Carnival for the environment
Climate change isn’t really something to celebrate. It’s hard to count the positives when there are so many harmful effects linked to it. There are no parties for the melting polar ice caps, nor are any fireworks set off for the increased amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Being global citizens, it is our responsibility to increase awareness towards the problems linked with climate change amongst each other. After all, local and international boundaries mean nothing when it comes to global warming. This issue is a reminder that we all live on the same blue marble, and we each have a part in helping to preserve that which is vital to life as we know it.
Sometimes, though, the best way to create awareness is to have a party.
HSBC, the first global financial institution to go carbon-neutral, recently held Elementos: Carnaval, an all-day affair of fun and fundraising featuring non-stop entertainment for people of all ages. Held last April 18 at the SM Mall of Asia Open Grounds, Elementos was an HSBC employee engagement that integrated environmental awareness and the chance to make a difference in the community.
Elementos was split into daytime and nighttime activities. During the day, a free children’s party, “Little Elements,” was held, with lots of prizes and environmental games for the children. What followed was a show and tell of animals, where the little ones squealed with delight as they got to pet animals like snakes and iguanas. Also during the daytime was the “Bowwowwee” dog show, where canines competed against each other in their best environmental or element-themed costumes. Throughout the day, stilt-walkers, magicians, and a bateriya band kept the party going. Accompanying the beat were capoeira and poi dancing exhibitions.
Later at night, the party, hosted by Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez, kicked off with the HSBC street dance and band champions from last year’s internal competition. Upcoming band Enemies of Saturn did their thing on stage before the one and only Bamboo came on strong with a full-length set of their signature songs.
“Our workforce is young, idealistic and passionate about making a difference. We want to give them the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the community. We also want them to be a proud part of an institution that prioritizes that,” says HSBC president and CEO Mark Watkinson.
Elementos was a project that could not have happened if not for the enthusiastic employees of HSBC, who planned and ran the entire carnaval. HSBC employees are assigned teams when they first enter the company, and these teams (differentiated by various colors) take pride in being more productive than the other. Throughout the year, there is always some kind of friendly competition going on between these teams. During Elementos, the team that created the most revenue would get points added to their standing.
This is interesting since there really is no incentive for the teams to work this hard. Mr. Watkinson says, “Bragging rights in the office are a big thing among the teams.” Its refreshing to know that there are many young professionals who get enthused to compete for pride and glory, and that there is a company out there that encourages this kind of healthy competition, especially with concerns like the state of the environment.
It is also very admirable to note that all the funds raised by the teams from ticket sales and the booths were donated to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Philippines and to the Children’s Environmental Awareness and Action Foundation (CEAAF.)
“We stage several events throughout the year to strengthen employee engagement and morale, but in these challenging times, I think it’s more important than ever to integrate an element of social consciousness into these events. We want to promote the mindset that making the world a better place is everyone’s responsibility,” says Mr. Watkinson.
True that.
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You can visit www.hsbc.com.ph to learn more about the company and their projects.
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E-mail me at enricomiguelsubido@yahoo.com.
