At the very core of our CSR practice is the drive to engage all of our people, clients, suppliers, business and NGO partners, governments, as well as potential employees to deliver positive changes to the communities in which we live. By exposing our people to the needs of others we hope we can help them develop their skills and gain experience so that they can enrich other people's lives as well as their own.
I am proud to see the enthusiasm of our people in helping others. CSR offers a platform for our people to contribute in a structured manner. It not only helps the firm build upon our Employer of Choice agenda by promoting a sense of belonging and work-life balance but also helps raise our people's awareness of our collective responsibility to our community.
As our CSR programme has evolved, especially after the formal establishment of our CSR department in 2007 and the launch of the KPMG Foundation in 2008, we have expanded our reach to three crucial areas - empowerment, environment and education - so that our people can get involved in areas that they feel passionately about. In all, being socially and environmentally responsible benefits the firm, our people and our communities.
I therefore look forward to the day when all businesses take up this good practice and embed CSR in their corporate values.