Taking to the streets

Taking to the streets in Singapore

The world joined together in raising awareness on the fight against hunger on 7 June in the annual “End Hunger: Walk the World event”. Globally, the Walk attracted an estimated 350,000 participants from 70 countries across all time zones in 200-organised Walks who gathered to support efforts by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in the fight against global hunger. Together with international partners such as WFP, TNT and DSM, a total of 41 Unilever countries took part in the Walk this year, involving more than 4,000 employees, family and friends. Unilever employees, their families and friends proudly raised more that 120,000 Euros, which in turn was channelled to the total international collection of 800,000 Euros to fund the equivalent of over four million meals for the malnourished!

In Singapore, a 370-strong Unilever contingent from UAPL, USPL, Regional I.T. and Vision Crest, together with their families and friends gladly gave up their Sunday snooze-in by taking to the streets to join the walk. The Singapore contingent was led by Chief HR Officer, Sandy Ogg while Jan Zijderveld (Group Vice President SEAA), Steven Gross (VP HR SEAA & AA Functions), Berna Wake (VP MO Foods SEAA), Akhter Mateen (VP Finance SEAA), Colin Nelson (SVP Supply Chain Asia AMET) and Ray Bremner (SVP MO Foods - Asia, Africa, Middle East and Turkey) represented the senior management team at the Walk.

A Fun Carnival was also held after the Walk to help celebrate and raise funds. The carnival featured booths by participating partners such as TNT, DSM and Credit Suisse to sell food and corporate items, as well as provide entertainment and games for both young and old!

Unilever helmed three booths serving Lipton Tea and Wall’s Ice Cream as well as the Unilever Lucky Draw booth for everyone’s entertainment. Through the ticket sales at the Carnival, Unilever Singapore raised over S$15,000 (7,500 Euros) while the Walk in Singapore collected a cumulative total in gross proceeds of over S$57,000 (28,000 Euros).

Singapore’s increased brand and employee participation this year is a testimony to increased commitment towards Unilever’s aim of “Doing Well by Doing Good”. Unilever’s partnership with WFP (Together for Child Vitality2) and the provision of school meals will help needy children get the micronutrients they need for physical and mental development, besides acting as an incentive for the families to send their children to school.