Corporate volunteering
As part of the AXA Corporate Volunteering Program “AXA from Heart to Heart”, employees of AXA Switzerland collect accessibility information from locations in Winterthur.
An experience with a lasting effect
Not all leisure and everyday activities are built in such a way that they are barrier-free for people with reduced mobility. The aim is therefore for people with disabilities, families with small children and senior citizens to quickly and easily access the information relevant to planning about the accessibility of the infrastructure, such as the availability of a lift.
This is exactly the kind of information that AXA Switzerland employees collect in Winterthur in June and September 2024: They travel in small groups and use the ginto app to register accessibility information from restaurants, pharmacies and public toilets. Specifically, they measure door widths, document any obstacles such as steps or heels, and record important aids such as lifts or folding handles in toilets.
The collected data is bundled in the ginto platform and is then available free of charge to tourists and the population of Winterthur.
For us, the registration campaign with the Sitios association is a great offer for our internal corporate volunteering program 'AXA from heart to heart'. The organization and arrangements in advance worked wonderfully. And the recording campaign has left a lasting impression on employees. We're already looking forward to the next issue in September!
Make a social impact as a company
Before the registration campaign, the Sitios association trains volunteers and shows them in particular the relevance of accessibility information for people with reduced mobility. Volunteers are then familiarized with the functions and ease of use of the ginto app. And you're ready to go: In small groups, volunteers record accessibility information from locations using the ginto app, the camera function of their mobile phone and a measuring tape.
For them, it is a formative experience with lasting effects. Many volunteers report that they “suddenly see the world with different eyes.” At the same time, it generally strengthens the understanding of what it can mean to travel in a wheelchair. And another volunteer says: “Using ginto is intuitive and you can immediately see the result, it's fun!”
The offer is organized by the Sitios association, with the support of the AXA Corporate Volunteering Program “AXA from Heart to Heart”. With partnership campaigns such as these, employees, companies and society win: Employees are made aware of inclusion issues and can make a concrete, practical and uncomplicated contribution. Companies find a simple and low-threshold way to achieve their sustainability goals and thus increase their social impact.
And finally, society as a whole benefits: collecting and making available information on the accessibility of buildings removes unnecessary barriers for people with reduced mobility. Making accessibility information visible simplifies travel planning and promotes self-determined travel. Together, we are therefore making an important contribution to achieving the global goals for sustainable development, in particular SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
