DHL and SOS Children�s Villages Celebrate 10 Years of Collaboration in Madagascar

• Decade-long GoTeach
  partnership has shaped the future of more than 5,000 young people
• 30 youth gained full-time
  employment with DHL from the program over this period

�

ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR - Media
OutReach - October 4,
2019 – DHL International Madagascar and SOS Children’s Villages Madagascar, in
partnership with the Ministry of National Education, Technical and Vocational
Education and Training, are celebrating the 10th anniversary of GoTeach, a corporate
responsibility program by Deutsche Post DHL Group (“DPDHL Group” or the
“Group”) that aims to increase youth employability. The program was first
launched in Madagascar in 2009 and is now available in more than 50 countries
around the world. 

 

The official celebration of
the partnership kicked off today at the Carlton Hotel in the presence of 200
guests with speeches by Mrs. Aurélie Razafinjato, General Secretary, Ministry
of National Education, Technical and Vocational Education,  Mr. Siddhartha Kaul, President of SOS
Children’s Villages International, Mrs. Monika Schaller, Executive Vice
President, Corporate Communications and Responsibility, DPDHL Group,  Mr. Jean-François Lepetit National Director,
SOS Children’s Villages Madagascar, Mr. Yves Andrianaharison, Country Manager,
DHL Express Madagascar, Mr. Ny Riana Rasolofonjatovo, Country Manager, DHL
Global Forwarding Madagascar, and Ms. Faneva Raharimanantsoa, Regional Program Manager
GoTeach – Indian Ocean and French Africa, DPDHL Group.

 

Mrs. Aurélie Razafinjato, General Secretary, Ministry of National
Education, Technical and Vocational Education inaugurated the ceremony and
pointed out that “Under the GoTeach program, the experiences that SOS
Children’s Villages youth get from connecting with DHL employees are priceless.
Through mentorships, internships, facility visits and training programs all run
by DHL volunteers, they gain invaluable insight into the working world. The
volunteers have been able to show young people that the professional world
should be a field of passion and development and not just a way to earn money. I
commend DHL and SOS Children’s Villages for their contribution to the
development of Madagascar by helping create a better tomorrow for its youth.
Congratulations to both parties for their achievements.”

 

The GoTeach partnership is designed to help young people in SOS Children’s
Villages aged 15 to 25 years old make the transition from the world of
education to the world of work. An appreciative Mrs. Maria Raharinarivonirina,
President, SOS Children’s Villages Madagascar commented, “The integration of
young people into the professional world is a challenge. We are very grateful
to DHL volunteers in Madagascar who devote their time to support the skills
development of the of the program participants, which is especially necessary
for young people who have lost parental care or are at risk of
losing it. We have seen great results over the past 10 years of partnership and
look forward to continuing this path with DHL to contribute to
changing/improving the lives of more youth in the years to come.”

 

Mr. Yves Andrianaharison,
Country Manager, DHL Express Madagascar explained, “In 2009, DHL International
Madagascar took the initiative to support SOS Children’s Villages Madagascar and
offered coaching to young people to aid in their professional integration. Together,
our shared vision for economic and social development has enabled the growth of
the program in scale and intensity. We are extremely proud of the fact that we
have engaged with over 5,000 youth since the launch, and we remain focused on improving
the lives of as many youth as possible.”

 

Added Mr. Ny Riana
Rasolofonjatovo, Country Manager, DHL Global Forwarding, “With poverty rates
inching back from 77.7% in 2014 to 75.1% in 2018[1] we need to be vigilant
about helping to upskill  our youth. The
program by DHL and SOS Children’s Villages in Madagascar has achieved a lot in
the last ten years however we cannot rest on our laurels and must continue to
effect change, so that future generations can contribute to the growth of the
economy through meaningful employment. In the past decade, we have seen 30
youth take up employment at DHL and we look forward to more joining us from the
program.”

 

To date, several global activities and programs have emerged as a result of
the successes of DPDHL Group’s GoTeach program. Taking inspiration from the DPDHL
Group, SOS Children’s Villages launched YouthCan!, a platform that brings
together private sector companies to collaborate on improving youth
employability. It has also sparked the idea for a digital platform, Youthlinks,
where youth can connect with mentors online thereby breaking down geographic
barriers and expanding the impact of mentorship programs. In early 2019, DPDHL
Group, SOS Children’s Villages and the Ministry of National Education,
Technical and Professional Education, also launched an Olympiad Games program
targeting high school students in Antananarivo, Antsirabe, Mahajanga Toamasina
and Toliara.

 

Under the GoTeach program the DPDHL
Group also provides support to Teach For All and 19 network partners in Asia
Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. In addition, the Group’s
corporate responsibility program “Living Responsibility” comprises two other
programs focusing on environmental protection (GoGreen), and disaster
management (GoHelp).

DHL – The logistics company for the world

DHL is
the world’s leading brand in the logistics sector. Our DHL family of divisions offers an unparalleled portfolio of logistics
services ranging from domestic and international parcel delivery, online
shipping and order processing solutions, international express, road, air and
sea transport to industrial supply chain management. With approximately 380,000
employees in more than 220 countries and territories around the world, DHL connects people and businesses
securely and reliably, enabling global business flows. With specialized
solutions for growing markets and industries, including technology, life
sciences and health, energy, automotive and retail, a proven commitment to
corporate responsibility and an unparalleled presence in developing markets, DHL is firmly positioned as the
“global logistics company”.

 

DHL is part of the Deutsche Post DHL group. The Group generated sales of
more than € 61 billion in 2018.

 

SOS Children’s
Villages Madagascar

 

Founded in 1989, SOS Children’s Villages Madagascar is affiliated with
SOS Children’s Villages International, a global, non-political and
non-denominational organization created in 1949 and present in 136 countries
and territories to address the needs and protect the interests and rights of
orphans and vulnerable children.

 

SOS Children’s Villages is involved in the process of child development
until its empowerment in society through various projects and programs: SOS
Children’s Villages, Nurseries, Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary School,
Family Strengthening Program, Medical Center, Football Center, Fablab Center,
Training Center in Aquatic Biology and Aquaculture.

 

SOS Children’s
Villages Madagascar in figures

 

– 651
orphaned and abandoned children fully cared for in SOS children’s villages in
the regions of Antananarivo, Antsirabe, Toamasina, Mahajanga and Taolagnaro;

– 262 young
people supported by youth shelters

– 5,000
children and adults as part of the family strengthening programme

– 1992
students / benefit from food aid from school canteens; schools for which SOS
Children’s Villages Madagascar is in charge;

– 19,308
people consulted in medical malls