Schneider Electric does its part

Noel Girard, strategic marketing vice president of Schneider Electric, believes that corporations have an important role to play in Sichuan earthquake reconstruction, and a "responsibility to the rest of society".

Girard's call follows Schneider Electric's recent donations to youth and education initiatives in Sichuan at a donation ceremony held in Chongzhou, 37 km west of Chengdu.

"We need to be part of China society just as we are part of the most robust economy here in the world," said Girard.

Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management, earmarked a 4 million yuan donation - to commemorate one year since the earthquake - for the reconstruction of local schools and to assist local students in earthquake-hit areas of Sichuan.

The 4 million yuan donation will go through Operation Blessing, a US-based non-government organization that specializes in disaster relief and poverty alleviation.

The funds will be used for the construction of Guanyinxiang Primary School buildings, an electronic laboratory for Mingshan County Vocational School, construction and donation of books to 40 school libraries and tuition funding of one semester for 1,000 low-income students.

This is in conjunction with teaching equipment and materials for Wenjingjian School in Chongzhou, where the donation ceremony was held.

"Our employees have committed themselves to providing a safe and comfortable learning environment to Sichuan students. These students are the future of the world and it is our corporate social responsibility to ensure they thrive and have a childhood filled with opportunities and hope," said Girard.

These initiatives are part of a growing trend in China's corporate world. China Philanthropy Times recently calculated that charity from Chinese private enterprises totaled 5 billion yuan in 2008. It is a trend that Schneider Electric sees at the core of the way it does business.

Core CSR is about the responsibility demonstrated toward consumers by protecting local communities and the environment. "Schneider Electric has youth programs, university programs, and disaster relief contributions. But our CSR starts with the product we provide. If we are able to provide safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green products and solutions then we are fulfilling a key responsibility to society. Our donations are an extension of this - concrete actions of solidarity and commitment," added Girard.

This idea of unity was behind Schneider Electric's collaboration with China Post. Together they have launched commemorative envelopes and stamps, which were presented to local school students at the Chongzhou donation ceremony.

Schneider Electric employees hope this will form a solid link between them and Sichuan students so the two can maintain a long-term connection through correspondence.

Last year, the company reacted only two days after the 8-magnitude earthquake disaster with a donation of 2 million yuan to aid in the recovery of earthquake-hit areas.

It included 1 million yuan in power distribution equipment to the State Grid Group to reinstate the power infrastructure, and 1 million yuan to China Red Cross.

Schneider Electric also set up an emergency relief team of electricity professionals to support recovery work in those areas.

Schneider Electric global CEO Jean-Pascal Tricoire, who has worked and lived in China for five years, has also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Sichuan government, pledging Schneider Electric's support in the relief efforts.

The company's total contribution has reached 8 million yuan, which includes contributions from its Chinese joint venture Delixi Electric and donations from its operations in 20 countries worldwide.

"Schneider Electric's employees have poured their hearts out to those touched by last year's tragic events, and as a company we were compelled to act, providing donations and specialist expertise and equipment to the affected regions," said Girard.

While corporate social responsibility is something of a catchphrase in the corporate world, Girard argues that it becomes more meaningful if it is ingrained into a corporation's way of doing business.

June Pu, vice-president of Human Resources for Schneider Electric China, said the company's commitment to CSR is not just an extraneous action, but a part of the company's values. She says it deepens the emotional link between employees and society.

"We get feedback from our employees, saying the fact that we are a green company, that we champion energy efficiency and that we're helping to bring electricity to parts of the world that wouldn't have it and the fact we make real long-term contributions to society makes me, the employee, feel very proud to be with Schneider Electric."

Many employees have been personally involved in disaster aid and relief.

Tan Chicheng, a sales section manager, for instance, has visited the schools in person many times to get first-hand information, which assisted in planning reconstruction projects.

Many Schneider Electric staff based in southwest China provided aid, transportation and organized donations immediately after the earthquake.

"We are impressed with the generosity of Schneider Electric employees around the world. Schneider Electric is dedicated to corporate social responsibility - an action that staff support and embrace. It makes us happy to be able to bring smiles to schoolchildren's faces in Sichuan," said Zhou Yan, an employee representative from Schneider Electric.

In the past years, Schneider Electric has actively implemented social programs that are focused on youth development like the Luli program to help build Hope Schools.

Beginning with 2000, Schneider Electric has carried out the Luli program in China each summer, and from 2003 till now, it has already donated a total of 2 million yuan to China Youth Foundation through the contribution of the company together with its employees.

Meanwhile, Schneider Electric has helped build up to eight Hope primary schools, two orphanages and one special needs school.

(China Daily 05/11/2009 page10)