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In April 2007, as part of its inaugural global charity day (HRG Day), staff from international corporate services company Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), raised £24,000 for ActionAid charitable projects in Brazil, Cambodia and Malawi. Over the next few weeks, three HRG employees will have visited these projects to see how the money raised is being put to good use.

Representing 12,000 HRG employees around the world whose fundraising ranged from fancy dress events and quizzes to raffles, cake sales and even a sponsored mountain trek, the three HRG Day ambassadors will have witnessed first-hand how the projects supported are making a meaningful difference to local communities. They will report back to colleagues on their experiences and share updates and photos on the progress of each project.

• Alan Flett, Manager of Technical Operations from HRG in Canada, has recently returned from Malawi, a country with one of the highest global rates of HIV/AIDS. Every nine minutes someone in Malawi dies from an AIDS-related illness. The project Alan visited is providing an Ulufu (Malawi word for 'Freedom') centre offering healthcare, testing facilities, access to antiretroviral treatments, nutrition programmes, basic education and emotional support.

Alan commented: “This was my first trip to Africa and it was an understatement to say that the money raised during HRG Day has been put to a good cause in Malawi. The project we’ve funded is making a real difference to so many people. It was an experience I’ll never forget."

• Clarice Moon, Data Capturer for HRG South Africa, is set to visit Brazil where receiving a quality education is a real challenge. Only 11% of children are able to complete primary school and the project supported by HRG is working in partnership with a local cultural centre to provide hundreds of children in Rio de Janeiro with an alternative to a life of drugs and violence. A mixture of skills based programmes, catch up classes and social activities such as football teams and dance classes provide a combination of learning and fun.

Clarice will be visiting Brazil in November.  She comments: “It’s amazing to think that I’ve been chosen to represent HRG. Seeing the project is what it is really all about, but I do get taken aback when I stop and think about it all.”

• Amanda Shaw, Team Leader at HRG UK will be travelling to Cambodia at the end of November where more than 4.5 million people live on less than 65p a day. Amanda will visit a project to set up 30 community health centres which will provide women in Cambodia with access to experienced birth attendants, contraception, medical supplies and basic check-ups. It will also provide a community healthcare programme for 20,000 people in rural Cambodia.

Amanda says: “I’ll be spending some time in urban areas around the capital, Phnom Penh, but then going right off the beaten track where very few westerners go to see a health centre that was set up a couple of years ago and is similar to the one that HRG will be funding.  I’ll be taking a diary and a camera so that I can report back what happens and what I see on my trip.”

David Radcliffe, HRG Chief Executive, comments: “HRG Day united our employees around the world, raising a sizable amount of money for three distinct ActionAid projects in three distinct parts of the world. Ultimately HRG Day is about making a difference to the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves and it is fantastic that we are able to send three of our people to see firsthand exactly how the money raised is being used.”

- Ends -

For further information:

Jonathan Ludford
Hogg Robinson Group
Tel: +44 (0) 1256 312624
Email: jonathan.ludford@hrgworldwide.com

Notes to Editors:

Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) is the award-winning international corporate services company.  Founded in 1845, HRG has over 60 years specific corporate travel expertise. Its corporate services interests include owned or controlled operations in 25 of the key drive / growth markets through Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. Supported by contract partners, the HRG worldwide network extends to approximately 100 countries.

Totally committed to a value offering for clients, HRG offers a comprehensive range of corporate services which include Corporate Travel Management, Consulting, Expense Management, Events & Meetings Management, and Sports.

HRG Day

Held on 3 April 2007, HRG Day - HRG’s first annual charity day - was supported across the globe. A host of fun events and activities helped raise the money including special buffets, themed lunches or breakfasts in Australia, Austria and Germany, to quizzes, raffles and auctions in the Nordics, UK, North America, Italy and South Africa. Slovakia and Czech Republic held an 'Auction of Promises' in which staff bid for their colleagues to complete tasks for them (such as making coffee for a whole month). Special HRG Day cakes were baked in Argentina, Dubai, Ghana, Italy, North America and South Africa.  There were celebrations in the Philippines, China, Namibia and Russia as well as numerous fancy dress events and cakes sales. There was even a sponsored mountain trek by HRG in Hong Kong.
www.hrgworldwide.com

About ActionAid

ActionAid is an international development agency whose aim is to fight poverty worldwide. Formed in 1972, the charity has spent over 30 years growing and expanding to where they are today - helping over 13 million of the world's poorest and most disadvantaged people in 42 countries worldwide. In all of their country programmes they work with local partners to make the most of their knowledge and experience. ActionAid has a unique vision and direction. They don't impose solutions, but work with communities over many years to strengthen their own efforts to throw off poverty. They constantly seek new solutions and ask how they can make the greatest impact with their resources.
www.actionaid.org