SEMEA under one banner : Walk the World

Yes, it’s that time of year when thousands of people walk the streets of many different countries, all of them with one purpose only: fight together against global hunger and show their support to WFP. How do they do so? By participating to “End hunger: Walk the World” , the global fundraising event that begins today and lasts until June 3. The 2010 edition raised enough money to provide a whole year of meals for more than 10,000 school children, achieving an incredible result.

TNT Express has always played a major role in this event and this year it won’t be any different. The participating countries will be organizing their walks fuelled by the passion and determination that have always lead the way in achieving great results for WFP.

But what exactly is going to happen here in SEMEA, a Region that stretches from Lisbon to Dubai and from Paris to Johannesburg? Let's take a look at some of the great events that will take place. Yes, “events” not only “walks”, because every country can add a touch of creativity organizing events that will help improve the involvement of people and the effectiveness of the fundraising. These will be

Beginning from Italy, a country that loves its art, its food, but most of all…its football! So what did TNT Italy decide to do? Link the yearly football tournament, during which teams from depots and departments battle to be crowned TNT Italy’s champions, to a fundraising project of WFP : “School Gardens”. Each team will help by buying a vegetable garden for a school in Gambia, the country twinned with TNT Express Italy, and this will allow an important food integration to what the children usually eat. The fundraising also includes the contribution from the many local initiatives activated by employees.

Spain decided to organize a quite original “walk”, starting from the question: “How do we get even more people to participate? Of course, we’ll organize a virtual walk!”. Everyone (even if not a TNTian) can participate, you only have to enrol online, decide your donation, choose a Dolly (like an Avatar) and voilat, you’re in! This walk, called “Marcha Solidaria” , will be active until June 5. There is also a surprise for the participants: every ten euros donated you will be awarded a virtual ticket that grants you the opportunity of being drawn to win a special prize!

Slightly further north, TNT France decided to show its commitment and engagement by organizing a combo of events that will take place during the third week of June. In Lyon, employees have prepared a “treasure hunt” to be added to a “solidarity lottery”, ending the day with a bite to eat: a picnic all together. Also, a three day photo exhibition on “TNT specialist assignments” has been scheduled. Paris opted for a “sports day” with a football and Badminton tournament, during which a lottery and a “flea market” have been organized, without forgetting though the kids that will be entertained  with a lot of fun activities. 

A slight drift to the east and we can meet TNT Bulgaria, that this year decided to organize a very special event that will take place at the head office in Sofia: a “Charity bazaar”: employees, families and friends, will show their talent by creating, inventing and crafting proper works of art and objects, with all the profits obviously being donated to WFP. There will be room for everyone: photographers, artists, designers, cooks, even actors and singers, which will have the opportunity of being filmed and shown on the local TNT tv cannel. To add even more to the event and to the fundraising, there will also be a special stand with TNT/WFP branded promotional items for sale. May the performances begin!

But what is happening overseas? Or should we say over continents? After the great numbers of last year that saw 300 determined participants, TNT Express South Africa wants to do even more and see that number increase. The “walk” , which will be a traditional one, will be held in a beautiful environment such as the Pretoria National Zoo and will be open to employees and their families. Following participants will join for a picnic and both children and adults will be entertained with games, music, and fun activities.

These are some of the great initiatives that have been organized throughout the SEMEA region, stay tuned to read about how the events actually went! We’ll keep you posted.

Marco