LG strikes heart strings with social responsibility initiatives across MEA

LG Electronics (LG) has been a long-term advocate of corporate social responsibility (CSR), and it will continue to streamline its efforts to help ensure life is good for many across the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Staying true to its corporate social responsibility slogan – Life’s Good with LG – the company aims to continue to actively contribute and sustain its integrated CSR initiatives in 2017 by continuing to support and engage with various communities across MEA.  Broadly across the MEA region, the company’s CSR activities can be broadly categorized across three main pillars - Environment, education, and empowerment.

“Like many global companies, LG is engaged in a number of prominent CSR activities throughout the year. In the MEA region, we focus on our global CSR pillars to remain true to our brand, but we also keep in mind what matters most to our local communities and implement programs accordingly, ensuring authenticity remains at the core of what we do,” said Kevin Cha, President, LG Electronics, Middle East and Africa.

LG first announced its environmental vision in 1994 and has since been practicing environmental management through researching and introducing environmentally friendly products and by reducing the environmental impact that occurs during business activities. The company actively participates and contributes to global initiatives like World Environment Day. More than 41 business sites in 24 countries across the globe participated in this global initiative in 2016.

Within the realm of education, LG’s efforts include developing products that bridge the digital divide, establish IT training facilities and run vocational training and environmental education programs. In 2014, LG opened a vocational school in Ethiopia to foster a technical workforce for the country by leveraging its strength in electronics repair. The school trains 75 students annually through its three-year electronics repair course.

Another notable association under LG’s CSR education pillar includes a UAE initiative, known as AT EDUCOM (Assistive Technology Education & Competition). This is an example of how technology and education work hand in hand.  AT EDUCOM is a local competition that has run in two successful editions, and it gives university students across many nationalities in the UAE and Korea a platform to enhance their educational skill set and use technologies to help push boundaries and create a better world for people with disabilities. 

Whether it is by supporting individuals with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, underprivileged youth, or families with limited access to basic needs or career opportunities, LG – through its empowerment pillar – supports many individuals in making positive change in their lives and in the lives of their loved ones. In 2016, over 10 countries across LG MEA subsidiaries have helped empower individuals and families with unique initiatives with the support of local LG staff.

One initiative to highlight would be the “LG Hope Series”, which helps the underprivileged in developing countries to achieve self-reliance and work toward eradicating waterborne diseases to further facilitate its efforts. LG Hope Series started in 2009 in Africa where LG supported low-income citizens to build their capacity and engage them in the developing activities.

“In a day and age where we increasingly witness corporate greed on one hand and distressed populations on the other, there is no chance on earth that global organizations like LG cannot but be engrained in the effort of helping make life better for our societies. CSR is not an expense; CSR is an investment in our communities who have every right to live on a clean planet, have the opportunity to learn, and eventually become empowered to foster change in their lives and in the world. At LG, it is our responsibility to try our utmost best to make that change happen,” added Cha. 

In order to turn LG Electronics CSR Slogan “Life’s Good with LG” into reality, LG Electronics continues to put in a lot of energy into social contribution efforts that empower communities in which it operates. 

In 2015, more than 90,000 LG employees from 89 business sites in 48 countries volunteered for social contribution initiatives, and the LG MEA subsidiaries have been active contributors to the organization’s responsible activities.