for their efforts over the programme.
- Step 3: The corporate team and the rural community establish contact and exchange information on the scope of the project. Realistic objectives are determined by what can be achieved given the group size, time frame, number of buildings and their size.
- Step 4: With objectives agreed, dates and location can be confirmed for the construction. The corporate team build in the UK as part of their (CSR) programme with us. Shortly after construction the rural community build replica buildings in their community.
- Step 5: Pictures and experiences are exchanged and the next project is identified for additional groups to focus upon. Options: Throughout the process the UK based charity or organisation can use the experience to educate and inform a target audience. For example, identifying a rural community in Nepal could be used to educate and inform a class of UK pupils in primary or secondary school education.
The Equipment:
The buildings - Cal Earth buildings are a new technique developed in California by Nader Khalli, which involves building homes using super adobe sacking, filled with a mix of earth and cement, which is coiled round to make low cost, low impact buildings. They are also very strong and resistant to Earthquakes, high winds and are water resistant.
Benefits to the individual /organisation
- Develops a higher purpose through an awareness of the global community
- Instils a real sense of meaning into team building activities
- Sense of achievement – building a house makes a difference
- The physical nature of the activity fosters an increased sense of wellbeing through the integration of mind, body and soul; insights from the event are not just concepts but fully embodied
- Encourages strong team spirit through trust, communication & co-operation
- Learning a new system of sustainable building techniques for the future
- Alongside the building activity will be training, learning & development sessions exploring creativity, leadership, presence & communication.
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