Selected Projects

Capgemini Belgium selected a number of project to which it committed to give its support in different ways. Key aspects in these projects were:

• They had to be Belgian projects
• Client involvement had to be a possibility
• It had to be budget “wise” projects

The following projects where selected:

• The Live Entertainment Foundation: This foundation has as a principle that culture is a right for everyone. It breaks down barriers that prevent or reduce the participation of communities in cultural events. By doing so, it takes an important step in fighting poverty. The Foundation offers the underprivileged the opportunity to actively participate in cultural activities, which is not only a constitutional right, but also a right that was laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Together with partners, patrons, and social organizations and governmental institutions, they strive for cultural experience as a basic right for everyone. For more information:
  http://www.stichtinglef.be
• United Fund for Belgium: The United Fund for Belgium is a Belgian non-profit organization. Its mission is to help people in need in Belgium by engaging the (inter)national business community. It reflects the desire of corporations and individuals to contribute to social and welfare development in Belgium by helping (small and medium sized) charitable institutions in Belgium to develop worthwhile projects. Next to Capgemini, numerous companies in Belgium have chosen to support the United Fund for Belgium, and prove their confidence each year by helping UFB to:
  • Choose, every year, new charitable projects across Belgium
  • To raise funds and allocate 100 percent of these funds to the chosen projects
  • To motivate their company employees and encourage voluntary contributions
  United Fund for Belgium distributes 100 percent of the collected funds to humanitarian charities in Belgium. This is unique in Belgium, and is made possible because of the personal contribution of the Board of Directors and the proceeds of the Martin Kallen Fund. For more information:
  http://www.ufb.be/
• The Corporate Novel Award: In 2006, Capgemini issued a very peculiar company brochure in the form of a novel, titled “Kievit,” written by Francois Gils and Freddy Withagels (at the time, both working with Capgemini). “Kievit” was the story of Ben and Peter, who were friends before they started working in the same company. Circumstances force them to work together in unconventional ways. So, “Kievit” becomes the story of a revolution in company culture, and it becomes clear that there are forces that can work against that change. Kievit was the typical example of a corporate novel. Early 2008, Capgemini decided to start with a new concept: the “Corporate Novel Award” (“Bedrijfliteratuurprijs” in Dutch). Roularta Media (Leading editing group in Belgium), thought it was an excellent idea, and took on the production of the Corporate Novel Award. With the award, Capgemini wants to motivate working people in Flanders and Brussels to work innovatively and creatively, and, of course, also to work on its brand awareness. The initiative will be repeated within two years, but for the French speaking part. For more information, take a look at
  http://www.trends.be/nl/bedrijfsliteratuurprijs/.

Corporate Attention: The Naandi Foundation

One of the most popular CSR programs around the Group is our partnership with the Naandi Foundation in India. Through the Foundation’s Nanhi Kahli program, Capgemini and its employees help fund the education of underprivileged girls in Mumbai. Since 1998, the Naandi Foundation has been working with organizations in both the private and public sectors to help tackle the huge challenge of helping India’s poor, who make up nearly one third of India’s population of 350 million.

“Naandi” means “dawn” or “new beginning” in Sanskrit, and in partnership with the Indian state governments, the Foundation aims to help those with whom it works to make a fresh start. Led by prominent Indian business people and thinkers, it is now a high profile NGO operating in seven states.

Since 2005, Capgemini has been working with the Foundation on the “Nanhi Kali” program, which focuses on supporting the education of girls in Maharashtra. Many employees have pledged their time to ensure the success of this project. This project provides holistic support to ensure that girls from the poorest backgrounds can take advantage of the opportunities that a good education will provide them. This support includes not just teachers, material, and school meals, but also support for the girls’ families, to enable them to send their daughters to school. Capgemini’s annual internal eCard campaign has become a big hit across the Group. Starting with Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, in autumn, and right through to the end of every January, out intranet encourages readers to send their seasons’ greetings to family, friends, and colleagues with Capgemini ecards. For every 1,000 cards sent, the Capgemini Group pledges to sponsor a year’s education for one girl under the Nanhi Kahli program. So far, several hundred girls have been sponsored through this initiative. With the Group’s passing of the 100,000 headcount mark in September 2010, a fine challenge for 2011 would be to support as many Nanhi Kalis as there are Capgemini employees worldwide - a true achievement for the Group and for each and every employee, should it be attained.

For more information:
http://www.naandi.org/

Guidance for Business Units for their own initiatives

Apart from the local and global initiatives of Capgemini, there is also support for each different Business Unit in their own initiatives.

• As stated above, there is a kit available for our Business Units, including information about our ISO 14001 certification, and this CSR brochure, which helps them explain Capgemini’s CSR view to our clients and prospects.