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Raiffeisen Bank International | Sustainability Report 2017
GRI content index / Assurance statement Engaged citizen Fair partner Responsible banker Sustainability management Overview Foreword
Personal commitment is necessary considering the comprehensive
changes that the global community of nations is striving to achieve by the
end of 2030 through the “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” (see
page 25). In the same way that each company can play a role and get
actively and directly involved, every individual has an opportunity to get personally involved and be part of
the sustainable change required for reaching the goals through activities such as corporate volunteering.
The many measures implemented by RBI in 2017 in its role as “engaged citizen” supported multiple SDG
objectives such as, for example, SDG 1 (end poverty in all its forms everywhere). With their initiatives in the
area of (financial) education, RBI offers the possibility of taking on another urgent social challenge. In this
way, it takes into account SDG 4 (ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong
learning opportunities for all). This results in a possible effect on SDG 8, which envisions the promotion of
sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for
all. That should help considerably to reduce, by 2020, the proportion of young people without jobs or
academic or occupational training. RBI is convinced that particularly its corporate volunteering projects can
always support several goals at the same time.
Financial education (financial literacy) and other educational
initiatives
Education is one of the most important issues of the 21st century. RBI contributes to the improvement of education,
an important tool in the fight against poverty. It actively promotes an understanding of financial products and
services, and imparts banking expertise as part of its advisory role in day-to-day operations. It is closely linked
with the subject of financial education, i.e. the competent handling of money and financial matters, also referred
to under the term “financial literacy” due to its core business. RBI focuses on this issue in particular in the field of
education. Appealing to various age groups and integrating employees into corporate volunteering programs
makes it possible to reach everyone from school children and students through to the wider public via a variety of
channels. A lot of effort goes into improving individuals’ everyday life, and, through financial education, to laying
a foundation for the future responsible handling of money.
Financial literacy
The employees of Raiffeisen Polbank in Poland
participated in the project “BAKCYL – Bank
Employees for Youth Financial Education” in the area
of financial education. In this initiative organized by
the Warsaw Institute of Banking in partnership with the
Polish Bank Association, employees of Raiffeisen
Polbank took part in corporate volunteering events to
teach basic financial principles to middle school
students.
In 2017, 16 employees volunteered 161 hours to
share financial knowledge with young people and
to offer them a foundation for making wise decisions
© Warsaw Institute of Banking
in later life. Overall, a total of 45,492 students were reached by the BAKCYL initiative of the Warsaw Institute of
Banking, including approximately 3,380 students taught by Polbank employees.