Communities

Our contribution

In 2008 we contributed €91 million to communities (compared to €89 million in 2007). This helped us to support around 16 500 community organisations around the world, through cash contributions and support in-kind.

Around two-thirds of our giving in 2008 went either to long-term community investment partnerships or to commercial initiatives, with mutual benefits for both our business and our partners. Around a third took the form of charitable donations in response to pressing social needs.

We use the London Benchmarking Group (LBG) international benchmarking model to evaluate our activity.

Employee engagement

We continue to encourage our employees to get involved in community programmes. This provides new ways of connecting with our consumers in local communities. Our employees gain skills and motivation and enjoy 'making a difference'. In 2008, we estimate that around 37 000 employees (nearly one in five) took part in community activity with our support.

Responding to the troubles in Kenya

Unilever Tea Kenya has grown tea in Kenya since 1924 and is one of the country's biggest and longest-established employers. We have a strong commitment to the country, our people and our operations. So it was with great sadness that we learned in January 2008 of the deaths of nine of our employees on the Unilever tea plantation in Kericho. All of them were victims of the ethnic violence which followed the presidential elections. Unilever provided full support to the bereaved families including funeral expenses and transport.

Following the troubles, the company continued to do everything possible to help those affected, for example by providing food, water and firewood. Unilever also announced a $1 million donation to the World Food Programme, who were providing relief aid to those most in need.

Over 4 000 Unilever employees and their families were displaced as a result of the political unrest and many lost some or all of their possessions. We provided direct help to the people on our own plantations with an additional €500 000 donation. Local management decided the best way of using this money to make good the losses – such as damage to homes and property – suffered by our employees.

What we do around the world

Read about our initiatives around the world in our case studies on agriculture; climate change; economic development; education; employees; environment; health, nutrition and hygiene; and water.