Danube Box national students’ competition has announced in 2014 as well. The organiser Global Water Partnership (GWP) Hungary will accept applications till 24 February.

Through this program supported by Coca-Cola Hungary more than 5000 children from hundreds of schools got more familiar with the habitat of the Danube basin.The success of the Danube Box clearly shows us that the for-profit, state and non-profit sectors can cooperate successfully in reaching an important common goal,  in this case: the protection of the Danube.

At Coca-Cola Hungary they believe, that in case of environmental protection, and on the field of protecting the Danube they can be successful only if we manage to make a long-term impact on the attitude of people. This was the reason behind creating the Danube Box comprehensive media set and a national student competition based on this set.

Danube Box is an education material, a comprehensive media set aiming to make children known of the complex world of Danube River, and that humans make a part of its ecological system. Danube Box helps teachers in countries all along the Danube River to motivate children to learn more about the natural and cultural assets of the Danube-region and to protect the river and utilise it in a sustainable way.

The interactive education material prepared by the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) for pupils aged 11-19 and their teachers provides not only factual and professional information, but lots of illustrations, worksheets that can be copied, descriptions of role-playing games, indoor and outdoor activities and a section on culture (ever day stories, memories, recipes), and a CD-ROM with an interactive Danube trip. It allows for a playful understanding of the fauna and flora of the Danube Basin and the way the river and its environs contribute to the well-being of communities, while children also make researches and learn by the “hands, the mind and the heart” encouraging them to reflect on their own way of life.

As in the previous years, teams can apply for the competition in two categories: 11-14 years old and 15-19 years old. It has three online turns and a national final for the best 7 teams of each category.

The competition is listed in the official register of national educational contests. All the relevant materials can be downloaded from the website of Danube Box. Also, all schools nationwide can submit their applications on the website: www.danubebox.hu.

The company moves to help over 20000 European youth in the labour market

Athens, 15 November 2013 – “Nestlé will provide employment opportunities to 10,000 young people across Europe in the next three years” announced Laurent Freixe, Nestlé Executive Vice-President and Zone Director for Europe in Athens on Friday. In the framework of the Nestlé Youth Initiative, the company offers apprentice positions and traineeships to another 10,000 young people under 30, launches school consultation programmes and calls upon its European suppliers to join the initiative. Several Nestlé partners in Hungary have already indicated to participate in the initiative.

Nestlé announced a comprehensive initiative to assist the employment of European youth on Friday. The company will provide work or apprenticeship/traineeship opportunities to 20,000 European youth under 30 in the scope of the Nestlé Youth in the fields of production, administration, marketing, finance, research and development.

“Today, one in four young people in Europe does not have a job,” said Laurent Freixe, Nestlé Executive Vice-President and Zone Director for Europe on the problem that affects employees and companies alike when announcing the initiative in Athens, the capital of Greece, a country where more than half of those under the age of 25 are without work. “As we continue to grow and invest in Europe, we want to do all we can to strengthen and develop their skills, and improve their employability, regardless of their level of education,” he said. The initiative, the first of its kind on such a scale, is built upon the company’s continued commitment to investing in Europe throughout the economic crisis, Mr Freixe added. The European Union’s Commissioner for Education, Androulla Vassiliou said she welcomed the Nestlé Youth Initiative as an example of how the private sector can contribute to Europe’s recovery.

The Nestlé Youth Initiative is built on four pillars. As part thereof, the company also launches school and college counselling programmes to hone young people’s job seeking skills. In addition, Nestlé also encourages its over 60,000 suppliers in Europe under the “Alliance for Youth” programme to join the initiative. All European units of the Nestlé Group is involved in the implementation of the initiative, including Hungary.

Pillars of the Nestlé Youth Initiative

1. Job opportunities in production, administration, marketing, finance, research-development for 10,000 youth under 30 in Europe until 2016.

2. Apprenticeship/traineeship offers for 10,000 youth under 30 in Europe until 2016.

3. The initiative will also feature a “Readiness for work” career counselling programme in Europe for schools and colleges (CV clinic, interview training, counselling).

4. “Alliance for Youth” The alliance of Nestlé suppliers to support the goals of the initiative and to provide workplaces and work experience.

The initiative in Hungary

Several Hungarian companies showed a commitment to join Nestlé’s efforts as it was mentioned at the announcement of the Youth Initiative in Budapest. Mike Nixon, Managing Director of Nestlé Hungária Kft. said: “We have constantly developed our capacities in Hungary in the past years. As a result, the number of employees increased by 25% since 2012.” As part of the initiative, we increase the number of apprenticeship/traineeship positions by 50% and offer job opportunities to 180 trainees in the next three years, he added.

Read more about this here: Nestlé_Youth_Initiative_Press release_131115

Within the framework provided by a unique partnership Coca-Cola Hungary is taking part in the revival of the endangered Liberty Island near the city of Mohács (along the river Danube). The 47-acre island were threatened by siltation and disappearance endangering valuable natural habitats and the source of the regional drinking water.

As the EUR 1.8 million project comes to an end in 2013, we put emphasize to communicate the results of the previous 5 years and draw attention to the spectacular natural values of the Danube, the largest Hungarian river. In early November in all Cinema City cinemas in Hungary a 30 second spot was broadcasted about Liberty Island project, a wetland habitat restoration CSR project of Coca-Cola Hellenic Hungary.

The spot was screened in all the 176 Cinema City halls throughout the country before all the movies during two weeks in early November as part of our commercial agreement with the multiplex cinema network company. During this period almost 300,000 people got familiar with Coca-Cola Hungary largest water stewardship project.

 Spot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hAS86D6iB8&feature=youtu.be

To save the island, the  company, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Hungary, Danube-Drava National Park (DDNP), the local water works DRV, national organizations for the environment and water, and the city of Mohács have joined forces.  In 2007 Coca-Cola Hungary provided financial support to launch the program, which allowed WWF Hungary to successfully submit a tender in 2008 to the EU LIFE+ Nature program. WWF was granted a subsidy of EUR 1 million by the EU, enabling the project to start up in 2008. The 5 years of the project comes to an end in 2013 and now the company can proudly announce that the island has been saved and properly restored.

Coca-Cola Hungary contributed over EUR 300,000 to the project over a period of 5 years, and also offered hundreds of hours of professional and volunteer work by its employees to help the successful completion of the project. Total budget of the project has reached EUR 1.8 million.

The project was selected by IEEP (Institute for European Environmental Policy) to be published as a case study in a publication describing EU Natura 2000 investments, which only 10 projects have the privilege to be part of in Europe

Key results of the unique freshwater and nature conservation project:

– saving a natural island from disappearing

– securing pure, safe drinking water for the south part of Baranya county (about a million users)

– educational path created on the island

– local community gets back its “Danube bank beach”, which will serve as a safe area for bathing and having fun in the Danube

The 93% let Green House was chosen to be the best project in the LEED for Shell and Core category on the third annual EuropaProperty CEE Green Building Awards ceremony held on the 28th of November.

Skanska Property Hungary had an extraordinarily prosperous last week. Apart from winning four other local real estate prizes in Hungary, Green House also received the award in Warsaw.

“This recognition is a great achievement which we are very proud of. With the 93 point LEED Platinum certification, Hungary’s greenest building was confirmed to be exceptionally good. The EU GreenBuilding certification and A+ energy ranking are also official proof to our committed tenants that, with the outstanding energy efficiency and high percentage of innovative solutions, we are ensuring them a sustainable, cost efficient and healthy environment, a perfect example of our Workplaces by Skanska concept”, said András Schmidt, Sustainability Manager of Skanska Property Hungary.

Skanska’s next Váci Road project – Nordic Light – also took part in the competition and, as a LEED Gold pre-certified building, became short listed in the LEED Pre-Certificate Shell & Core category.

The CEE Green Building Awards, organized in response to the growing significance of green development in the region from both a development and investment perspective, are designed to highlight and provide recognition to all the projects, companies and occupiers that are leading the way in sustainable development.

Green House is currently 93% leased after the building’s handover in December 2012. The 17,800 sq m property still offers units on various floors.

In September 2013, the Coca-Cola Wake Your Body – Calorie Balance Campaign, was awarded the “Best Health Marketing Campaign” prize at the 2013 Beverage Innovation Awards @ Drinktec, in Munich, Germany.

Obesity and concerns about personal health and well-being have become critical issues in the past few years.
As a key player in the communities in which it operates, and as a major supplier of beverages, Coca-Cola Hellenic group has a keen interest in working with partners in government and NGOs to help tackle these challenges. That’s why in 2005, Coca-Cola HBC in Hungary launched “Coca-Cola Wake Your Body”, a multi-disciplined sports and activity programme to drive awareness about the importance of an active lifestyle, promoting understanding about the importance of a balanced diet and making informed choices.
To date, more than three million people have taken part in leisure sports at more than 500 events comprising more than 50 diverse activities including running, biking aerobics and a whole range of other fitness activities.
Eda Pogany, Public Affairs Manager for Coca-Cola HBC Hungary who received the award said, “Nothing is more important to us that the health and happiness of the communities we serve. I am honoured to have been part of this multi-partner event which has been recognized for its community contribution this evening and we look forward to expanding our healthy lifestyle programmes long into the future.”

The Beverage Innovation Awards are an annual event organized by FoodBev Media, and this year were held as part of the Drinktec trade exhibition which is held every four years in Munich.