Original article here.
Author: CBTW
Launched by the founders of Salesforce, Atlassian, and Rally, Pledge 1% has grown into a worldwide initiative embraced by over 19,000 companies across 130 countries. Industry leaders like Twilio, Zoom, and Canva have also taken the pledge, setting a new standard for corporate responsibility and community impact.
At CBTW, this commitment is not new. More than 20% of our company’s equity is already owned by a charitable foundation, underscoring our belief that the value we create should contribute directly to a better future. By formally joining Pledge 1%, we’re reaffirming and building on that founding principle.
In addition to equity, we’re pledging 1% of our global annual profit to support global and local education and health initiatives – an extension of the values that have always guided our work.
While we help organizations grow through technology, data and AI, we believe access to quality education and healthcare are essential to building resilient, equitable communities.
This belief fuels our Social Impact strategy.
In 2024, we focused on education – championing digital inclusion, promoting STEM learning for underserved youth, and increasing access to knowledge. Our commitment through Pledge 1% formalizes and strengthens this mission. In fact, our efforts have been underway since 2019 – with each year expanding our reach and deepening our impact.
- In the APAC region, that impact is already taking shape. Since 2023, we’ve worked with partners like Saigon Children’s Charity and the Library of Dreams to establish fully equipped computer rooms and school libraries, providing approximately 800 students each year with access to digital learning tools and enriched educational resources. Through our long-standing internship program with Passerelles Numériques Vietnam, CBTW has welcomed 43 interns since the partnership began in 2015, offering hands-on experience, structured training, and mentorship from our experts. And through our contribution to Heartbeat Vietnam in 2024, we’re helping fund life-saving surgeries for 15 children with congenital heart defects, with ten already treated and more surgeries scheduled.
- Our commitment to education and social inclusion extends well beyond Asia. Across Europe, our teams continue to champion inclusive education and community empowerment. In Belgium, our long-term partnership with De Brug has helped enhance the learning experience for children with autism and learning disabilities, supporting 70 young students each year through the funding of an Omivista interactive sensory device. Through our ongoing collaboration with TADA, we have provided hundreds of socially vulnerable youth each year, giving them access to weekend schools, alumni programs, and pilot initiatives that develop personal skills and promote greater inclusion within society.
- Continuing this global commitment, in Africa, our efforts focus on education access and child protection. In Madagascar, we continue our multi-year support for Akamasoa, helping maintain a school that provides education to over 1,300 children from disadvantaged communities. In partnership with WAPA, we’ve contributed to reintegration programs for nearly 100 former child soldiers annually in recent years, building on a collaboration that began in 2018. We also support their efforts to prevent the recruitment of children in armed conflicts and raise awareness through education and advocacy initiatives.
- Likewise, in the Americas, we focus on empowering teachers as key drivers of quality education. In Haiti, through our sustained collaboration with L’Appel, we’ve provided partial scholarships for 30 teachers to pursue further education, enhancing their teaching skills and creating lasting impact in local classrooms.
Yann Louise, Chairman of the Board of CBTW, said, “Giving back is not an initiative – it’s a principle that defines how we operate. By joining Pledge 1%, we’re reinforcing our dedication to using business as a platform for meaningful, lasting change.”
*Our focus areas – education, digital inclusion, and health access – align with global goals such as SDG 3, SDG 4, and SDG 10, reinforcing our commitment to building resilient and equitable communities.
