Credit: Barbara Daroca

Run, ING, run! In Luxembourg we’re used to associating ING with running. You may not know, however, that the association is deeper than marathons and trails. For many years now we have been raising funds for our global partner UNICEF through an internal sports event. The goal is for ING employees and their families to join in the fun and raise as many funds along the way as possible.

In 2013, the event became global: we organise a cross-continental run from Australia to the Americas. In keeping with the spirit of a relay race, the virtual baton is passed from team to team representing ING businesses around the globe. Running a five or ten kilometre race, colleagues raise funds and awareness for UNICEF. All funds raised by the runners are doubled by ING. Together with UNICEF, ING wants to give adolescents access to better education and healthier living conditions.

Empowering youth

The Power for Youth programme is part of a longstanding partnership between ING and UNICEF. A partnership that dates back to 2005 and has one goal – to maximise the potential of adolescents around the world. With our Power for Youth programme we aim to help them become socially and financially independent.

Evidence shows that when adolescent girls and boys are supported and encouraged by caring adults, along with policies and services attentive to their needs and capabilities, they have the potential to break long-standing cycles of poverty, discrimination and violence.

Beyond the traditional skills of literacy and math, adolescents require the social, emotional, and cognitive skills that are often absent in traditional classrooms. Skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and leadership. This helps them identify issues in the community and wider society, set goals, and problem-solve with resilience and determination.

Also in Luxembourg

This was the sixth run in the programme that ING staff donated their time and money to.

On 24 June, 92 runners and walkers (yep, I was there with my two sons!) covered 620 Km in Luxembourg and joined in for a barbecue at ING Lux House raising almost EUR 2,000 for UNICEF. We received the baton from Down Under and passed it on to our colleagues in New York. That’s how international Luxembourg is J From there the baton will travel to Brazil, then Ukraine and it will continue around the (ING) world. In 2017 more than 1,000 colleagues from São Paulo to Sydney raised EUR 100,000 for ING’s Power for Youth programme. A truly global event with an amazing outcome!

All for ING and UNICEF’s plans to empower youth? You can donate here.