Embassy & Swiss Re collaborate to empower children

Bangalore, October 12, 2017: Embassy Group, India’s leading real estate developer is partnering with Swiss Re Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Swiss Re, with the goal to develop and nurture Government Schools in and around Bangalore. Marking this partnership, the ground breaking and Bhoomi puja was held at the premises this morning.

This partnership will see a collaboration between Embassy Group, the Swiss Re Foundation and the Bangalore North Round Table Trust, in the construction and extension to the existing Government Model Primary Girls School in Devanahalli.

The first phase of construction was sponsored by Swiss Re in 2016. Last year in collaboration with Embassy Group’s partner, Kitab Korner, Swiss Re set up the library and a reading program at the school. Once the remaining construction planned for 2017 is complete, both partners will work together to provide holistic and innovative educational programs, which will positively impact around 250 students enrolled at this school.

Embassy Group will provide support through project management and infrastructural expertise to oversee the design and project management activities end to end. The major portion of the funding for the project (75 lakhs + all fit out expenses) will be taken care by Swiss Re, Embassy Group (38 Lakhs) and Bangalore North Round Table Trust (10 lakhs).

Talking about the collaboration Jitu Virwani, Chairman and Managing Director, Embassy Group said “We strongly believe that the future of India depends upon the quality of education imparted to our children. As such, we at Embassy Group have committed ourselves to build a sustainable eco-system and actively contribute to the social and economic development of the communities where we operate. We are glad to partner with Swiss Re Foundation and Bangalore North Round Table Trust in this project with the similar endeavor of working towards the betterment of the society and look forward to providing all the support to take this relationship further”.

Mike Holland, CEO, Embassy Office Parks said “This partnership is part of Embassy Group’s Corporate Connect Program, which initiates facilitates and supports community outreach programs by many of the 175 corporate occupiers of Embassy Office Parks in Bangalore. Corporate Occupiers welcome the opportunity to partner and support the economically weaker sections of the society especially under-served government schools and school children. Apart from collaborating on the CSR mandates of the Corporates, this initiative also provides opportunities for employee engagement, which are enthusiastically received by the employees. These projects are a way of giving back and connecting to the communities where we operate”.

Embassy Group has committed itself to equip students with the skills for self-development and future employability by providing safe facilities, infrastructure, and support to government schools across Bangalore. As a part of this initiative Embassy has adopted 17 schools and a children’s home, supporting over 7000 children. It endeavors to empower each of its schools with essential necessities including safe infrastructure, clean facilities, basic amenities including uniforms, notebooks, stationary and backpacks, access to quality educational programs, additional staff, and opportunities to engage in interactive events that help nurture these young minds.

Sharing views on CSR initiatives, Alok Kumar, Managing Director Swiss Re Bangalore said ‘Our vision is to make the world more resilient that’s what we do every single day at work. Therefore, our CSR activities and all our actions reflect the social and humanitarian values of Swiss Re. We support vulnerable communities to become more resilient to risk and adapt to changing circumstances. Our global programs address the underlying causes and challenging effects of changes in the natural and social environment. While our local community initiatives at Swiss Re Bangalore, specifically support building sustainable education solutions for the under privileged through projects such as this, as well as promoting progress and development through sports and addressing the inequality in society through our partnership with OXFAM. We also encourage our employees to participate in OXFAM’s meaningful activities, such as Trailwalker as well as raise funds for charity or create a school clean-up event, a team building event or by being attached to an NGO’.

Speaking on this partnership, Manoj Bhatia, Chairman of Bangalore North Round Table Trust 25 said “For BNRT 25, this project in association with Embassy Group and Swiss Re is under the National Mandate of Round Table India: Freedom Through Education (FTE). FTE is basically a spectrum of activity where Round Table India has created school infrastructure for the needy across the country under the premise that education is truly what creates social progress. BNRT25 has actively pursued this mandate over the years and completed many school projects”.

About Embassy Group:

Embassy is one of the leading property developers in India with a track record of over three decades in real estate development. Embassy has an extensive land bank across the country and has developed over 40 million sq ft of prime commercial, residential and retail space in India as well as Malaysia and Serbia. Embassy’s portfolio of real estate developments spans the commercial, residential, industrial & warehousing, retail and hospitality segments of the real estate industry. The commercial real estate business includes the development of business parks, and ten SEZ across South India including India’s first and only IGBC Platinum Certified Business Park Campus. Embassy Office Parks are estimated to have generated over $20bn in exports under the STPI and SEZ schemes, since inception. Embassy’s ongoing residential projects include luxury apartments, villas and integrated townships. Embassy’s residential projects are also designed to obtain IGBC Green Homes gold ratings as part of the efforts towards creating sustainable developments

About Swiss Re Foundation:

Swiss Re Foundation is a non-profit organisation committed to care and concern for society and the environment. “Launched in 2012 by global re/insurer Swiss Re, the Foundation aims to make people more resilient towards natural hazards, climate change, population growth, water scarcity and pandemics, along with other challenges to society’s security, health and prosperity. It also supports community projects and employee volunteering in locations where Swiss Re has offices.www.swissrefoundation.org

About Swiss Re:

The Swiss Re Group is a leading wholesale provider of reinsurance, insurance and other insurance-based forms of risk transfer. Dealing direct and working through brokers, its global client base consists of insurance companies, mid-to-large-sized corporations and public-sector clients. From standard products to tailor-made coverage across all lines of business, Swiss Re deploys its capital strength, expertise and innovation power to enable the risk-taking upon which enterprise and progress in society depend. Founded in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1863, Swiss Re serves clients through a network of around 70 offices globally and is rated “AA-” by Standard & Poor’s, “Aa3” by Moody’s and “A+” by A.M. Best. Registered shares in the Swiss Re Group holding company, Swiss Re Ltd, are listed in accordance with the International Reporting Standard on the SIX Swiss Exchange and trade under the symbol SREN.

For more information about Swiss Re Group, please visit: www.swissre.com or follow us on Twitter @SwissRe.

Swiss Re has been associated with Asia since 1913 and has over 1,900 employees in Asia Pacific. The company has offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore and Bangalore, where it operates a Global Business Solutions Centre.

About Bangalore North Round Table Trust:

Bangalore North Round Table Trust is a part of Bangalore North Round Table 25, and is a registered trust under the aegis of Round Table India. Round Table India is a body and movement of people, primarily young entrepreneurs and professionals under the age of 40, which has 270+ active chapters in India. BNRT25 is one of the 270 chapters and since its charter in 1971 has been one of the most active chapters in Round Table India. BNRT25 prides itself on having done innumerable number of projects for betterment of society. It is a transient organization where members retire at 40 but the fabric of doing creditable work has continued through more than 4 and half decades.