DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist, part of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has begun another year of cooperation with the Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH). Since 2011, the company has been supporting the organization by engaging in the “Pajacyk” (Little Clown) campaign.
The goal of the DHL Global Forwarding initiative “ONE SHIPMENT = ONE MEAL” is to raise funds for a program aimed at fighting child malnutrition by financing lunches in schools and community centers. As the name suggests, for every shipment handled with DHL Global Forwarding, the forwarder funds one hot meal. Thanks to the commitment of the company and its business partners, the company has managed to fund over 350,000 hot meals so far.
– DHL Global Forwarding is committed to helping children who, being unable to care for themselves, often require the greatest care and support. That is why the “ONE SHIPMENT = ONE MEAL” initiative supporting the “Pajacyk” campaign is particularly close to my heart. I am convinced that our joint action with the Polish Humanitarian Action has a wide reach and a real impact on improving the situation of the most needy children in our country. I believe that our fruitful cooperation to date will continue just as successfully – says Krzysztof Bielica, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding.
– We greatly appreciate the support received from DHL Global Forwarding. It is the best example of long-term cooperation aimed at eliminating one of the social problems occurring in Poland, which is malnutrition among children – says Grzegorz Gruca, Vice President of the Polish Humanitarian Action. – We receive very positive feedback from the schools and community centers that we support as part of the nutrition program. We often hear that thanks to “Pajacyk”, needy children receive a meal that is their only hot meal of the day. Many “Pajacyk” beneficiaries ask about lunch right after arriving at school, which shows how important this meal is to them. Because “Pajacyk” pays for lunches for the entire school year, it is possible to maintain regularity, which, in addition to the obvious value of satiety, gives children a sense of security. Schools are very grateful for the help provided, as they know that it is difficult for hungry children to think about learning.
In the 2014/2015 school year, thanks to the DHL GF initiative “ONE SHIPMENT = ONE MEAL”, the Polish Humanitarian Action provided funds for 14 facilities for child nutrition as part of the “Pajacyk” program. 252 children benefited from the meal assistance on a permanent basis. The number of children and youth living in extreme poverty is growing. According to Statistics Poland (GUS) data, in 2014, 10.3% of children and youth lived in extreme poverty – for comparison, in 2012 it was 9.8%.
– That is why we are very keen for the cooperation with PAH, as part of the “Pajacyk” campaign, to be long-term and involve more and more partners – emphasizes Bielica.
The Charity Ball, organized every year as the culmination of the joint efforts of DHL GF and PAH, has already become a tradition. During this year’s event, which took place in January, artwork by children from facilities covered by the Pajacyk program was auctioned. Thanks to the generosity of the gathered guests, funds were raised that will be entirely donated to the “Pajacyk” program.
Corporate Social Responsibility is one of the main pillars of the DHL Global Forwarding mission. The company combines business activities with social and environmental commitment, constantly supporting projects primarily dedicated to children and youth: including the Children’s Memorial Health Institute in Warsaw, School Complex 97 in Warsaw, and the Noble Box (Szlachetna Paczka) project in Łódź.