The collaboration that began in 2007 between Magneti Marelli and CESVI - a secular and independent non-governmental organisation for international solidarity - will also continue throughout 2016 for the activities of education and social-economic development of the younger generation in the communities of developing countries where the company operates, a strategic pillar of the company's Sustainability Programme.
Since 2013, the partnership with CESVI has focused on supporting the Houses of Smiles in India, with the aim of supporting children and the younger generations that live in the region of Tamil Nadu, to offer them a safe and secure environment through education, nutrition, and family support. The social solidarity projects are managed by local associations that have had a presence in the area for decades.
All the young beneficiaries are aged between 6 and 18, come from disadvantaged families and, within the Houses of Smiles, receive care, psychological and legal support and tuition.
In 2015 there were 51 orphans housed at the centres, 530 children who were receiving tuition and 56 adolescents who were being provided with vocational training activities centred on entering the world of work.
The support of Magneti Marelli will continue in 2016 to support the operation of the Houses of Smiles, in particular funding the medical expenses of the canteen services and the educational materials. Thanks to the contribution, it is also possible to continue the work of repairing the damage that has occurred to the facilities due to the floods that hit the region in November 2015.
The success of the project created with CESVI meets the guidelines of Magneti Marelli in terms of investment in the social sector. On the one hand, in fact, it is being implemented in a country where the company has been firmly established for years and, on the other, the project is dedicated to the younger generations, important stakeholders for the company.
For further information regarding the Houses of Smiles in Tamil Nadu visit the dedicated section on the CESVI website and read the 2015 report (in Italian).
To find out more about the company’s Sustainability Programme and about investments in the communities, read "Start", the publication dedicated to the commitment of Magneti Marelli to global sustainability.