The ripples of the war in Ukraine have been felt everywhere: food shortages, a hike in energy prices and enormous disruption to supply chains. Undoubtedly, however, Ukrainians have been the worst affected by the crisis: more than 6.6 million refugees have already left their home and an estimated further 8 million have been displaced within the country.
This is a massive humanitarian problem: many people still have no access to food, water, medical care, heating or electricity. Others have been injured or killed, and the destruction of infrastructure has forced more people to flee their homes to seek protection elsewhere. The high levels of uncertainty are harming the lives of millions.
The role that companies play in global crises like these is important: many businesses are able to provide crucial humanitarian relief. It was on this basis that South Pole supported initiatives providing disaster relief during the COVID-19 crisis, easing the negative impacts of the pandemic.
At South Pole we are committed to acting today for a better tomorrow, as seen in the work we deliver to tackle climate change.
However, we know tackling climate change isn't the only priority. To act for a better tomorrow, we need to ensure that there is also social and economic stability in order to achieve our mission. This is why we started fundraising to support the people of Ukraine.
Collectively, South Pole employees raised over €16,000 for the cause; with South Pole matching these contributions, we raised a grand total of over €32,000. We are proud to say our funds were split equally between three charities, with around €10,600 donated to Libereco Ukraine Crisis Appeal, Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal and the UNHCR Ukraine Emergency Appeal, respectively. This money went directly towards the achievement of the following impacts:
Our process involved two steps. First, we compiled a list of charities, consulting our experts in delivering social value and also the Ukrainian embassy. We then asked our fundraising team to help us screen for the charities that aligned best with South Pole's mission, vision, and values.
We hope that this donation will make a small but vital difference to the lives of Ukrainian people. Today and tomorrow, we will continue to be vocal and resolute in advocating for our vision and mission of a safer, more sustainable future for all, with the belief that those who are peaceful and compassionate will prevail.
To learn more about the initiatives we helped fund, see their websites below:
