Symantec employees across the world recently participated in Global Service Week (GSW), a time to join together to improve the local communities. During this full week of service, employees are encouraged to commit to at least one hour of community service with a non profit or charitable project of their choice.
In Ireland, 156 Symantec employees volunteered a total of 1021 hours – an average of 6.5 hours per person, 29 percent of the employee base in Ireland participated.
Symantec Ireland volunteers supported 27 different charities and community groups, including Focus Ireland, Food Cloud, Ash Animal Rescue, St. Francis Hospice, An Taisce/Bird Watch Ireland, Dogs for the Disabled, Ronald McDonald House, and Solar Buddy, making an incredible impact in their communities.
Last October 57 Symantec employees from Dublin worked with two different non profit organizations — An Taisce’s Clean Coasts and Bird Watch Ireland. While working with Clean Coasts, an organization that engages communities in the protection of Ireland’s beaches, seas and marine life, the volunteers removed 55 bags worth of litter and plastics from the beaches of and water surrounding Bull Island. Additionally, the volunteers helped catalogue the debris to make sure that the source of pollution could be identified.
Symantec Ireland volunteers also built 40 nesting boxes for birds whose homes had been destroyed by climate change and urban sprawl. Of the 40 boxes, five were installed on Bull Island the day of the event. The rest were distributed by Bird Watch Ireland, the largest independent conservation organization in Ireland.