It’s hard to take care of a better tomorrow while standing on the sidelines. At PwC in Gdańsk, the employees did not fold their hands, but by taking part in volunteer work, they jointly declared war on air pollution. In the form of workshops, they reach schools and kindergartens with the conviction that environmental education is the most important step to stop climate change. Ania Aramayo and Dorota Kaszubowska, coordinators of the project in Gdańsk, talk about the second edition of the “Business vs Smog” initiative, which attracts more and more organisations.
Has Gdansk business declared war on air pollution?
Ania: We are in the process of implementing the second edition of the “Business vs. Smog” programme, which was conceived and initiated by PwC. We started our activities in September and will finish in March with the end of the heating season. Dorota and I are local coordinators who implement activities in Gdańsk. The idea was born in Krakow, but very soon other cities – Warsaw, Katowice and Łódź – joined the action.
And why did a city that is famous for its clean air join the action?
Dorota: I remember my surprise when I heard that there was smog in Gdańsk and Pomerania. Very quickly the doubts were dispelled by a trip to one of the small towns in the region, a huge black cloud hovered over the local houses, which for the inhabitants was a permanent element of the landscape. I made sure that this is a topic that definitely applies to our region as well, and that education will be an effective weapon.
Why do you want to act socially, why do you want to get involved and devote time?
Ania: We are glad that we can do something useful, and that we have the opportunity to change. We all complain about various negative things that happen next to us, instead of wasting energy on it, it is worth taking concrete action. What’s important, the enthusiasm of the people who came up with the project and implemented it was so great that it was hard not to succumb to it (laughs). The idea behind the “Business vs. Smog” program is to have a real impact – we work with the youngest, we get the opportunity to educate, raise awareness and instill the desire to care for the environment.
Are you the only volunteers at PwC?
Ania: We are coordinating the program in Gdańsk, working closely with a group of volunteers, which currently consists of about 30 people, and over 100 people in the entire PwC in Poland. According to the assumptions, each of them is obliged to conduct at least two educational workshops in educational institutions, so summing up, the scale of activities becomes noticeable. All the more so because PwC has also invited other companies to join the program.
What does it look like from the technical side?
Dorothy: Many PwC employees have children, so it is much easier for us to reach schools and kindergartens that are interested in education. In our opinion, such an action is of great value. I had the opportunity to see for myself that what we do is needed – the institution I talked to was very open to cooperation. A conversation with the management assured me that the project should grow and be continued in the following years, I received an invitation that if we wanted to do more in this area, the door was open and we were welcome. Other volunteers have been contacted and I am sure that the initiative will stay in these benches for good.
Do you have a proven model on how to interest a unique and demanding audience in the topic?
Dorothy: At the very beginning, there are trainings for volunteers, conducted by experts from the Krakow Smog Alert, during which we learn about the substantive aspects of the topic, but also learn how to talk to the youngest so that it is not boring and how to make them interested in the topic. The children’s audience is very demanding – there is no room for generalities here; We must always be prepared to maintain attention.
Ania: The workshops are always adapted to the age of the participants, which requires a completely individualized approach from us. We use materials specially prepared by the Krakow Smog Alarm – games and activities, we implement ideas that encourage children to actively cooperate.
How to reach their hearts?
Dorota: Authenticity – children are great and insightful observers of 😉
Can they handle it?
Dorota: Definitely! Depending on the size of the group, we have planned that the meeting should last no longer than 45 minutes, children get tired quickly, lose concentration, so it is our responsibility to make the workshops interesting and engaging enough to deserve the attention of the youngest.
Ania: We want the children to tell their parents about the workshops when they return, also influencing the everyday decisions of adults.
Do you think such a change is real? Are we ready to give up our habits?
Ania: Yes, otherwise we wouldn’t have taken up the challenge. The entire team of PwC volunteers is sure that we may not be able to carry out a revolution, but we will persuade people to change in small steps. Education is the most important weapon in the fight for the climate.
How long does it take for this to work?
Ania: The most important thing is that the different types of activities are combined. It is well known that education is a kind of foundation, but appropriate legislative action is equally important.
Dorothy: The first edition of Business vs. Smog was a kind of field for experiments. On the basis of the conclusions, we started with the second one, which is more and more eagerly publicized, which confirms that the program makes sense. Last year, we managed to train as many as 10,000 children, mainly in Małopolska and Silesia. The principle of small steps is the most effective, because an attempt to “force” change would certainly end in reluctance.
Let’s go back to the creation of the project – where did it all start?
Ania: The initiator of “Business vs. Smog” is the Krakow branch of PwC. We have invited other companies and organizations to participate in it, and now there are 29 of us in total. I hope that the business group will continue to grow.
How can more organizations join?
Ania: There is a formal path to joining the program for willing companies. In the first edition, there were 13 organizations, and in the current one, there are already 29. The program is open, but we also set certain requirements – as to the number of workshops and recipients. Each of the companies has its own contribution to the program – we share tasks. New companies can complement us and support us. For example, one of the companies that deals with translations offered to take care of them (we also run workshops in English). Everyone gives something from themselves and at the same time becomes responsible for a given element of the program. There are a lot of jobs and sectors in which you can fulfill yourself, so we invite you to participate all the time in accordance with the principle that together we can do more.
As coordinators, do you feel that you are changing the world a bit?
Dorota: A little bit!
Do you see the first effects of your work?
Ania: Awareness is growing, more and more people want to join the actions that will lead to stopping climate change. More and more volunteers are asking what they can do and how they can do it.
Dorothy: I have the impression that, especially now in the new year, everything has gained momentum. Our actions ignite others.
Ania: People want to act themselves! I can see that the idea drives, so it’s fantastic to see the commitment, because it has to translate into change. If we manage to hit wider and wider; Awareness of how we should act to protect the environment will grow.
From the very beginning, it went smoothly? Have you faced the label of eco-freaks?
Ania: No. The awareness of the society is growing, and we do not try to implement controversial ideas and push astonishing theses with our actions. I think we’re perceived as normal (laughs). People see our enthusiasm and willingness to act and many of them decide that it is worth joining. After all, everyone understands what it means to be responsible for the planet, which we bequeath to future generations.
Dorothy: We do not impose, I think that it is best to start every change with yourself and thus inspire others to change, we work with people who consciously approach the topic.
PwC’s everyday life under the green flag?
Dorothy: PwC’s overarching goal in the world is to build social trust and solve problems. One of the biggest challenges today is to protect the environment and stop negative climate change. By initiating projects such as “Business vs. Smog”, we achieve the company’s goal and have a positive impact on the environment. In addition to the company’s environmental programs, we have good habits, for example, we make sure that the last person to leave the office always turns off the lights, and the refrigerators are turned off on weekends.
What do you want to achieve this year?
Dorothy: Raise awareness and draw attention to air pollution. We want to convince you that it is worth taking care of a place where you can live well.
Ania: Awareness, education and active scaling up. The second year of the project is the beginning, we are sure that in the following years we will be able to favor the land on an even larger scale. If even one child suggests to their parents to choose a tram instead of a car, it is already a big change and a reason to rejoice.
More information about the program: https://www.facebook.com/BiznesKontraSmog/
