Giving Back - Social Responsibility at EC English Language Centres

A Global Community

At EC, we are committed to giving back to the communities in which we live and work. Responsible behaviour is our signature – it’s part of everything we do. EC’s CSR Charter is based on three pillars that guide us in our conduct of responsible business around the world: Sustainability, Education and Community

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

All EC Centres promote a ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ policy, taking steps to reduce consumption of energy and natural resources while maintaining a comprehensive recycling policy.

Offsetting our Carbon Footprint

Since we first measured our carbon footprint in 2012, we’ve reduced our carbon emissions by more than half, and every year we offset all business flights to reduce our footprint even further by making a monetary donation to www.carbonfootprint.com.

Our long-term vision

Our ultimate goal is to become the most environmentally-friendly English language school in the world. To achieve this we’re aiming at becoming completely carbon neutral, which means we take out as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as we put in.

EC in Cambodia

Find out about our first school in Cambodia in collaboration with United World Schools.

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CSR Champions

CSR Champions in every EC school around the world ensure that we deliver what we promise in our CSR Charter, by working together across the globe to exchange ideas and coordinate activities across all schools.

Education

As part of our academic programme we include a focus on social, cultural, economic and environmental issues in our lessons, one-off lectures and school media. Our academic programme continues to evolve and give CSR more prominence through practical assignments including volunteering for organizations in the community. Our students are actively encouraged to participate in fundraising and volunteering in the local community of our destinations.

Learning and giving back combined

Cambodia

In collaboration with United World Schools, we have built a school in Cambodia, which provides education for over 165 local children that would otherwise have no access to it. They are able to learn numeracy & fluency in Khmer, the national language, greatly improving their prospects. EC continues to maintain the school through fundraising activities and provides opportunities for our staff to visit the school and volunteer.

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Fundraising

We have local community projects in several of our centres, and fundraising for local (and global) charities happens year-round in all of our locations, supported by the EC Fundraising Policy, which matches the funds raised by our staff for global and local community campaigns. In addition, our schools annually celebrate World Environment Day and World Teacher’s Day.

Volunteering

With our EC Volunteering Policy, all qualifying staff can request up to 8 hours paid time away from work to volunteer for the cause of their choice, while the EC Sabbatical Policy enables qualifying staff up to 12 weeks away from the office for career development (including voluntary work) linked to our Primary Purpose.

Community Relations

We work hard to build community relations by providing support to local organisations, which have been nominated by our staff at each school.

Timeline

2012

Launched our first 'Giving Back' annual event; measured our carbon footprint for the first time

2013

Started delivering training to EC staff on social responsibility; sabbatical, volunteering & fundraising policies launched; World Environment Day celebrated for the first time

2014

3 Peaks Challenge raises over €10,000 for charity; more than a 50% reduction in carbon emissions since 2012 baseline
2015

Investment in carbon reduction programmes to offset business flights; launch of English in the City elective

2016

Completion of our first school in Cambodia in collaboration with United World Schools

2017

Our first employee volunteer trip to our school in Cambodia and the launch of our scholarship programme, bringing UWS Cambodia team members to EC to learn English
2018

Opening of our second school, in collaboration with United World Schools, in Don Lo, Cambodia, just a few miles from the first school.

2019

Second 2-week volunteer trip to Cambodia helping out at our UWS school.

2012

Launched our first 'Giving Back' annual event; measured our carbon footprint for the first time
2013

Started delivering training to EC staff on social responsibility; sabbatical, volunteering & fundraising policies launched; World Environment Day celebrated for the first time
2014

3 Peaks Challenge raises over €10,000 for charity; more than a 50% reduction in carbon emissions since 2012 baseline
2015

Investment in carbon reduction programmes to offset business flights; launch of English in the City elective
2016

Completion of our first school in Cambodia in collaboration with United World Schools
2017

Our first employee volunteer trip to our school in Cambodia and the launch of our scholarship programme, bringing UWS Cambodia team members to EC to learn English
2018

Opening of our second school, in collaboration with United World Schools, in Don Lo, Cambodia, just a few miles from the first school.
2019

Second 2-week volunteer trip to Cambodia helping out at our UWS school.

Get in touch

For further information on CSR at EC please email us at corporatesocialresponsibility@ecenglish.com

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