154 have since become confidants of the youths and mostly get involved during their free time. In addition, celebrations such as the New Year’s celebration “Eyd-e Nowruz”, “Eid al-Fitr” (the breaking of the fast), or Christmas are a welcome change and an important occasion for becoming familiar with the various cultures. The TRIGOS 2016 nomination (an Austrian CSR award) in the “Best Partnership: National and international commitment” category was a special recognition for the corporate volunteering project “Haus Roshan”. An important criterion for the TRIGOS award is the effect achieved for the company, but also for society and the environment. “Haus Arjan” was established at the beginning of 2016 in Mistelbach and houses 90 refugees, in particular unaccompanied minors and families. Raiffeisen Centrobank AG (RCB) decided to support this new home for refugees and the creation of a self-sufficient life in Austria, both financially and with contributions of time and materials. In addition to monetary contributions by the RCB Managing Board and employees, a campaign entitled “Book from the Christ Child” was organized in which every resident could wish for a book, which was then personalized and given as a Christmas gift by RCB. In November and December 2016, the “Surprise in a Box” activities were held within the framework of the corporate volunteering program to spread some Christmas joy to deserving children of asylum seekers and those already entitled to asylum. This now traditional Christmas initiative took place for the ninth time. Employees (of RZB AG and some specialized subsidiaries, RBI AG and Raiffeisen-Informatik) donated lots of used or new toys, books or stuffed animals, which were then packed into shoe boxes and wrapped with Christmas decorations. Cinema coupons were also © Stephan Beiter Stephan Beiter, Head of Austrian Corporate Customers I, RBI AG, project leader “Haus Roshan“ “While we were putting together furniture for future residents of Haus Roshan at the height of the refugee crisis in the autumn of 2015, we quickly realized that the Roshan project needed to be about more than just financing the containers: ‘More’ in the sense of supporting the 40 adolescents during their arrival and integration into Austria. Since then, many corporate volunteers have been very active at Haus Roshan: At the beginning, the ’arrival’ was the focus of activities: Cooking together, hanging out and playing sports helped the young men find a meaningful occupation and relationship to people in Austria. At the start of 2016, we shifted the focus to learning German. Our volunteers now fulfill an important role acting as mentors for learning and school. As project leader, it is particularly important to me that this project enables many ‘helping hands’ for refugees in their personal encounters with the social challenges of being a ‘refugee’. For me, the many beautiful and also sad moments, the successes and failures, the small and large steps made by the residents are very valuable experiences. I am convinced that the encounter creates a different awareness and understanding for people from other cultures and is the basis for living together in solidarity.” QUOTE © Raiffeisen Centrobank AG (RCB) © RBI AG
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