BorgWarner Turbo Systems pitches in

Committed volunteers of BorgWarner prepared motivational workshops for young people from SOS youth programmes in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Picture: BorgWarner Turbo Systems

BorgWarner Turbo Systems isn’t only relying on its significant financial aid to support the work of the SOS Children's Villages. The organization also attaches great importance to making a direct local impact and so, a joint lighthouse project was arranged in Sarajevo, Bosnia to launch the partnership. There, Frédéric Lissalde Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of BorgWarner Inc. (formerly President and General Manager of BorgWarner Turbo Systems), Barbara Keller, Borg Warner’s Global Programme Manager for SOS Children's Villages, and eight dedicated colleagues trained a group of SOS teens in teamwork skills. Similar lighthouse projects, where both management and selected employees pitch in, will take place annually.

Support at local level

Employees of BorgWarner in Thailand have joined the „Turbo Run“ in Rayong to collect donations for SOS children in Thailand. Picture: BorgWarner Turbo Systems

"BorgWarner Turbo Systems and SOS Children's Villages are ideal partners as nearly all of our 15 facilities around the globe are located near one of the villages. As a result, most of our employees have the opportunity to support their local SOS Children's Village in a variety of ways," explained Frédéric Lissalde. "This partnership is really important to us and we look forward to an excellent and long-lasting cooperation."

Social commitment is truly lived

SOS Children's Villages is also thrilled with the cooperation. "BorgWarner Turbo Systems is pitching in with employees in our SOS facilities around the world. I am delighted with this active support. The fact that corporate management at local level is also actively involved is something very special. SOS Children's Villages is very grateful for the financial support of BorgWarner Turbo Systems and its staff," says Nadja Malak, Head of Corporate Partnerships, SOS Children’s Villages Worldwide in Germany.

Creative fundraising by employees

The company's turbo systems’ division also offers employees additional opportunities to support SOS Children's Villages. Employees can plan their own fundraising campaigns and organize projects benefitting their local SOS Children’s Village.

Creativity Challenge in Mexico: At the Mexican location of BorgWarner Turbo Systems every month another department is responsible for organizing a fundraising event for SOS Children’s Villages.  Creative activities have been developed like a football tournament or a delicious food bazaar with lovely home-made food.

Picture: BorgWarner Turbo Systems

Bringing hope through running: In China employees of BorgWarner Turbo Systems are whole-heartedly and with lots of joy engaged in running as many kilometers as possible for the good cause, since for every kilometer run a certain amount of money will be donated to their local SOS Children’s Village.

Picture: BorgWarner Turbo Systems

Coffee4Hope in South Korea: In South Korea the employees of BorgWarner Turbo Systems are really committed and have organized several fundraising events like a Chartiy Café with delicious hot drinks to collect donations for “their” SOS Children’s Village on-site. Drinking coffee while doing good is full of joy.

Picture: BorgWarner Turbo Systems

Lighthouse project in Sarajevo/Bosnia: Under the scope of this global partnership with BorgWarner Turbo Systems a 4-day hands-on project was realized in Sarajevo Bosnia in September 2017. The former president of BorgWarner Turbo Systems, Frederic Lissalde, and nine selected employees from China, Hungary, Poland and other countries had been volunteering during this project to help renovating the playground of the SOS Children’s Village Sarajevo. In addition to that motivational and inspirational workshop sessions had been organized for SOS youth on-site.

Picture: BorgWarner Turbo Systems

 A new playground for the SOS Children’s Villlage Sarajevo: Through the great support of 10 really committed employees of Borg Warner Turbo Systems, that had been selected through an internal competition, the playground of the SOS Children’s Village on-site could be renovated and renewed in a child-friendly way. The playground is now offering some new and innovative equipment as well as a colorful appearance.

Picture: BorgWarner Turbo Systems

Encouragement for young people: Like in many places around the world, youth unemployment is a huge challenge in Bosnia as well. In order to overcome this obstacle and bring hope and encouragement for a better future to young people on-site, employees of BorgWarner Turbo Systems had been preparing exciting team building activities and inspirational speeches, to strengthen relevant soft and personal skills of SOS youth and to improve their job market prospects.

Foto: BorgWarner Turbo Systems

BorgWarner Turbo Systems doubles employees’ donations

For example, staff collected donations in a global "turbo run" for "their" children's village. They also try to generate as many donations as possible through cake sales, flea markets and other creative events. BorgWarner Turbo Systems generously doubles up on all private employee donations to SOS Children's Villages.