Sound the trumpets – we announce the global Anita Award Winners for 2010
The Anita Award was introduced to keep Anita’s legacy alive, recognise the exceptional achievements of The Body Shop people to inspire others to, as Anita said, “Do something. Do anything. Just do something!”. We believe these people do exactly that….
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Michael Richardson – International Operations (EMEA)
Michael inspires those around him with his positive and enthusiastic application of our Values inside and outside of his working life. He has been supporting the RGT (Retired Greyhound Trust) since adopting a cruelty case hound three years ago and he volunteers, fundraises, campaigns and raises awareness for the charity.
Earlier this year he became an Emergency Rider Volunteer for SERV, transporting Emergency Blood supplies to hospitals by motorcycle between 7pm and 6am. Michael gives up his time – and his sleep – to volunteer for this lifesaving charity.
This volunteering spirit is not new to Michael. Throughout his career at The Body Shop he has attended the Summer Play Scheme in Romania, worked for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Mount Noddy Animal Rescue Centre, been a reading buddy for special needs children and been part of various team volunteering days.
Michael also demonstrates his commitment to our Values through his approach to his work. He is always first to get involved, and happy to share ideas. In addition he drives his passion for environmental issues through the supply chain he is involved in. He is practically evangelical in his promotion of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) paper and is dedicated to the reduction of CO2 emissions in his print related work. Michael constantly strives to find ways to source better simpler and at lower cost and lessen environmental impact, and actively encourages the suppliers he works with to do the same.
Marianne Gullov – EMEA The Body Shop Denmark (PR)
Marianne is a passionate advocate of our Values and she received the Anita Award for organising a protest march in Copenhagen that raised awareness of our ‘STOP’ petition and resulted in powerful media coverage. She used a lot of her personal time, her own contacts and fantastic people skills to make the ‘Walk’n’Stop the Traffic’ march a huge success. For example, local business donations included event spaces, refreshments and goody bag fillers. A record 1,500 people – including employees, celebrities and NGOs – turned up in the pouring rain to march 3km through the centre of Copenhagen and the red light district.
The demonstration took place in true Anita spirit and it was an emotional experience for all involved. Marianne’s awareness raising activites were so extensive that two victims of trafficking came to participate in the march and show their support for the campaign. You can check it out from home by searching for ‘walk’n'stop trafikken’ on youtube. Make sure you have your tissues at the ready!
Alice Francis – Americas – Avalon Mall, St.John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
Alice is the store manager at the Avalon Mall in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and is she passionate about helping out the less fortunate in her community. Not only was her store one of the first Canadian shops to surpass its ‘Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People’ petition signature target, but Alice also seeks out other ways of serving her community, such as actively volunteering for the Arthritis Society, organizing a Relay for Life team to benefit the Canadian Cancer Society earlier this summer, collecting needed items for a new domestic violence shelter.
Alice uses her company-paid volunteer hours every eight weeks to serve tea and talk with elderly residents at a local assisted living home. In addition, her store hosts periodic ‘mini makeover marathons’ where employees perform makeovers for customers and ask for a minimum donation that goes directly to charity.
Nidhi Bajaj – APAC – The Body Shop India (Marketing)
Although she has only been part of The Body Shop team for a year, Nidhi participates in a number of Values related projects that touch the lives of the people around her.
She is the founder member of AASHA (Ray of Hope), a volunteer group within the company which organises weekend volunteering work in the community. Nidhi works with the TAABAR Society, an NGO which works with street children. It supports and provides community based rehabilitation for orphans, runaways and children and young people who have been trafficked and used for labour or in the sex trade. Nidhi spends three days every quarter at a shelter home where she leads teaching sessions and play scheme. Part of her voluntary work involves interacting and communicating with the children about the health problems they may experience a result of life on the streets.
She also works with STOP India (STOP Trafficking and Oppression of children and women) on social evenings, make-up workshops and classes in order to empower victims of trafficking. She makes a difference by sponsoring the education and development of three marginalised girls through Save the Children (Bal Raksha Bharat in India), upholding two of our core Values (Activate Self Esteem and Defend Human Rights). Nidhi’s passion for social projects is exemplary. She may be the youngest member of the team at The Body Shop India but she is an inspiration to all of us!
Well done! We think you are all inspirational and amazing and can’t wait to show you the work of the Foundation.
