Partner: SmartKolektiv
Our Belgrade
Companies: Actavis, Atlantic Group, Banca Intesa, "City of Belgrade - Secretariat for Environmental Protection", Coca Cola Hellenic, Ernst&Young, Eurobank EFG, Green Markets, Holcim, Institute for Sustainable Communities, Nestle Adriatic, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Serbian State Lottery, Societe Generale Bank, U. S. Steel, UK Embassy in Belgrade, UN Global compact - Environment Working group, US Embassy in Belgrade, USAID, "Viceprimeminister's Cabinet - Team for social inclusion and poverty reduction", VIP mobile.
Process: SmartKolektiv, with the help of Pontis in Bratislava, replicated the ENGAGE Nasa Bratislava model in Belgrade for the first time in June 2009.
Each year, a number of companies come together in teams for a day of corporate volunteering. They carry out a variety of activities such as gardening, painting and practical tasks supporting 12 not for profit organisations in total. With these volunteering activities SmartKolektiv aims at motivating all companies in Serbia to embrace corporate volunteering and to implement such programs on a regular basis, so both the community and the companies’ employees can benefit from it.
Impact: 12th June 2010 saw 400 Volunteers supporting 12 NGOs in 8 locations which collectively benefitted over 840 people.
On 11th June 2011, this increased to 546 volunteers from 14 companies and 7 public authorities. The volunteers donated 1663 hours across 10 locations supporting 2147 beneficiaries.
Our Niš
Companies: In 2010, the project involved five large businesses, Morris, Holcim, Erste bank, VIP mobile, PricewaterhouseCoopers and nine local SMEs from different sectors – trade, publishing, construction, food production and retail.
Process: The action day “Our Niš” in the city of Niš in south Serbia, was successfully carried out on May 29th, with the participation of Philip Morris, the largest business in the area, as the main partner; local businesses, local institutions, community organizations, schools, municipality and students of The University of Niš.
Impact: By bringing the "action day” concept to this region of Serbia for the first time SmartKolektiv has involved small and medium enterprises and introduced skill-based volunteering as a new tool of engaging businesses in local communities.
110 volunteers from 14 companies in 8 locations sought to protect the environment and raised awareness of environmental issues which directly benefited around 400 people.
Our Gornji Milanovac
About: Voluntary action "Our Gornji Milanovac" was held on October 15th, 2011 at three locations citywide in Gornji Milanovac, a city located in central Serbia with population of 24,000. During the action volunteers improved the alley along the river and the “House of Culture” and kindergarten “Sunce”.
Companies: Tetra Pak, VIP mobile, Societe General Bank and Eurobank EFG bank .
Process: SMart Kolektiv and Business Leaders Forum in cooperation with local partners: organization GM Optimist and company Tetra Pak organized the voluntary action in Gornji Milanovac based on “Our City” volunteering event model implemented by SMart kolektiv since 2009. The day was financially supported by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Institute for Sustainable Communities. Municipality of Gornji Milanovac also welcomed voluntary action and participated in action preparations regarding public permitions.
Impact: More than 130 volunteers donated 340 hours of work, planted 80 trees along the river Despotovica, painted 120 m2 of walls and 80 m of the fence. Local media gave attention to the action and it has been evaluated as very motivating for the local community involvement and development.
To find out how your company can get involved in this project please contact Jenny Todd.
