Staff from Okaïdi France rallied to support children’s charities at a social and environmental responsibility day. From 29 May to 2 June, all OKAIDI store managers and their superiors (including area managers) offered to work as volunteers in the field.
Once a year, the ÏDKIDS community gives every employee the opportunity to spend a day volunteering for a charity. For sustainable development week, 23 Okaïdi France managers and their teams gave their time to charities all over France. At charities and hospitals, on beaches and in forests, they all pulled together to support children and help protect the environment.
Each group chose the field it would like to be involved in and the ÏDKIDS foundation put them in touch with the relevant charities. There were a wide variety of interests, including education & culture, child safety & inclusion, early childhood & parenting, sustainable development and product recycling. Some examples of the work done in the field:
- Special events (Olympiads, face painting workshop and afternoon tea) for 39 asylum-seeking children organized by the Mouvement Emmaüs which fights against exclusion.
Marion, a manager from Auvergne: “I enjoyed learning about the charity and helping out with the children’s fun and games, all topped off with a great afternoon tea. This is what our initiative is all about – not just the activities but our shared values as well.”
- A mountain clean-up with a charity that works to protect mountains and teach young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods about sustainable development: Mountain Riders.
Listen to the RTL “Un Jour en France” report on cleaning up the Vosges ski resorts aired on 1 June.
- Sorting, cleaning and packing toys for children in hospital with Ludopital, a charity active in the children’s wards of hospitals in the north of France.
- Collecting rubbish and cleaning beaches with the Surfrider Foundation whose aim is to protect the world’s oceans and teach children how to preserve their natural environment.
A few comments from our Pays de la Loire store managers: Héloïse: “Simple ideas that mirror the group’s shared values. We all did it together.” Emilie: “A fantastic day working as a team. The sun was in the sky and in our hearts. A good, solid team-building experience.” Patrick: “Life’s rich tapestry makes it worth living.”
- Restoring a community garden with Secours Catholique which fights against poverty, inequality and exclusion.
- Activities on Saint Malo beach (making a giant marble run) for children with emotional and behavioural disorders. The event was organized by Ar Roc’h, a charity that helps troubled children to socialize and learn.
This special day forged new relationships between the foundation’s partner charities and its employees thanks to their generosity in volunteering to support Okaïdi’s charity commitments. As a result, staff are more motivated than ever to get behind We Act For Kids and help vulnerable children.
Watch a video of the event
https://youtube.com/watch?v=3fA4e268vI8
