FOR EACH IRIZAR bus or coach sold in Australia, disadvantaged children’s charity Ardoch will receive a donation that’s invested into its educational support programmes, the European bus builder announced recently.
In addition to the investment the charity will be offered an enhanced awareness of its work through access to Irizar’s network of suppliers and customers, the Spain-based company states.
According to Irizar, it sees this as taking an important step to contribute to the future of Australia by embarking on a strategic partnership with Ardoch.
Ardoch is a children’s charity working for societal change by focusing on improving educational outcomes for children and young people in disadvantaged communities.
One in three children in Australia’s most disadvantaged communities start school developmentally vulnerable and they continue to fall behind as they progress through school, it states.
In 2018, Ardoch worked with 105 schools and early years services nationally, mobilising more than 1700 volunteers and reaching more than 15,000 children and young people through its programs.
Irizar’s vision is to provide buses and coaches with a marked difference in safety, reliability, comfort and profitability for its customers, passengers and to society – and set the standard in service, design, innovation, technology and sustainability, it states.
RAISING AWARENESS
Ardoch CEO Kylee Bates said: “This partnership with Irizar Group is incredibly significant for Ardoch. Ninety per cent of Ardoch’s funding is achieved through philanthropic and corporate support and fundraising.”
“It is national partnerships like this that enable us to help improve educational outcomes for thousands of children in disadvantaged communities each year.
“Not only will our programs benefit from the funds raised, but Irizar’s connections will help raise awareness of educational inequity and Ardoch’s important work”.
Irizar Group Asia Pacific managing director Daniel Castro said: “Irizar sees corporate social responsibility as a way to think about the future and build a better world.”
“We act in a sustainable way so we can become more and more competitive, generate wealth and long-term employment, keep our staff, customers and collaborators satisfied and protect the environment and preserve it for generations to come.
“Making a contribution to the local communities is important to us.
“We are passionate about providing education for the most disadvantaged and assisting the development of youth who are at risk of social exclusion, so this partnership with Ardoch strongly aligns with a number of our global initiatives.
“We are excited about working closely with the Ardoch team to help increase engagement in education, build aspirations and enhance learning outcomes for vulnerable children around Australia,” he explained.
Photography: courtesy Irizar