With a view to impacting positively on social development through capacity-building and promotion in the organizations it supports, FERRERE launched a new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plan called FERRERE Transforma at an event that included the moving testimonies of its protagonists, who are members of the organizations the firm has collaborated with under this new approach.
With this initiative the firm aims to contribute to the sustainability of social entities, achieve a strong commitment between the community and its collaborators, and generate new opportunities for people, from a leadership position, inspiring others.
The new plan is supported by the web platform www.ferrerersc.com, designed to reach institutions aligned with FERRERE’s mission and values. Organizations interested in receiving support will need to register and complete a brief evaluation form before December 31 of each year. This will allow FERRERE to know more about their purpose, governance, volunteers, the impact of each institution and the type of support sought.
Then, a team of members of the firm assesses and selects institutions to offer help on matters involving volunteerism, professional assistance or sponsorship.
“This is a new RSC approach in line with the concept of shared values, bringing these activities into the heart of our business, and impacting on the sustainability of the social organizations the firm works with,” explained Verónica Raffo, partner in the firm. “The program is geared to organizing RSC efforts and generating positive changes in all the members of FERRERE, promoting in-house enthusiasm and volunteerism.”
As part of a pilot plan, this year the firm selected Fundación Salir Adelante, Liceo Jubilar and Enseña Uruguay, organizations promoting education and academic development among young people in critical contexts.
As recounted by Isabel Laventure, another FERRERE partner, initial talks with the three institutions led to design of the program for students called Experiencia FERRERE, which kicked off in August 2019. The initiative includes an internship for young people, who will have the possibility of coming to FERRERE to learn how it works and what its processes are like, and to get to know some of its clients. They will also get to take courses offered by FERRERE practitioners, to learn, for example, how to deal with a job interview, basic IT tools, public speaking, and how to hold effective meetings. The program’s third pillar involves efforts by the firm’s collaborators for youths from the participating institutions, in support classes on different academic subjects and tutoring to assist them as they get on route to tertiary education.
At the event, Santiago Rego, manager at CPA FERRERE, introduced people who have been involved in the program since its outset. Gonzalo Sena is an alumnus of the Liceo Jubilar high school who spoke about his experience being tutored by FERRERE practitioners as he took his first steps at the university; Patricia Iturbey, an entrepreneur from CEPRODIH (Center for the Promotion of Human Dignity) who participates in the group of pastry chefs who prepare New Year’s gifts for the firm; Nadia Dib, director of Fundación Jazmín, which fosters development of inclusive public playgrounds; and Cecilia Casalás, a member of FERRERE who participated in different efforts by Fontecho, a program that builds capacities for creating community projects and self-management.