How KPMG lends a hand to those in need

Singapore

DALEY, from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Federation (Singapore), manages to earn his keep through the Inclusive Employment Initiative, a corporate responsibility programme run by KPMG Cares in Singapore.

"The initiative gives us a chance to earn an income through the work we do, and has been of help to me as I embark on my journey of realising my ambition of being a film-maker," says Mr Daley.

KPMG Cares is a local initiative which pairs philanthropy with its work in the community to empower marginalised individuals and communities.

Lee Sze Yeng, partner, corporate citizenship in KPMG Singapore, says: "KPMG Cares believes that companies do not have to spend more to do good, but can review the way they spend, and do so more meaningfully, such that communities can benefit concurrently."

Ms Lee says that KPMG Cares supports beneficiaries by sponsoring their training with various artists who practise art forms such as glass art and silk screen printing.

The end-goal is to equip beneficiaries with the ability to pick up and use such skills to create art pieces which KPMG Singapore can purchase as corporate gifts.

With a range of partners, including the Singapore Association for Mental Health, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Federation (Singapore) and Touch Community Services, KPMG Cares has been actively sharing employment opportunities with beneficiaries from the local community who are unable to find full-time employment since 2016.

"We believe that companies have the power to look after the financial needs of people from marginalised communities. By re-designing our business processes with the community in mind, we harness existing corporate gifting needs to create social impact for our community," says Ms Lee.

While this is exemplary of KPMG's corporate social responsibility projects in Singapore, the same can be said of its efforts beyond our shores.

In July 2016, over 60 children in an orphanage in Yangonwere entertained by volunteers from KPMG Singapore's Financial Services business unit.

Over five days , these volunteers organised activities for the children ranging from English lessons to more leisure-based affairs such as football sessions. The trip to Myanmar is just one of the many projects undertaken by Give Time, a ground-up initiative.

Ms Lee says: "Give Time was conceived and launched in 2008 and based, in part, on employees feedback on our Corporate Citizenship programmes and the interest to have more opportunities to volunteer."

KPMG volunteers are granted up to 40 hours or the equivalent of five days of paid leave each calendar year to volunteer at a charity of their choosing. In 2016 alone, 9,000 volunteering hours were undertaken by KPMG volunteers for Give Time.