CSR Spotlight: Telstra Sensis China

Sensis China’s recent CSR partnership with the Dandelion Middle School in Beijing has delivered benefits to both the school and the company. The partnership is part of a wider commitment to CSR involving business, humanitarian and environmental initiatives, and a 1 million RMB donation to earthquake relief.

Established in 2005 by a Chinese-American academic, the Dandelion School caters specifically to low-income migrant families in Beijing. Sensis China’s partnership is delivering support to the school across a range of key learning areas.

Last month, Sensis China initiated a programme engaging staff volunteers in school-based science projects. Volunteers from Sensis China assisted students in establishing flower gardens as part of the school’s science curriculum. Volunteers were matched with three to five students to complete the activity, with both parties indicating they found the partnership fulfilling. “This is a great event that I hope we can continue long term,” said one Sensis China volunteer. “I really enjoyed interacting with the students and answering their questions.”

Sensis China plans to continue the science programme series by sponsoring a visit by the Dandelion School to the Beijing Museum of Technology later this year. Sensis China will also implement a programme to assist students in the design and installation of solar-powered streetlights on campus next year.

Sensis China’s partnership with the Dandelion School is part of a wider CSR programme, which was launched in July 2009. The programme includes a business-oriented scholarship programme, a disaster relief programme and a green office project.

Launched in September last year, the Telstra Sensis China Scholarship Programme has seen 15 staff selected for English language training lasting up to 12 months. Drawn from the Telstra Sensis portfolio of companies in China, up to three of the 15 staff members will participate in a work exchange programme with Telstra or Sensis in Australia. The scholarship is part of the company’s commitment to sustainability in China, which also includes a Green Office recycling project.

Outside the office, the company has been contributing to earthquake relief and development work in Qinghai Province. Telstra Sensis China, in association with its portfolio of companies has made a RMB 1 million donation to the China Youth Development Foundation. The funds are being used in the reconstruction of classrooms and other school buildings destroyed in the Yushu quake area.

Telstra Sensis China’s establishment of a CSR programme involving multiple beneficiaries has increased the company’s capacity to engage employees, business stakeholders and the wider community. The CSR programme is currently in the first stage of a three-stage implementation process, with subsequent stages aiming to engage a wider range of stakeholders.