RWE Companius selects its Project of the Year

Thanks to the initiative of innumerable employees, RWE Companius has been able to select a Project of the Year for the first time since it was founded in 2007. A total of 1,350 employees voted on the 2,289 projects that RWE Companius supported in 2009.

The object of the exercise was to raise awareness of the voluntary work being done among as many employees as possible and so foster new ideas and encourage personal involvement.

Voters were especially impressed by a project to build a kitchen for a school in Ghana, which took first place. The project was initiated by Birgit Cawni, who in 2009 received funds to help finance not just a kitchen, but the sinking of a well to provide the school in Ntotroso in Ghana with its own water supply. Ms Cawni has now been awarded an additional € 3,000 to help finance a follow-on project. “We hadn’t expected to come first at all and are really thrilled!” said a delighted Ms Cawni. “There are so many things that can be done with a sum as large as this. We haven’t yet made a decision, but are wondering about setting up a midwifery clinic or supporting the work of a local orphanage – since the number of orphans is unfortunately growing all the time.”

The project “Friends for Children” came second. The ten RWE employees who elected to take part in this project are each supporting a child who is growing up in Essen in disadvantaged circumstances and lacks a positive adult role model. For a period of six months, the ten volunteers will take “their” little friends on outings or meet together for games and activities. A sum of € 2,000 has now been made available for a follow-up project.

Third place was shared by two worthwhile projects: “Job Mentor” supports young people entering the world of work. It does this by providing them with experienced mentors who can help them in a variety of ways, whether by helping with job applications, practicing interviews, or giving them tips on how to conduct themselves before and after securing their first job.

The second project, “Fun Saturday Special”, is a series of events for children and young people with severe, multiple disabilities for whom there are comparatively few recreational opportunities available. To compensate this lack, the project provides seven Saturdays of activities, events and – most important of all – fun!

These two project each received € 1,000.