Corporate Social Responsibility Tanzania
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is becoming increasingly important to many Companies. Call of the Wild are being asked to get involved in designing programmes to complement the CSR initiatives of such Companies. There are many definitions of what Corporate Social Responsibility actually is and what it means in reality. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development state it is the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large.
In Europe it is very much focused on operating the core business in a socially responsible way, complemented by investment in communities for solid business case reasons. Call of the Wild have designed a number of such programmes with the latest being to Tanzania in July 2009. Dave Thomas our Director, led the group, which included a trek up Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. It also included a big game safari.
These programmes can include charitable projects in Tanzania. The country is one of the poorest countries with more than 12 million people living below the poverty line. Participants can get involved in projects such as school renovation, irrigation schemes, community building, orphanage support, teaching and soil conservation work. Such project can be integrated into existing personal development programmes which can help to embed and focus learning in practical surroundings.
The pleasing thing about this latest trip is that Dave successfully led the whole group to the top of Kilimanjaro without altitude sickness preventing any of them summiting. This was a once in a lifetime experience which the group will never forget.
