SGRE impact
An employee-driven social action initiative
Change for local communities
The new annual social action initiative SGRE impact encourages employees worldwide to become more engaged. They can apply for funding for projects that will bring positive change to communities in locations where the company operates.
Contact Siemens Gamesa
Do you want to know more about SGRE impact? Are you interested in the projects chosen for 2018/19? Please do not hesitate to contact Isaac Ruiz Urionabarrenechea.
sustainability@siemensgamesa.comSGRE impact 2018/19: 8 projects chosen
Earlier this year, Siemens Gamesa employees worldwide were invited to propose social action projects for SGRE impact 2018/19. The projects had to fall within at least one of the initiative’s project categories. These are based on the UN Global Compact’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):
- SDG 01: No Poverty
- SDG 02: Zero Hunger
- SDG 03: Good Health and Well-Being
- SDG 04: Quality Education
- SDG 05: Gender Equality
- SDG 06: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 07: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 13: Climate Action
One hundred and thirty-six employees from 14 countries followed the call and submitted 192 potential projects in 39 countries. All project proposals were carefully reviewed and a selection committee, consisting of members of Siemens Gamesa's executive committee and chaired by the initiative’s patron and CEO Markus Tacke, chose eight projects in seven countries to be implemented from now until the end of September 2019.
I strongly believe that it is our duty to contribute to improving society. This initiative will help us to further develop the communities in which Siemens Gamesa is doing business and thus play our part.
CEO Siemens Gamesa
SDG 01: No Poverty
“Sustainable honey production” in Northeast Brazil
Sustainable honey production is an initiative focused on improving the conditions in which locals keep bees and harvest honey in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Together with our local partner GIRAL, we will support 120 families in seven rural communities by providing technical assistance to the locals, investing in production equipment and supporting the commercialization of their products. The aim is to positively impact the income and output of these families while having a positive environmental impact.
SDG 03: Good Health and Well-Being
“Siemens Gamesa Soccer League” in India
The Siemens Gamesa Soccer League (SGSL) aims to bring social change to underprivileged communities in and around Siemens Gamesa’s wind farm sites across India. The project focuses on marginalized and at-risk youth and uses the sport of soccer as a medium of change. SGSL has introduced youngsters to competitive soccer through monthly tournaments conducted at various locations. The tournaments teach the children respect both for authority and for their peers, as well as boosting their sense of responsibility and leadership skills. SGRE impact is financing part of the project and is working together with the local partner Team Everest, which coordinates the soccer activities and is responsible for the life skills program in seven regions – Chennai being one of them.
SDG 04: Quality Education
“Green Island” in Mae Sot, Thailand
Around 500 people live on the garbage dump in Mae Sot. 50% of them are children. The aim of “Green Island” is to provide educational support and fun-based activities to the children in this community. Young girls are particularly vulnerable growing up in such a context, which is why promoting gender equality is an integral part of this project. Together with our local partner Estudio Cavernas, a football field, a playground and a community center with different facilities will be built, using recycled or renewable materials and thereby minimizing the negative environmental footprint of the project. Then, Siemens Gamesa’s local partner PlayOnside will involve the children living in the community in different after-school activities, such as football, arts and crafts or homework support.
SDG 04: Quality Education
“Learn how wind energy works” in Hull, UK
One in three children in Hull grow up in poverty with a quarter growing up in out-of-work households. Many of these children will go through their young life not having access to the opportunities others have. To inspire the next generation of engineers, we need to target students at a young age before stereotypes are too ingrained and show what you can do as an engineer. Hence, Siemens Gamesa is partnering with LabRascals to raise the profile of STEM subjects and to introduce local children to wind energy by realizing workshops at ten primary schools near Siemens Gamesa’s blade factory in Hull. In these workshops, the children will build a working wind turbine model that generates electricity to power a model car. Furthermore, they will learn about the history of the wind industry and sustainable energy.
SDG 05: Gender Equality
“Robots – also for girls” in Vejle, Denmark
Together with local partner FabLab Spinderihallerne, we are looking to inspire more teenage girls to investigate technology as part of their schooling and as a hobby by offering them the chance to participate in a robotics competition. The aim is to motivate more girls to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering and math. Activities include a one-day event in Vejle for 200 teenagers – the majority being girls – and industry specialists to build ‘shitty’ machines together inspired by YouTube star Simone Giertz, also known as “the queen of shitty robots”. Also, two scholarships are offered to young people to participate in the global ‘maker’ course FabAcademy to work on projects. Finally, teachers receive training in machine building from industry experts and former FabAcademy students.
SDG 06: Clean Water and Sanitation
“Positive change through sanitary facilities” in Ankleshwar, India
Together with our local partner Bal Vikas India, nine toilets will be built for nine families in a rural community near Ankleshwar, Gujarat. These families live in abject poverty and have no access to basic sanitary facilities. This is an even bigger challenge during monsoon season. The new toilets will improve the quality of life of the whole community, but especially so for the handicapped, elderly, women and children.
I have worked with Bal Vikas India in the past and was excited when my project was chosen so that we can help improve the lives of nine families and their communities by building adequate sanitary facilities in India.
Payroll & Administration Manager at Siemens Gamesa in Sarriguren (Spain)
SDG 06: Clean Water and Sanitation
“Providing access to water” in Tangier, Morocco
Of the millions of children around the world who do not have access to a proper water source, 290 of them attend the Groupe Scolaire Daya in the proximity of our blade factory in Tangier. The lack of drinking water, sanitary facilities and proper hygiene leads to serious diseases for the children and their communities. Hence, together with the Parents & Students Association of the Groupe Scolaire Daya, we will build clean and operational sanitary facilities and teach children and teachers about the best use of water and how to maintain personal hygiene and cleanliness.
SDG 13: Climate Action
“Business and Biodiversity” in the Basque Country, Spain
Siemens Gamesa’s local partner Fundación LURGAIA Fundazioa manages 70 hectares by land stewardship in the municipality of Muxika in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. Their aim is to involve the private sector in the conservation and restoration of forest ecosystems in the Basque Country by changing the land use from wood plantations of rapid-growth species, mainly pines and eucalyptus, to forest of indigenous species and thereby create the largest oak forest in the Reserve. Our employees will get the chance to support this project by helping to plant 20,000 indigenous trees and shrubs at several volunteer events.
