New Zealand social enterprises Fresh Desk, Likewise and Rākau Tautoko are the latest to receive assistance with their mission through the SAP Social Sabbatical.
As part of this global SAP-led volunteering program, the organisations will be joined for a fortnight by employees from SAP New Zealand and Australia, as well as DB Breweries, a long-term SAP customer participating in the initiative for the first time.
“This is the second year we’ve run [the Social Sabbatical] in New Zealand and we have found that our employees get as much out of the programme as the social enterprise we work with. When they take part in a social sabbatical they get to make a real impact on bridging the digital divide, embrace lifelong learning, and discover how to be true role models for living our vision and purpose,” said Stephen Moore, executive director, SAP ANZ.
Amber McEwen, corporate affairs director, DB Breweries, said the programme aligned well with its social responsibility priorities.
“Last year, at the Social Enterprise World Forum, we heard social enterprises and SAP talk about the impact of the Social Sabbatical. We felt the programme aligned well with our own focus on creating opportunities for growth for our people and within our local communities,” said McEwen. “We are thrilled that three of our team are participating in the programme this year with Freshdesk and Lifewise, and with the passion and drive they are bringing to support the social enterprises.”
In New Zealand, the program is run in conjunction with Ākina Foundation, which helps to identify organisationally mature social enterprises and take them to the next level.
“We’re delighted to have DB Breweries joining SAP on the Social Sabbatical and hope that more large organisations follow its lead, using the talent and skills of employees to contribute directly to the work of social enterprises in our communities,” said Louise Aitken, CEO, Ākina Foundation.
