tails. We are convinced that only companies that can reconcile both these aspects can be successful in the long run.
Our social commitment is diverse
We see our social responsibility as a global task that must also be fulfilled locally. Global, because we are an internationally networked corporation working on the international markets, and local in terms of our locally based employees.
We therefore support not only the work of globally active organizations and activities, but also that of regional and local initiatives in particular. Our social commitment is deliberately organized on a decentral- ized basis and arises from many different activities. Exceptions to this include national projects and chal- lenges and our support in the event of international disasters. The company as a whole fulfills its social responsibility in this area. A primary goal of all the activities of the corporation and its employees is di- rect, fast and lasting support. This results in a mosaic of activities that is as diverse as our company and its employees. In this way, we are connected not only by our successful day-to-day work, but also by our com- mitment to social welfare and traffic safety, to educa- tion and science and to sport.
Commitment to social welfare and traffic safety For us, responsibility also means establishing and taking on social commitment – as a corporation via our locations and in connection with private initiatives that are supported by socially-minded employees of our company. Charitable projects, donations and other activities are therefore initiated and supervised as far as possible at the discretion of the decentralized units. Examples of our social commitment from the year under review include:
► “Prime Time”: A weekly tutoring program in Deer Park, Illinois, U.S.A., carried out with the help of lo- cal Continental employees. The Continental employ- ees act as mentors, assisting the pupils with their
homework and guiding them in preparing for up- coming tests.
► “Mayibuye” savings cooperative: Continental South Africa provides human and material resources to support a savings and loans club for people who do not have access to South Africa’s regular banking sector.
► For ten years, employees at Continental’s Brazilian plant Varzea Paulista have been providing neighbor- hood assistance for community projects that pro- mote charitable causes or the education and ad- vancement of children. A similar initiative has also been launched by the employees in Ponta Grossa. The “Amigos Sociais” likewise provide neighborhood help with a variety of projects.
► For five years now, Continental employees in Re- gensburg, Germany, have supported a local associ- ation in the fight against the malicious hereditary disease cystic fibrosis.
► Trainees at our plant in Northeim, Germany, cooper- ate with a work center for the disabled and a home for the elderly. On the one hand, this helps the local care facilities and, on the other hand, has a positive effect on the trainees’ personal development. As an automotive supplier, to us social responsibility also means making a social contribution in the fields of mobility and traffic safety:
► Road traffic safety is not just a question of technical equipment, but also requires sufficient awareness on the part of road users. For this reason, Continental held a traffic safety workshop for school pupils in Thailand together with the local police. Young peo- ple there start driving at a relatively young age and are thus particularly exposed to the dangers of road traffic.
► In collaboration with “Safe Kids China”, we launched a driving safety program for young people between November 2012 and January 2013. The program, with the motto “Be a responsible young driver”, is intended to raise awareness of traffic safety among young people, promote safe driving behavior and reduce the number of traffic accidents.
Commitment to education and science
Education and science are essential foundations for successful work. Providing good training and fostering the next generation are key factors in securing our company’s long-term success.
Continental promotes the integration of young people into the world of work and invests in their training. Moreover, both centrally and at our locations, we engage in an intensive exchange with universities and research facilities and long-term dialog with both high school and higher education students. Here, the opin- ions of young talent on subjects such as qualifications, working hours and career are particularly important to us. In student surveys conducted each year since 2003, we question around 1,000 students annually on these topics in cooperation with the opinion poll insti- tute TNS Infratest. So far we have conducted nine surveys in Germany, four in Romania and one in China. The various different activities with which we support students and young professionals in preparing for and starting their professional careers also include, at a broader level, the “Global Engineering Excellence Initiative”. In this worldwide initiative, which Continental has supported since 2005, nine top international uni- versities examine the general conditions for training in science and engineering in the era of globalization. In addition, we also devote much attention to school pupils to offer them an insight into our company and our day-to-day work. We help pupils to develop a clearer idea of their own career aspirations. In April 2012, Continental was visited by 300 children of em- ployees in Hanover and a total of 930 girls and boys throughout Germany for its “Future Day” (also referred to as “Girl’s Day” or “Future Day for Girls and Boys” in some regions). The children were given an insight into the work of an automotive supplier and had the oppor- tunity to talk to trainees and students completing the ContiBachelor dual course of study at the Training
Commitment to sports
Sport creates new networks that help to transcend hierarchies and overcome barriers. For this reason, we get involved in a variety of ways in this area that brings people together around the world.
For years, we have been actively promoting long-term sports projects and programs for our employees and the general public. The following examples from 2012 demonstrate our particular commitment to sport:
► The ContiRunningWeek, a running event held once every two years, saw some 20,000 employees at 93 locations in 20 countries taking part in the year un- der review. In doing so, they not only looked after their own fitness and strengthened team spirit, but at the same time they also brought in a corporate donation to “Welthungerhilfe”, an organization that works to combat global hunger.
► There were also other cases of involvement in sports leading to donations to charitable organizations. In May 2012, a team of Continental employees took part in a marathon in Mississauga, Canada, equipped with shoes which featured soles contain- ing the Continental TRACTION COMPOUND™ tech- nology developed by Continental together with Adidas. At the same time, the marathon runners col- lected donations for a number of local organizations.
► The winning teams in the ContiTeamCup, an in- house football world championship, donated their prize money to social projects. The women’s team from the Mexican location Cuautla donated it for the construction of the “Center for Integral Family De- velopment” that will provide therapy and rehabilita- tion options. The men’s team from Korbach, Ger- many, supported five social projects in the Hesse region.