November Newsletter: Boost Your Corporate Social Responsibility with SYB
“Corporate Social Responsibility is a bit like broccoli – everyone knows its health benefits, but it still takes willpower to choose it over a slice of chocolate cake.”
——Dr. Meng Rui, Professor of Finance and Accounting, Zhongkun Group Chair in Finance at CEIBS
Nowadays, it is no longer enough to just be a profitable business. In order to remain competitive in a global market, companies must embrace socially and environmentally responsible practices in alignment with international CSR standards.
Consumer expectations are contributing to companies becoming more purpose-driven and sustainable. Businesses are now required to expand their involvement in, and support of, the issues that matter to their employees,customers and communities they operate in. Good CSR practices signal good governance resulting in a competitive advantage as well.
If you’re asking yourself “are we doing enough?”, “how can I or my company help the ones in need?” you’ve come to the right place.
With responsible business practices being sought after more than ever before, here’s where you can start / how you can boost your CSR! Shanghai Young Bakers (SYB) is constantly looking for social-minded companies and institutions that would like to develop their CSR strategy by building a partnership with a charity program.
SYB provides a well-rounded education to underprivileged Chinese youth. In addition to practical and theoretical baking classes, our training includes life skills (communication, self-awareness, nutrition, hygiene, financial management, CV writing…), English, outings (cultural, sports, social), and a part-time internship at 4- and 5-star international hotels.
The young people we help are not only in situations of poverty but have also usually lost one or both of their parents, or have to financially support seriously ill or disabled relatives, and are thus under pressure to terminate their studies and start working as soon as possible. Without a strong academic background or technical skills, they often end up in unqualified menial jobs with little opportunity for development or long-term prospects and therefore have little chance to lift themselves out of the poverty cycle.
There are some easy ways how your company can get involved, all proceeds go to our charity program and help train more young people in need:
- Order catering for your company events
- Organize a half-day baking class as an innovative teambuilding and employee/stakeholder engagement activity
- Hold an in-office/offsite workshop with your employees and stakeholders
- Make SYB the beneficiary of your annual/ fundraising event
- Subscribe to a weekly or monthly bread/cake basket with products freshly baked by SYB students that your employees can enjoy as an afternoon treat
- In-kind donations of products and/or services