Initiatives for local communities

It is a role that requires proactivity, good interpersonal skills, sensitivity to the problems of others and willingness
to cooperate with representatives of local communities and organizations. New Ambassadors are already involved
in the development of their environment and are already active volunteers. They undergo training to help them become social leaders and to provide them with tools to work with youth and solve the problems of local communities.

Key initiatives of the Bank’s Local Ambassadors in 2019:

• activities for the youngest: Children’s Day and St. Nicholas’ Day celebrations, meetings in orphanages and community centers, entrepreneurship lessons for children and youth carried out in branches and in schools,
• sports events: runs, chess tournaments, swimming competitions,
• cultural events: festivals, singing competitions for children with disabilities, recitation competitions, dictation,
• local festivals of cities and towns,

• cooperation with associations and foundations (including the Kosmos dla Dziewczynek Foundation, the Sukces Pisany Szminką Foundation, the WIOSNA Association),
• pro-environmental initiatives: organization of educational competitions, planting trees,
• cooperation with village housewives’ associations, local women’s associations,
• educational meetings for seniors – cooperation with Universities of the Third Age.

A special initiative the Ambassadors were involved in was the DIVERSITY holiday program initiated in cooperation with the Zwolnieni z Teorii Foundation. For the first time, young people could implement their own projects devoted to combating social exclusion. The Bank provided them with the necessary knowledge: 3 expert webinars, direct assistance available 7 days a week and mentoring support.

Projects implemented by young people concerned, among others, the hard-of-hearing – “Migaj w Mig”; people with autism – “Z autyzmem na TY”; tolerance – #accessibility and the problem hate speech – “STOP MOWIE NIENAWIŚCI”.

The Local Grants Program, an initiative undertaken by Bank BNP Paribas for the ninth time, allows employees of the Bank’s branch network to select and financially support local NGOs. Thanks to the Program, we improve the quality of life in local communities, while strengthening our position as a reliable partner. Compared to 2018, we have doubled the number of grants awarded (to 50), thus doubling the amount of financial support. In 2019, we provided PLN 200,000 to social organizations.

As a responsible company, we want to contribute to solving the most pressing problems of our environment and society. Therefore, in the 9th edition of the Program, we defined 4 main goals:

• environmental protection and promotion of eco-attitudes,
• health promotion,

• minimizing social exclusion, especially among children, the elderly and people with disabilities,
• promoting entrepreneurship and strengthening the role of women.

Applications for the program – stating the beneficiary organization and presenting a grant utilization plan – are submitted by branch directors or the Bank’s Local Ambassadors. We establish long-term cooperation with the most active organizations.