We care about our communities
Let us introduce you Dana Olah, who is working as actuary for us. Her story is just one of many where you can find out how we, at Zurich Insurance Company, help our communities. If you are interested in what is happening around you, you will definitely fit in our culture.
Good things first
Many of you, perhaps, imagine people who work with numbers as austere professionals, who only find pleasure in their work. However, the fact is completely different and in the case of our actuary, Dana Olah, this notion cannot be further from the truth.
In addition to her work, she also does volunteering. She began during scouting where she was preparing a program for young scouts. From that point, it was not far away to volunteer work with socially disadvantaged children or people with disabilities. Together with her scout group, she lead the summer camp with full of games and education for children from roma communities.
In cooperation with Living TAK association, she participated in the movement and dance activities for people with mental disabilities. She is also working with OZ Imobilio, whose primary goal is the integration of people with disabilities. In addition, Dana devotes her free time to homeless people for whom she has organized various lectures to make it easier for them to return to normal life.
Inspiration for all of us
Dana is a great inspiration for all colleagues and a source of positive energy. She tries to motivate them and engage in volunteer activities where possible. That's why, for example, when Imobilio association needed help with construction work, Dana's colleagues did not hesitate and put a hand on the work.
When Zurich Foundation announced the Global Community Champion Award for community work in 2017, her colleagues nominated Dana for this award. She was probably the only one that was surprised by her victory. Money from the win went to five different non-profit organizations close to her heart. The whole team is glad they can work with someone like Dana, who is constantly motivating them to do maximum for communities in their neighborhood. Inspirated also by Dana, Zurich Insurance company does everything to make our world better and with more people who are not afraid of helping each other.
Supporting women in the IT sector
The NGO Aj Ty v IT helps girls and women explore and enter the world of technology. Guided by its motto “Technology has no gender”, the organization aims to create a more equal tech society and ensure that women are not left on the sidelines, but become an integral part of our technological future.
With the support of the Z Zurich Foundation, the organization challenges social stereotypes about women working in IT, focuses on building a strong community, and offers educational programs for girls from the age of 8, through high school students, all the way to specialized career programmes designed for adult women.
The support doesn’t end there
Mental health is very fragile, especially among young people. Up to 50% of mental disorders develop already in childhood and adolescence. Pressure from social media, performance, climate change and uncertainty leads to rising levels of anxiety, depression and feelings of burnout. To prevent these negative impacts, thanks to the Z Zurich Foundation and our local CSR team we have managed to establish a partnership with the non-profit organization IPčko.
This partnership brings programs that respond to local needs, building a comprehensive, multi-channel system of mental well-being support for young people aged 13–30 in Eastern Slovakia, while also strengthening the capacities of teachers, caregivers and professionals in the sector. It also includes innovative elements, such as reaching out to young people where they are – in the digital world. The overall goal of the partnership is to positively impact more than 90,000 lives.
Inspiring Women in STEM in the Heart of Eastern Slovakia
In cooperation with Aj Ty v IT, IT Valley in Košice and the Z Zurich Foundation, we also organized a dedicated event in the very heart of Eastern Slovakia – in Košice. The gathering brought together inspiring women from various STEM fields, who shared their personal journeys, practical experience, and know-how. Through their stories they highlighted both the challenges and opportunities in science and technology, and pointed to concrete ways we can take further, more effective steps to support women and drive progress in STEM.
Other CSR projects
In addition, our local CSR team regularly organizes spring and Christmas cooking events and clothing drives for the clients of the non-profit organisation Vagus, which supports people in difficult financial situations and/or without a home by providing them with a warm meal and clothing.
They also regularly organise a Community Week, during which they support selected non-profit organisations through hands-on, manual work – for example cleaning the grounds of the Bratislava Zoo; collecting gifts for seniors and homeless children; selling baked goods or breakfasts to raise funds for NGOs; and hosting game nights with the same charitable purpose.