Through its work with Banyan Tree, the team at EC3 Global identified a number of initiatives that truly inspired not only the company internally, but become a call to action when presenting to the broader travel and tourism community around the globe. Of note was the introduction of the Seedlings initiative in 2007.
As a socially responsible business, Banyan Tree was founded with the core value of driving sustainable development. Banyan Tree aims to inspire associates, guests, and partners to take a wider point of view when considering Sustainability and CSR objectives and understand the importance of a long term vision when making business decisions.
Banyan Tree’s CEO Mr Ho KwonPing firmly commits the group to its journey. “Since our founding, Banyan Tree has sought to promote, embrace and uphold the idea of travel with a conscience. Even as the business climate faces unprecedented challenges from the devastating decline of the modern banking and financial systems worldwide, we remain committed to carefully considered concepts and sustainable practices at as many levels as possible.”
“Our Seedlings initiative revolved around communities and our ability to harness our human capital to build capacities and create value for community members.” wrote Ms Claire Chiang CSR Committee Chairperson.
Seedlings
Seedlings is a group-wide initiative to enhance the long-term prosperity of communities by building the capacities of young people. The Seedlings programme is a holistic approach towards nurturing children at risk of societal exclusion to achieve what may have otherwise remained beyond their reach and to provide young adults with the motivation and means to complete their education and successfully enter the labour force as adults. The programme delivers support to children and adolescents in three ways, starting with mentorship, continuing with scholarship and completing with internship.
Mentorship
Teenage years are often filled with choices which, without the wisdom of adult experience guiding us, could compromise future potential. Consequences of such decisions are compounded when they compromise one’s education. The first phase of the Seedlings initiative mobilises associates from Banyan Tree resorts to inspire youths between the age of 12 and 18. To effectively mentor youths, associates from Banyan Tree resorts undergo training conducted by the University of Wales which has facilitated national mentoring schemes in over five countries.
Michael Kwee - Group Director CSR – Strategy & Communication
For more information of Banyan Tree’s commitment to Sustainability please visit www.banyantree.com/CSR and be sure to make friends with Felly on Facebook and follow his adventures on Twitter.