inclusiveness & solidarity
Faced with the distress in local communities from the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, Esther took action and participated from start to finish in a SPIE initiative to distribute food to those most in need in Nigeria.
A treasury officer at SPIE’s Port Harcourt office, Esther has been working in the accounts department since 2007. The Covid pandemic hit Nigeria seriously in March 2020, causing lockdowns and raising the price of food out of the reach of many.
“At that time, most staff were working from home, but I was working in the office, and I heard that SPIE had a plan to donate food.”
Seeing at first hand people suffering from hunger, Esther pitched in, from going to the market to check what was bought to joining the group that drove to the Elekahia district to distribute the food. “The community liaison officer had informed the local chiefs that we were coming, so when we arrived there were lots of villagers – young people, elders – and we told them we know how difficult things are and that SPIE wants to support them in this critical time.”
Every family benefited in some way from the food donations. “My colleagues and I felt privileged that we could do something for others. As an individual, helping to put food on the table and sharing what you have is a feeling of joy.”
“ I was so happy that as a company we could make an even bigger difference.”
Esther Odum,
Treasury officer at SPIE Oil & Gas Services Port Harcourt office
A strengthening during the Pandemic
During Covid-19 pandemic, SPIE subsidiaries have continued helping the most vulnerable populations. In France, SPIE Nucléaire renewed its partnership with Enfance & Partage, SPIE Facilities became involved with the Elle’s Angels association, which supports women who are victims of violence, and SPIE CityNetworks organised a sports challenge for various organisations. 9,900 euros in donations were collected in Germany, largely thanks to payments by employees via a rounding-off operation on their salaries.
Did you know?
2
food distributions carried out by SPIE Oil & Gas Services in Angola
4,500
food packages were distributed near Manchester in the UK
€4,000
donated to charities thanks to SPIE CityNetworks’ sports challenge (France)
Interview with Marcia Valente about charity actions
Like most countries of the world, Angola has not escaped the Covid-19 pandemic. In the capital, Luanda, SPIE Oil & Gas Services came to the aid of the local community, Boa Vista.