Save the Children is nevertheless only one of many organizations that Hydro funds, and a total of NOK 27 million were spent on community investments, charitable donations and sponsorships in 2013.

“Giving back to the society and contributing to viable local communities is at the very core of Hydro’s business model. Although our main contributions to local societies are through developing natural resources and creating local jobs, we also want to support other organizations and initiatives through financial contributions,” says Inger Sethov, Chief Communication Officer in Hydro.

Save the Children

Children represent the future, and that is why Hydro has supported Save the Children since 1987. The support started as a grass root initiative where Hydro’s employees requested voluntary monthly salary deductions to raise money for the organization. This later turned into a Save the Children scheme also open to other companies, counting more than 100 Norwegian businesses today.

“We are very proud to see the extent of our total support to Save the Children. Starting as a grass root support initiative, this illustrates what individual ideas and actions can lead to. By continued support to organizations such as Save the Children, we hope to empower more children and youths to realize their ideas and thereby contributing to a positive local and global development,” Sethov says.

Today, around NOK 1.6 million is given annually. The contribution is given partly as a donation through Hydro’s annual Christmas present to its employees. Hydro also gives 1 NOK to Save the Children for every one of Hydro’s aluminium drinking cans that are recycled in Norway.

“Save the Children Norway is very grateful for the donations from Hydro. The donations represent an important contribution to Save the Children Norway’s work. Hydro is one of our most valuable Main Corporate Partners. The voluntary monthly salary deductions from Hydro’s employees secure children in Ethiopia, Uganda and Nicaragua quality education. The donations covered by our partner agreement plus Hydro employees’ Christmas gift support Save the Children’s vision of a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation.

Our mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. The support from Hydro constitutes an important contribution enabling us to implement this mission," says CEO Tove R. Wang in Save the Children Norway.

People, planet and possibilities

The financial contributions to Save the Children is an important part of Hydro’s partnership and community investment strategy targeting partners and projects in the three categories – people, planet and possibilities.

“With most partners we work on a long-term basis, ensuring that real benefit comes out of the sponsorship. The social and environmental impacts of our investments are key when evaluating current and future partnerships, as well as breakthrough technology and research. We will always look favorably at initiatives that facilitate change and sustainable development globally and locally,” Sethov says.