Today, American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) announces its new global flagship charitable cause to help children get back to school in times of emergency and conflict and a partnership with UNICEF USA. The partnership is part of the focused giving component of GBT’s global Responsible Business program.
Through the partnership, GBT commits to support UNICEF through a monetary donation of half a million dollars from August 2019 through June 2021 to help give children access to the resources and supplies they need to continue their education in times of crisis. Children are particularly vulnerable during crises, which represent heightened risk to their physical and emotional security, and can have social, psychological, and economic ripple effects for generations, particularly when education is significantly disrupted. School is not only a place of learning, but a safe place for children to play and get access to physical and mental health services.
“With our large global footprint, we are uniquely positioned to help the communities in which we live, work and travel to thrive,” said Si-Yeon Kim, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer. “Our GBT team is particularly great at shining in a crisis – from the care we provide our travelers to get them home safely during natural disasters or other disruptions, to the support we give to our fellow team members and communities when they need it most. As the world’s leading partner for managed travel, we are honored to support UNICEF and the outstanding work it does around the world to educate children in times of crisis.”
According to a recent report by UNICEF called, A Future Stolen: Young and out-of-school, in countries affected by war or natural disaster, one in three children and young people are out of school. UNICEF, which operates in more than 190 countries and territories, can rapidly respond to provide supplies and safe learning spaces for children to learn and play. The School-in-a-Box Kit is one way UNICEF helps children impacted by emergencies and crises. This portable kit helps at least 40 children continue their education by providing teachers with materials for an entire classroom, including exercise books, pencils and other basic school supplies, as well as a locally developed teaching curriculum, a wind-up solar radio and special paint that transforms the case lid into a blackboard.
“Natural disasters and violent conflicts continue to take a significant toll on millions of children and their families around the world,” said Caryl M. Stern, President & CEO, UNICEF USA. “With this commitment from American Express Global Business Travel, UNICEF can help provide the most vulnerable children with access to safe, quality education in times of emergency. Together, we can help more children thrive and reach their full potential.”
The partnership will launch at the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Annual Convention in Chicago, Illinois, from August 2nd – 7th. Participating social media posts tagged with #MomentsThatMatter and #GBTCares will be compiled into an art installation at GBT’s booth at GBTA 2019, where a School-in-a-Box Kit will also be on display. To learn more about GBT’s partnership with UNICEF USA and how to help, please visit GBT at booths #2021 and #1823.
GBT’s Responsible Business program is rooted in the company’s shared goal of operating responsibly and making sure people and communities thrive and prosper. In addition to focused giving, it also includes a commitment to diversity and inclusion for an authentic workplace, and environmental leadership for the company’s operations, and products and services provided to customers and industry partners. GBT is also a founding member of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)’s global taskforce to help prevent and combat human trafficking, an illicit activity that according to the WTTC affects 30 million victims worldwide, and relies on travel networks to operate.
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