Volunteerism is a part of Unilever Bangladesh’s policy, encouraging employees to spend up to 5 working days per year on initiatives that give back to the community. In 2024, Proyash, Unilever Bangladesh’s inspiring employee volunteering initiative, touched the lives of countless individuals and strengthened community bonds through its impactful initiatives. Driven by the unwavering dedication of its employee volunteers, Proyash delivered profound impacts—from nourishing underprivileged families during Ramadan to cultivating a sustainable mindset among the youth and igniting hope for children with battling cancer. Over 2,500 lives were touched, exemplifying the Unilever spirit of purpose and care in action.
Heart-to-Heart Market: From one Heart to Another
In 2024 at the onset of the holy month of Ramadan, with inflation taking a toll on essential commodities, Proyash launched the Heart-to-Heart Market, transforming traditional aid into a cycle of giving. Employees contributed cherished pre-loved items, ranging from clothing to books, creating a marketplace where the proceeds funded crucial food rations for 300 underprivileged families. Over the course of this drive, 13 Unilever employee volunteers orchestrated a vibrant marketplace, reinforcing community bonds and emphasising that generosity can be circular, cycling from one heart to another. In collaboration with the NGO partners, Utsho Bangladesh and Spreeha Bangladesh, volunteers distributed the rations in-person, experiencing the satisfaction of the family members.
Riding the AwareWave: The Change Starts with Us!
Translating the momentum of creating impact, Proyash’s AwareWave initiative, launched during World Environment Day 2024 to address the pressing issue of plastic pollution through raising awareness. In collaboration with our NGO partner Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), the initiative reached 10 schools across Dhaka and Chattogram. 31 employee volunteers, including top leaders, engaged around 1,000 students through storytelling and practical lessons on reducing, reusing, and recycling, as well as the effects of plastic pollution. This outreach extended indirectly to 20,000 more potential individuals through a ripple effect, demonstrating how education can spark grassroots change and lead the path toward a greener future.
Heart-to-Heart Market 2.0
Following the success of the first initiative, Heart-to-Heart Market 2.0 reignited the spirit of giving. Employees once again donated a wide array of pre-loved items, raising funds for the Bangladesh Cancer Aid Trust (BANCAT), a care home dedicated to supporting children battling cancer. UBL’s partnership with BANCAT ensured that these funds would cover treatments, care, and essential needs for young patients throughout the upcoming year. For the first time, volunteers extended beyond UBL employees, with children and siblings of employees joining, gaining an early and valuable experience in volunteerism.
A Year of Transformation: Leading with Heart and Purpose
As 2024 drew to a close, the ripples of Proyash's initiatives were felt across communities, with UBL employees demonstrating that responsible business practices extend beyond profit—it is about nurturing a fairer, kinder, and more sustainable world. Through creative solutions and heartfelt actions, Proyash showcased the infinite potential of collective purpose. Looking to the future, the unwavering spirit of UBL’s volunteers promises to continue inspiring positive change, brightening everyday life for all Bangladeshis, because what is good for Bangladesh is good for Unilever.