“Who plants a tree, plants a hope.” – Lucy Larcom
Twice a year, we plant trees. We do this as part of our pledge to become carbon neutral and our ongoing commitment to the three pillars: people, profit, and the planet. We recognise the vast environmental responsibilities technology companies like ours hold around the world and are dedicated to positively contributing to the locations in which we operate. We aim to always leave the people, economies and environments of these places better than when we arrived.
Planting at all our global locations
During April, we planted 250 trees in Ukraine across three villages located approximately 40 kilometres from Odesa, near schools, stadiums, hospitals and churches. In Moldova, we planted 1 km of trees in the Ialoveni district, by the Costesti village, which is located 23 km from Chisinau. This village is accommodating thousands of Ukrainian refugees, some of whom joined our planting efforts. In Romania, 40 of our colleagues and their families started building the Amdaris Forest in Sanmihaiu Roman, Timis with EcoClub Timisoara.
In Romania, we’re in conversation with the WWF about planting trees later in the year and in the UK, we’re collaborating with the Future Forest Company. It is imperative to us that all the trees we plant mature and benefit the planet, which is why we only ever work with trusted organisations and never rush.
Dedicated to Ukraine
Usually, we dedicate the trees we plant to our clients. However this time, we are dedicating the trees to our brave Ukrainian colleagues and their loved ones, as well as everyone who has been affected by this atrocious war. We hope that the brutality ends soon; that the schools and hospitals can be rebuilt; and that the 40 million displaced Ukrainians will be able to return home. We plant these trees as a symbol of our unity with Ukraine across all of our centres and as of our hope for a better tomorrow for this wonderful country.
Hope for a better tomorrow
Planting a tree is inherently an act of hope and a gift for the future. You might never sit under this tree’s shade, watch birds nest in its branches or breathe in the oxygen it creates. But others will. Planting a tree is, therefore, a wish for a better tomorrow for others. A hope that climate change will be combatted and that peace can be restored.
No matter how bleak things get, hope remains a place inside all of us that can’t be destroyed. Its tiny seeds sustain us, even when it seems that there is no way forwards. Hope undermines tyrants and helps us believe that the sun will rise again, trees will still grow and a better tomorrow continues to be possible.
In the years to come as these trees mature, we hope people will remember why they were planted and what they symbolise. Ukraine, we hope this war ends soon. Until then, we continue to stand by you and hope for your future.