Wherever we are in the world, we enjoy the challenge of putting something back into the local community, and see it as a privilege to be in a position where we can. It is not philanthropy. Nor is it charity. It is a committed, proactive engagement with socially and economically excluded people all over the world. We focus on helping individuals and communities to achieve their potential. This might mean encouraging enterprise to bloom in disadvantaged areas. Or it could be helping people find a way through difficulty.
One such example of this is our work in Amsterdam with the Charitable foundation Nationale Stichting ter Bevordering van Vrolijkheld – “The National Foundation to Encourage Happiness”. This excellent organisation supports young asylum seekers in the Netherlands through cultural projects and creative workshops. It’s a disturbing fact that one in every three refugees here is under 18. They are children and young people who have often experienced real trauma and are poorly equipped to deal with an uncertain future. Our volunteers give time to work with the foundation and help the kids express themselves, rebuild confidence and deal with their problems. This could be through art, music, theatre, summer projects or just a simple fun day out to the beach.
Everyone in the firm is encouraged to give over at least a day of their year to a chosen good cause. They don’t need much encouragement! And we give money as well as time, channelling 0.5% of pre-tax profits globally to charitable causes, especially those supported by our staff.