CSR? CR? Sustainability? Are they the same?

In recent years, there is a growing trend of companies paying attention to social and environmental impacts as a result of their business operations. Corporate talks a lot about contributing to the society. Particularly in some blue-chip organisations, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)/ Corporate Responsibility (CR)/ Sustainability Divisions are set up. If you have aware, names of these divisions have been shifted from CSR to CR or Sustainability. Are these concepts the same? And why is there such a change?

Some people claim that CSR and CR/ Sustainability are interchangeable. Theoretically speaking, however, they are contested concepts, which should evolve across time and context.

CSR is viewed as part of the business roles of contributing its profits to the community. It is defined by dual objectives- benefiting business and society.

While climate change has becoming an overwhelming issue, our interpretations have developed from a relatively narrowed social concern to a wider notion of balancing economic, social and environmental development. The CSR focus is far too narrow in the sustainable development led era.

By taking the ‘S’ out of CSR, CR embraces a holistic conception of sustainable development- to meet the needs without compromising the needs of the future generation. In business sense, CR means to meet the business objectives without compromising the future social, economic and environmental needs. In other words, corporate has the responsibility of maintaining sustainable development by acting in a sustainable manner.

The transformation of departmental terms reflects practitioners’ awareness of the prevailing contextual shift. However, how can corporate make full use of CR/ Sustainability? Is it an opportunity or a risk?

From a charity point of view, it is promising to see corporate waking up from the call and getting business beyond usual. We see CR/ Sustainability an opportunity for charity/non-profit organisations to build potential partnerships with corporate and accrue significant benefits to the society in sustainable manners.

Next, we will discuss more about the opportunities and challenges of business-charity partnerships from a charity perspective. Please post a comment of your initial thoughts!

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Change Our World: Let the Youth Speak!

“Failing to invest in our youth is a false economy,” said the United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

Three months ago, International Youth Day (IYD) was commenced to round up the UN International Year of Youth (IYY) 2010-2011. “Change Our World” was chosen as the theme of the year, which draw youth’s inspiration to take initiatives to change and bring positive impacts to the globe.

The theme represents the importance of the impact that the young generation to strive to achieve. It also stresses the notion of global citizenship and cosmopolitanism as the core principles of the UN.

The UN significantly raises youth inclusion to the global policy agenda. However, the reality shows that it is uneasy to truly empower youth. Policy and politics regard youth voice as risk. Favouring those in power is the major roadblock for genuine youth empowerment. There are critics about youth being apathetic to politics. But if they are not given channels to voice out their thoughts, how can they be motivated to participate in politics?

Nowadays, we talk a lot about sustainable development- to meet the current need without compromising the need of the next generation. Sustainability does not solely refer to environmental sense, but also all walks of social aspect. To sustain the well being of the global community, youth should be given freedom to speak and opportunities they deserved.

The question is “how can we encourage young people to speak?” In the information age, youth, the e-generation, are proficient users of all kinds of modern communications (i.e. social media and online discussion platforms). These tools have great capacity to connect youth to the outside world. We need to give young people a room to speak and shout out loud, and to be heard from people around the globe.

Seeing the boom of the e-climate, we created the online educational platform- Rafi.ki, to encourage young people to exchange ideas, inspirations and plan to make changes upon the emerging global issues. With our effort, we motivate youth to be actively engaged. With the support from governments, NGOs, and corporate, we believe it will be a big step forward to effectively empower global youth.

Show your support by following us on twitter, joining our Facebook page and telling your friends, colleagues and family. 

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