Dow Corning Deploys Second Citizen Service Corps Team

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) Midland, MI - September 15, 2011 - Ten Dow Corning employees from around the world will spend four weeks working to improve nut farming, solar energy, and garment production in Ujire, India, as part of the company’s second Citizen Service Corps project. These projects are designed, not only to serve developing communities, but also to gain strategic insights into developing markets, which has become an important part of the corporate innovation process. 

“The team is looking forward to experiencing first-hand how to fuel further innovation and sharing fresh perspectives of how our company can grow while making a difference in local communities,” said Laura Asiala, director, Corporate Citizenship.   The 10 participants, selected from more than 60 applicants from all levels and locations of the company, will arrive Sept. 15 and be divided into three teams.   One team will work with areca nut farmers through SDM College and will observe the current machines and methods used to peel areca nuts. Based on their research, they will develop a proposal for improved methods that may eventually result in a new and better machine for the local areca nut farmers.   Another team will work with SELCO, a social enterprise that works to enhance the quality of life of under-served households through sustainable energy solutions and services. They will research and assess which technologies may be best suited for use in decentralized solar applications.   The third team will work with SIRI, an organization that provides a program centered on the economic empowerment of women through micro-enterprise. The team will focus efforts on a garment-making enterprise to enhance all facets of the program, including end-to-end design, supply chain, marketing, sales and purchasing.   “We were again amazed not only by the willingness, but also the passion of our employees to take on the work of the Citizen Service Corps – outside the relative ‘comfort zone’ of their day-to-day lives to help us discover, serve and innovate,” said Asiala.   Last year’s pilot program gave 10 Dow Corning employees the opportunity to volunteer for a month in Bangalore, India, where they worked with three non-governmental agencies involved in energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives. Members of Team Bangalore uncovered more than 40 insights while in-field. Dow Corning has been able to further consider approximately 15 of those insights for potential new products or applications related to Dow Corning strategic markets.   “The impact our first team was able to make during last year’s pilot project and the resulting insights we gained were extraordinary,” said Asiala. “We’re thrilled to support a second team, which will help us continue to expand our reach into communities where we currently do not have a presence.”   Members of this year’s Citizen Service Corps team are Laura Benetti, a customs and international trade coordinator in Midland, Michigan; Elsa Chen, a process engineer in Zhangjiagang, China; Warren Draves, a plant operator in Midland, Michigan; Brad Fogg, a business center manager in Midland, Michigan; Anne-Lise Girboux, an associate chemist in Seneffe, Belgium; Bongsik Kim, a business development specialist in Seoul, Korea; Miho Komatsu, a logistics manager in Chiba, Japan; Kathryn Messner, an associate industry specialist in Midland, Michigan; Volker Oehl, a regional market leader in Wiesbaden, Germany; and Chris Vouaux, a technician at the Hemlock Semiconductor Group in Hemlock, Michigan.   To learn more while they are gone, follow team members who will showcase the work they are doing and the experiences they are having, by posting photos and articles in real-time on the Dow Corning Citizen Service Corps blog, which can be accessed at www.dowcorningcitizenservicecorps.wordpress.com.

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