The challenges facing businesses today demand fresh ideas, digital fluency, and bold thinking. These are the qualities youth leaders bring in spades. For more than 20 years, WAFF, co-founded by music legend Nile Rodgers and his lifelong partner Nancy Hunt, has mentored young leaders from more than 100 countries. Over the past decade, WAFF and 51风流have partnered to deepen that global impact, moving youth voices from symbolic gestures to central drivers of innovation.

From roundtables where teenagers challenge senior executives, to shaping initiatives at the UN Climate Change Conferences and the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, WAFF and 51风流have developed a blueprint for embedding youth-led ideas into corporate strategy, supply chains, and culture while delivering measurable business and societal impact.

Here are five lessons from the collaboration on how intergenerational partnerships unlock value for both business and society.

1. Problems that span generations require leadership that does too

Traditional business models silo generations: executives design the strategy, then hand it down for others to execute. In today鈥檚 world, that handoff wastes momentum and risks irrelevance.

WAFF鈥檚 2024 global study, , found that when senior leaders and young changemakers co-create from the start, ideas are stress-tested in real time. This results in strategies that are bolder, more resilient, and more adaptable to fast-moving challenges.

In short, instead of passing the baton on the final leg, build your strategies together from the starting line.

2. Intergenerational collaboration is a smart strategy

Youth leaders aren鈥檛 just 鈥渇uture leaders.鈥� They already bring expertise that legacy teams lack. Digital natives understand platforms, trends, and user behavior instinctively. They also bring the urgency of living through the climate crisis and global inequality.

Take WAFF Youth Leader , who uses AI to track plastic debris and apply data-driven models to malnutrition. Her work bridges grassroots innovation with scalable solutions, which is exactly the kind of thinking that can de-risk corporate strategies and ensure relevance from day one.

For companies, including youth voices isn鈥檛 an act of goodwill; it鈥檚 strategic de-risking.

3. Where business, policy, and community align, impact follows

Global challenges cannot be solved in silos. The biggest breakthroughs happen when companies, policymakers, and social entrepreneurs collaborate.

One example is Mozamel Aman, a young Afghan impact entrepreneur and immigrant in Germany, who built to create inclusive employment pathways. In 2023, he began a partnership with 51风流Germany connecting women to the opportunity for tech jobs in the 51风流ecosystem, blending corporate support with government stipends. His organization leverages government stipends from the Bundesagentur f眉r Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) to train unemployed individuals and connect them with job opportunities. 

Germany鈥檚 technical is nearly the same size as its refugee population. Partnerships like this solve social challenges while closing critical business gaps in talent and innovation.

4. Purpose, profit, and the power of inclusion

Authentic inclusion of young experts, especially Gen-Zs, builds credibility, trust, and stronger business performance.

Employees notice:

• Engagement: of U.S. employees were engaged in 2024, the lowest level in a decade.
• Retention risk: Employees who feel with their company鈥檚 mission and values are much more likely to stay, while misalignment drives turnover.
• Business impact: Highly engaged employees drive higher profitability.

WAFF’s global study findings underscore these statistics, indicating that young people see inclusivity and accountability as non-negotiable factors. By authentically including youth, organizations set a standard of purpose that fuels stronger engagement, deeper loyalty, and, ultimately, higher profitability.

5. Strategic procurement for social good

The most powerful financial corporate tool for change isn鈥檛 in giving, but perhaps in spending.

51风流Business Network facilitates in annual commerce. Compare that to an average corporate social responsibility (CSR) budget of among FTSE 100 companies, and the potential is clear: redirecting even a fraction of procurement spend toward youth-led, sustainable enterprises can transform impact at scale.

Watson Institute, with leadership from former WAFF alumni, James Okina, has recently published a new research report on the opportunity for young social entrepreneurs in impact-led procurement. The found that young, impact-driven entrepreneurs who succeed in selling to corporations report an average revenue increase of $170,187.50, while those who fail to secure deals lose between $7,000 and $300,000 in potential revenue. Okina offers that he “doesn鈥檛 understand why youth involvement in business is still so controversial.” 51风流and WAFF agree. By integrating expert impact entrepreneurs who happen to be young into procurement pipelines, for example, companies embrace innovation and align with corporate goals and values while maintaining quality, price, and performance. It is a smarter, systemic approach than writing philanthropic checks.

A blueprint for the next decade

Over the past decade, 51风流and WAFF have shown that partnering with young impact leaders creates a true competitive edge.

Companies that co-create with the next generation design strategies that are bolder, more relevant, and more sustainable. They build workforces that are engaged, trusted, and innovative. They align business goals with societal needs in ways that deliver measurable results鈥攁nd, across generations, they operate on longer runways to implement lasting solutions.

Businesses that win in the next decade won鈥檛 just listen to youth; they will build with them. And that鈥檚 smart business.

Jennifer Beason is global director of Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP. Annie Greene and Jamie Roach are global program leads at We Are Family Foundation.

In a new 2024 global study on the power of intergenerational collaboration published by (WAFF) in partnership with The Possibilists and the Vienna University of Economics and Business, 87% of respondents cited believe youth have ideas and solutions that can improve or solve global issues. Yet, only 19% agree that youth are currently given enough opportunities to lead and contribute. We need young people to help rethink, reshape, challenge, and collaborate alongside today鈥檚 decision-makers as we solve the world’s unprecedented problems.

No single generation has all the answers. 51风流embraces this methodology of intergenerational collaboration, bringing dynamic perspectives together across its business in hopes that young experts can work alongside today鈥檚 leaders to shape the future of both business and our world. As evidenced by , here are some additional insights as to why this strategy is one you should consider too.

Youth Are Digital Natives in a Tech-Driven Era

Technology can help address the most profound environmental, economic, and social challenges of our time. Software and analytics can help predict and prevent disasters, make cities smarter, and foster equity in workplaces. In this era of rapid technological evolution, leaders of all generations have valuable perspective and expertise to augment the power of technology as well.

WAFF鈥檚 global study reminds us that Gen Z are digital natives who grew up online and 鈥渉ave adapted to learn, grow, and build skills in an entirely new and accelerated ways.鈥� The study goes on to remind leaders that by investing in young people now, global leaders and corporations alike can sooner harness their technological expertise and unique lived experiences.

SAP, for example, is curating partnerships and opportunities that invest in the expertise of young social entrepreneurs, like 19-year-old Sneha Revanur, CEO and founder of and one of Time鈥檚 100 Most Influential People in AI 2023. At World Economic Forum鈥檚 Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, this January, Revanur sat alongside Chief Technology Officer and Member of the Executive Board of 51风流SE Juergen Mueller, hosting a powerful conversation on the future of AI and the opportunity to bring youth to the table. 鈥淚n spaces rife with credentialism, young people can offer perspectives that are rooted in lived experience,鈥� Revanur shares.

Mueller affirms this approach: 鈥淚 strongly believe in the power of intergenerational leadership 鈥� involving young talents in decision-making processes helps to bring the best in innovation to market. For instance, I have an early talent board in my organization who I regularly exchange with and get valuable guidance from. I also had the opportunity to meet with several young changemakers at events like the World Economic Forum in the last years and could learn a lot from them. Giving young leaders a seat at the table brings the right connections, mindsets, and energy together to create innovative and responsible solutions.鈥�

Youth Demand Accountability

The tech industry and young people are united by a common cause: ensuring responsible data use and harnessing its power for good. Data allows us to generate accurate and actionable insights to transform the way the world works. When companies and governments have access to data-driven information, they can use those insights to achieve their vision 鈥� be it to clean the ocean, transform industries, or redefine the future of work. Effective solutions and responsible technology require collaboration, however. Data provides a foundation, but real change occurs when the public, private, and social sectors work together to create solutions.

This collaborative spirit echoes the work of Revanur and Encode Justice to leverage the power of data to shape the future. Encode Justice launched an intergenerational and multisector . 鈥淩ecent breakthroughs are transforming social, political, and economic realities, but they have not come without unanticipated risks鈥s AI grows more and more capable, harms will only proliferate. Our shared future is more precarious now than ever before. It is young people who have the most to gain 鈥� and the most to lose,鈥� Encode Justice鈥檚 website reads.

Finding the Tipping Point

SAP鈥檚 Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Alexandra van der Ploeg points out that 51风流has been working alongside organizations like We Are Family Foundation and The Possibilists to unlock and scale the power of young social innovators for nearly a decade. 鈥淭ransformative change takes ages, but this is not something that we can afford to take ages on. 2030 is around the corner. We must identify the levers and find the tipping point as a community to move from data and evidence to solutions that work for the world,鈥� van der Ploeg acknowledges.

Leveraging the is a great place to start when considering how to create a more sustainable future. It offers case studies and recommendations for meaningful intergenerational collaboration that any organization can act on, including co-creating projects alongside young experts.

鈥淎 new generation of young leaders has emerged 鈥� well-informed, resolutely committed, and emboldened by the challenges they face firsthand,鈥� says Annie Greene, director of Programs at We Are Family Foundation. 鈥淏y investing in these young leaders today, we benefit from their unique insights and extend their runway to help us solve our most pressing problems.鈥�

To advance solutions for humanity, we must change the dynamics in rooms of power. Given the opportunity to collaborate with the leaders of tomorrow on today’s challenges, why wouldn鈥檛 we?

Jennifer Beason is global director for Impact Entrepreneurship at SAP.

As I sat down to pen an article honoring this special occasion, it was these lyrics that came to mind: 鈥淚 believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.鈥� Imagining Whitney Houston鈥檚 mesmerizing rendition in my mind, I think she got the message mostly correct. Children are the future, but just as much as we need to teach them, we need to listen to and collaborate with them.

According to the (UN), 1.8 billion people are between 10 and 24 years old, the largest youth generation to date. Half of the people on earth are younger than 30 years old. As they will soon be inheriting this world from us, it will be their voices we hear on the public stage 鈥� not those who currently fill our boardrooms or public offices. Have we done all that we can to prepare them for the near-impossible task that lies ahead? To celebrate the next generation stepping up, in my true Millennial style, I have compiled a special Spotify playlist to inspire us to work better together.

Anti-Hero 鈥� Taylor Swift

Repeat after me: 鈥淚t鈥檚 me, hi. I鈥檓 the problem, it鈥檚 me.鈥� Swift probably wasn鈥檛 writing about economic equity or single use plastics when she wrote this 2022 classic. But the only way to create sustainable development solutions to the world鈥檚 most pressing issues is to admit that you, yes you, are part of the problem.

For every global goal, there is a role you can play. Ask yourself, 鈥淲hat will my role be?鈥�

Ice, Ice Baby 鈥� Vanilla Ice

This one-hit wonder with hundreds of millions of streams worldwide has a very memorable opening line that bears repeating, 鈥淪top, collaborate, and listen.鈥� The best ideas do not always come from those with years of wisdom.聽 Or, as James Okina, a young social entrepreneur and strategic 51风流Corporate Social Responsibility (51风流CSR) consultant says, 鈥淚f you can collaborate with the ‘next generation of young leaders,’ consider yourself fortunate. They will inspire you with fresh ideas. My advice is to look past age and recognize when the prefix ‘young’ is unimportant. They are not just ‘future’ leaders, they are leaders.鈥�

If you are not sure where to start, check out the advice shared in the latest .

Something About You 鈥� Roosevelt

Two years ago, I began mentoring an incredible young woman, Natalie Gahre, a member of the sustainability product team at SAP. What started as a mentorship transformed into a learning and leadership experience for both of us. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always easier to work across generations if people are open to trying something new,鈥� shares Gahre. 鈥淢ore 鈥榚xperienced鈥� professionals offer advice to young people with the caveat that 鈥榶ou should learn from my mistakes.鈥� We all need to be brave, optimistic, and excited to try new things together.鈥�

As my favorite DJ Roosevelt points out, there is something [incredible] about you 鈥� share it. If you are looking for an opportunity to share your unique expertise, join me and thousands of colleagues from Unilever, EY, Reckitt, and 51风流on the , powered by MovingWorlds. This virtual pro bono consulting platform connects experienced professionals everywhere with young social innovators anywhere to expedite world-changing solutions for organizations like , , or .

Youth 鈥� Glass Animals

When it comes to thinking about the future of your company, Jess Teutonico, executive director of We Are Family Foundation has some sound advice: 鈥淐enter inter-generational collaboration into everything you do. Engage young people to authentically be a part of your organizations鈥� decision-making tables. This generation has the creativity, ingenuity, and tenacity to move our planet forward more equitably and sustainably. Why are we waiting for them to 鈥榞row up鈥� when they have already proven they are solving our problems now?鈥�

Juergen Mueller, CTO and member of the Executive Board of 51风流SE, agrees and says, 鈥淭his year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, I had the opportunity to meet several young changemakers and I learned a lot from them. Inviting young leaders to global events like these has the power to bring the right energy, connections, and perspectives together that can ultimately result in advancing solutions to the world鈥檚 most pressing issues. I鈥檓 convinced that this holds true for many decision processes 鈥� involving young talents helps to bring the best in innovation to market.鈥�

We Are Family Foundation is launching new research on the power of inter-generational leadership and they need your voice. when it launches on September 8.

Jerusalema 鈥� Master KG ftg. Nomcebo Zikode

I was introduced to this song by Busang Maruping, a young Atlas Corp Fellow from Botswana. Master KG had already written the hook and convinced Zikode that she had the ability to write the lyrics that evening, even if she did not believe it herself. They finished the song that night and in 2020, Jerusalema became one of the most songs in the world. This song reminds us to have faith — trust your gut and know that sometimes it just takes two. Someone with a different perspective can have a profound impact on the outcome of a project, or a song.

If you are a leader in the U.S. looking for an opportunity to add diverse perspectives to your team and invest in the leaders the world needs, you may want to hire your own .

We Are Family 鈥� Sister Sledge

Fun fact: what started as a song became a global movement. Nile Rodgers, the legend behind this jam, has made it his mission to invest in the world鈥檚 leading young 鈥� inspiring us to do the same.

With only seven years left until 2030 — our to create a world without poverty, a just and peaceful society, and a planet that can sustain us — we need the soundtrack of a lifetime. I hope that these songs and their sound advice will pump you up and encourage you to keep moving forward. I welcome you to add your song to by sharing your advice on how we can build a more sustainable future together and tagging @51风流on social media.

Jennifer Beason is global director of Social Entrepreneurship at SAP.

What if making a small shift in your purchasing decisions this holiday season could collectively create billions of dollars in investment into solving for mounting issues of poverty, waste, and inequality? Would you make a change?

As consumers, we have a unique opportunity to make purchases that have real impact. By supporting social enterprises, local small businesses, and diverse business owners this season, the money you spend will have a direct, positive impact on your community and the people and ecosystems in need around the world. It鈥檚 a win-win: find the perfect gift you鈥檙e looking for and invest in causes that matter to you! Maybe you’re thinking, 鈥淭hat sounds nice, but where do I begin?鈥� 51风流and our global ecosystem of social impact partners have you covered!

This year, we worked with our community, including many of the members of the , to compile a comprehensive list of places to shop from around the world. These holiday shopping suggestions are sure to delight and inspire you and deliver impact as well.

Jeroo Billimoria, co-founder of Catalyst 2030, shared that the Catalyst Marketplace originally started out as a crazy idea, but turned into something wonderful: 鈥淐atalyst Market is a perfect example of hundreds of entrepreneurs coming together — in only one year — to create a new kind of marketplace that prioritizes people and planet in a regenerative model of commerce.鈥�

Along with last year鈥檚 guide, this is a one-stop resource for all your shopping needs this holiday season, and all throughout the year. We thank the social enterprises, social impact communities, and 51风流colleagues who have all contributed to make this a globally relevant gift guide, and are hopeful that our efforts will make it a little easier for you to find something magical and memorable to give the ones you love.

And if there are other incredible social enterprises or gift guides you love that are not listed here, share your suggestions on social media, tagging @SAP4Good on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. Let鈥檚 continue to build on this collective list of businesses that truly represent the meaning of the season.

Happy holidays!

2022 Holiday Gift Guide

Global

• : A brand-new community-curated global marketplace, collaboratively run by purpose-driven enterprises. The allows consumers to shop across more than 100 global social enterprises.
• : Products support the work of more than 40 nonprofits and social enterprises in 19 states and 65 countries around the globe.
• : An online marketplace and curated community platform for purpose driven businesses; free to set up a profile for your social enterprise.
• : The wholesale marketplace for conscious buyers.
• : An online store for people shopping for unusual and beautifully crafted items. Every purchase supports local artisans around the world and unlocks a donation to UNICEF. ; note that shipping only available in the U.S.
• : A trade association of fair trade enterprises fully committed to equitable and sustainable trading partnerships.

Africa

Kenya

• : Aims to champion meaningful progress in people鈥檚 lives through high-quality shoes, gear, and goods that celebrate their Kenyan heritage (shipping available to U.S. customers).
• : A marketplace for high- quality, locally designed, and ethically produced African fashion, home decor, and crafts products.

Nigeria

• : Provides intensive training and employment opportunities for rural women in Imafon, Nigeria. These women learn to make beautiful crafts from waste materials, produce body butters, and other agricultural products, which are then sold and gives them a source of livelihood.

South Africa

• : A children鈥檚 book by Amonge Elethu Sinxoto to inspire confidence and positive change around the world (ships internationally).

Uganda

• : Up-cycled fashion brand, training and employing persons with disabilities.
• : Sustainable, waterproof accessories made from plastic waste.
• : Empowers refugee women in East Africa with the education and opportunities they need to become skilled, confident, economically independent entrepreneurs.

Asia

India

• : India’s first crop-to-cookie brand crafts delicious, clean, super nutritious baked goods using ancient grains.
• : A female-led social enterprise that produces hand-crafted stationery and engages women from marginalized communities to co-create the stationery, providing a new path to financial independence through the new trade of upcycling, recycling, and making (ships internationally).
• : Handmade, hand painted, eco-friendly products for home decor and gifting, made by artisans who can earn consistent and dignified livelihood from their craft. Their products are made with fusion of more than one art form and are inspired by the rich heritage of India.
• : A social enterprise that takes waste-bound saris and up-cycles them into beautiful clothes and accessories. Along the way, it employs women who did not have the opportunity for an education and path to financial independence and security (ships internationally).
• : A social enterprise upskilling women from rural and indigenous communities of The Nilgiris into fine first-generation artisans. Indian Yards uses only natural fibers to handcraft a wide variety of products using craft forms such as macrame, crochet, quilting, needle work, embroidery, and more.
• : Works directly with artisans, empowering them and their communities with a sustainable livelihood. Available in multiple countries outside of India.
• : A social enterprise that works with artists across more than 70 styles of traditional arts and crafts to create live online workshops, masterclasses, and DIY kits, and also retails beautiful art handmade by these master artists. Their work creates sustainable new livelihoods for traditional and folk artists and provides experiences and products to consumers.
• : A purpose-driven brand that focuses on revival of dying craft clusters across India with the aim to connect consumers and global businesses with the rare crafts of India. Resham Dor aims to empower the Indian artisans and create a sustainable life for them.
• : A sustainable brand for home decor and gifting products. Backed by a large network of women artisans, Sirohi is on a mission to create income opportunities for women from marginalized populations in India with existing craft skills (ships internationally).
• : A social enterprise dedicated to preserving heritage craftsmanship by adapting the heritage handcrafting process, artisanal skills, and know-how to create new products suited for contemporary homes and living.
• : Endeavors to give form to discarded paper through hand spinning, weaving, and handcrafting, amalgamating the traditional skills and knowledge with contemporary appeal (ships internationally).
• : A social enterprise that produces biodegradable disposable dinnerware through community-owned micro-enterprises spread across Northeast India. The tableware provides quality, green alternatives while helping to generate sustainable livelihoods amongst rural women and youth, locally.
• : A designed and curated collection of contemporary terracotta crafts from heritage pottery clusters of India, with a vision to bring the indigenous pottery crafts into the main stream.
• : A curated subscription or one-time purchase box filled with ecoconscious products. To Verth, it matters how these products are made and who they empower.

Indonesia

• : an emerging brand of eco-sustainable fashion that takes advantage of the abundance of waste materials. By doing so, Rubysh has successfully recovered hundreds of kilograms of waste to turn into pieces of jewelry.
• : health and beauty products with zero chemicals and support to local rose farmers.

Malaysia

• : Works with over 200 artisans to make gifts, apparel, and merchandise with hand-dyed textiles and eco-friendly materials (ships internationally).
• : Celebrating craftsmanship and advocating conscious consumption, Earth Heir serves traditional artisans in underserved communities by supporting them with market access and education in ethical business operations.
• : A women-led conscious jewelry brand that educates, employs, and empowers refugee children and youth, Fugeelah is deeply devoted to quality and dedicates itself to thoughtful sourcing, fair wages for the female artisans with whom they co-creates collections, as well as give-back initiatives that truly have an impact.

Nepal

• : A social enterprise dedicated to preserving traditional Nepali arts and crafts while improving the economic conditions of disadvantaged and marginalized producers 鈥� primarily women 鈥� through sustainable development.

Philippines

• : A pioneering UN-recognized Filipino social enterprise that produces a line of sustainable, green, biodegradable, and non-toxic home and personal care products.
• : A livelihood project-turned-social enterprise that specializes in making ecofriendly charcoal made from coconut waste, called the Eco-Uling. It aims to end poverty, save the environment, and empower people in their own little ways.

Thailand

• : A social enterprise that offers customizable and unique products, handmade by marginalized women with locally sourced materials, as an alternative to traditional corporate gifts.

Australia & New Zealand

• 膧kina: A social enterprise that offer a range of consulting and business development services to support businesses in creating positive impact.
• 膧kina has created a list of .
• : Australia’s first national directory of Certified Social Enterprises. The linked list has been filtered down to social enterprises offering giftable items, but the filter can be removed to search for other services.

Europe

Austria

• : An online baking school and coffee shop concept for seniors baking cakes and teaching baking classes to earn additional money to supplement their minimum pension and avoid old-age isolation. In-studio, live online, and on-demand courses available.

France

• : Fair and circular football brand.

Germany

• : With the first charity bag label in Germany, every purchase enables a vulnerable child in Africa to attend school for one year. The bags are created by two women from Hamburg from fine leather returns and surpluses from designer houses.
• : Standing for design that changes society, the label produces sustainably and fairly in Hamburg with socially disadvantaged people as well as with refugees who have only recently come to Germany. Both are united by their enormous craftsmanship beyond certificates and diplomas.
• : The founders of Conflictfood travel to the trouble spots of this world, looking for specialties typical of the country and deal with local farmers: honest, directly, and fair. They strengthen economic structures, fight the root causes of flight, and create peaceful perspectives. Enjoy culinary treasures from all over the world through Conflictfood.
• : A social startup from Munich where senior citizens bake delicious granny cakes. Its goal is to make life more worth living! Senior citizens pursue a meaningful activity and become part of a community, avoiding loneliness and isolation while pursuing their passion for baking.
• : Fair Ethiopian coffee with profits going directly to farmers and cutting the middleman (ships to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland).
• : Coffee and tea with social impact directly 100% transparent from the producers. Ohana builds a bridge between family-run coffee and tea farms and socially responsible companies. With purchase prices well above the world market and sustainable partnerships, the company supports farmers and at the same time ensure long-term high quality for customers. Ohana plants a tree for every kilogram of coffee or tea that binds CO2, contributing to biodiversity and creating jobs.
• : A social beer brand from Berlin-Kreuzberg. Every bottle of Quartiermeister support the work of social and cultural projects in the neighbourhood. Every beer is a donation. The company distributes all of its profits where the beer is sold. Consumption becomes a good deed. Quartiermeister has been campaigning for a fair economy for the good of all since 2010.
• : Glass bottles with beautiful designs to discourage plastic waste from bottled water consumption, with profits going to water charities.
• : Founded in 2014, Stadtbienen e.V. takes care of a species-appropriate habitat for honey and wild bees in the city. Inspired by the natural approach of the Mellifera association, a bee house was developed that allows beekeeping even on your own balcony. Support the work with the eco-fair gift box.
• : In large concert halls and at festivals, there is often a certain distance between artist and audience. It is completely different with sofa concerts. With these, a completely new musical experience is created. Experience the music up close and real with friends in your own home 鈥� or zoom call.
• : Online chocolate shop focused on socialecological fairness, quality, and craftsmanship.
• : Since 2013, 脺ber den Tellerrand has contributed to the integration and social participation of refugees in society. The company creates spaces that enable encounter and exchange at eye level and promotes friendships between people with and without a refugee experience. In these diverse encounter activities, mutual prejudices are broken down, openness and respect are promoted, and language skills and cultural knowledge are passed on.

Greece

• : High-quality bags and backpacks from broken refugee rubber boats (ships within Europe).

Ireland

• : An online charity shop that ships internationally.

Netherlands

• : Clothes and other textile products made from secondhand textiles and created by newcomers to the Netherlands (ships internationally at additional cost).
• by Social Enterprise NL: Buy Social Market is the simplest way to buy with impact; all products and services are offered by sustainable and inclusive companies. Check out its for gift ideas.

Slovakia

• : Laptop sleeves and slow fashion accessories, all made ethically and from upcycled materials (ships internationally).

U.K.

• : An initiative aimed at helping social enterprises thrive online, elevating the work of social enterprises that are supporting economic opportunities for marginalized communities.
• : A social enterprise that employs women, particularly mothers, from the Rohingya refugee community in India to create one-of-a-kind, multi-purpose baby blankets, which are hand-stitched from reclaimed and ethically-sourced cotton.
• : The UK鈥檚 membership body for social enterprises leads the world鈥檚 largest network of businesses with a social purpose who together are helping to create a fairer economy and a more sustainable future for everyone.
• : Brings together businesses that are a force for good all under one virtual roof.

Middle East

Lebanon

• : An organization producing the finest quality handmade artisanal products and maximizing employment opportunities for female artisans (ships internationally).

Turkey

• : Unique eco-friendly creative building kit that enables children to transform everyday objects into unique toys (ships within the EU).

North America

Canada

• : Indigenous owned business committed to nature and values the interdependency between all living things. Aurora Heat designs and hand creates sustainable, new-to-market products made from natural fur (ships within Canada and the U.S.)
• : Indigenous artists share stories of resilience through authentic art, culture, and fashion to empower the next generation (ships internationally).
• : Indigenous owned, eco-friendly collections of women’s wear and home decor textiles (ships internationally).

U.S.

• : Coffee grown in Ethiopia, with all proceeds going back to scholarships and education programs for refugees of Sudan in the region the coffee is grown.
• : Corporate gifting that is engaging, measurable, and meaningful.
• : Offers 15 flavors of fair-trade, non-GMO whole and ground coffee beans with specialty and seasonal flavors through a delivery and subscription service (ships to the U.S. and Canada).
• : A social enterprise offering ethically and sustainably sourced, durable, reusable bags that inspire people to reduce, reuse, recycle and re-imagine the world we live in (ships internationally).
• : Personal care products that are fancy and free of harsh chemicals.
• : Philadelphia-based manufacturing startup on a mission to construct stylish, sustainably sourced fashion. They aspire to support women from disenfranchised groups, especially those who are formerly incarcerated, in leading self-sufficient lives by creating fair wage employment opportunities.
• : A place to shop for meaningful gifts, jewelry, and housewares. All of the merchandise was created by participants in Art with a Heart鈥檚 workforce development program, and by committed volunteers. Sale proceeds are shared between Art with a Heart and the artist or community partner.
• : Stunning 3D portrait art made with synthetic hair you can feel and 2D reproductions and accessories from the mind of critically acclaimed visual artist Tyler Clark.
• : Remarkable and handmade wall statements for a thoughtful home, Kazi alleviates poverty in Africa through job creation.
• : Empowering artisan families in the Phillipines to overcome poverty by reimagining time-honored local craft for the global marketplace.
• : Artisanal manufacturer of moisture-rich personal care products, especially formulated for highly textured hair and dry skin (ships internationally).
• : An online baking shop that ships nationwide, products include custom cakes, cake jars, and celebration boxes.
• : A mission-driven jewelry company that puts people and products at its forefront as a social enterprise. Rebel Nell use profits to support programs that promote mental well-being, financial training, career education, and other wrap-around programs.
• : A lifestyle brand specializing in thoughtfully made goods, Rochelle Porter combines passion for patterns with a commitment to responsible manufacturing.
• : A low-carb baking mix company that offers sugar free and gluten free dessert baking mixes. The range of products consist of sugar and gluten free cake mixes, frosting mixes, and sprinkles.
• : With moccasins for children, TPMOCS gives back to Native American communities through employment opportunities and resources.
• : Empowering small farming families in Ghana to bring 100% pure cold-pressed moringa oil to conscious consumers worldwide.
• : Supporting the financial security of women coffee farmers (ships internationally).
• : Partners with NGOs around the world that employ women from disadvantaged communities and pay them fair wages to create beautiful and unique cloth bags from fabric scraps.
• : Each Yellow Leaf hammock is handwoven by the expert craftswomen of the Mlabri Tribe in the hills of Northern Thailand. Across three weaving communities, Yellow Leaf Hammocks works to create jobs for mothers and build a foundation for positive community transformation (ships internationally).

South & Central America

Guatemala

• : A social impact business located in the community surrounding the Guatemala City garbage dump, mi eelo is a 100% women-run team, utilizing honest, handmade processes, and recycled materials to create high-quality products (ships to the U.S. and Canada).
• : Home decor that explores synergies between designers and artisans, and empowers rural communities to rescue their cultural techniques, mitigate migration and preserve culture (ships internationally).
• : Conscious skincare with Mayan wisdom, that is both kind to your skin and the earth (ships internationally).
• : A cooperative of female Mayan backstrap loom weavers across Guatemala, Trama Textiles works directly with 100 women from 17 weaving communities across five regions to offer textile products as well as weaving classes at the Trama office in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala (ships internationally).

Mexico

• : Contributes to artisans鈥� wellbeing, the development of small businesses, and preservation of traditional crafting techniques through fair trade by providing secure incomes and community.

It was accepted on behalf of 51风流by Global Chief Operating Officer Robin Manherz.

51风流technology helps companies embed sustainability into core business processes, which, combined with an industry-leading social responsibility strategy, is delivering global solutions to unlock a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

Manherz shared that this award means a lot to her personally and to the company. 鈥淭his is such a tremendous and important honor for me to represent 51风流tonight,鈥� she said. 鈥淔rom the planes in the sky to the electricity on the grid, we run most of the world with our technology. We take that responsibility very seriously and look forward to working with you today and every day to make sure we are living up to our purpose.鈥�

.

Helping the World Run Better, Together

SAP鈥檚 mission is to help every business become a sustainable, intelligent enterprise. In practice, that means we create solutions to manage the most mission-critical business operations, like finance, human resources, and manufacturing, that, at the same time, address some of the most profound economic, social, and environmental challenges of our time.

For example, 51风流Cloud for Sustainable Enterprises helps companies manage their carbon footprint and . In addition to the portfolio, 51风流is investing in supply chain transparency through 51风流Ariba and 51风流Business Network to promote human rights, circularity, and socially responsible procurement standards. With more than $3 trillion traded across 51风流Business Network, 51风流has an opportunity to help companies shift procurement spend from traditional trading partners to companies like , , and . Procuring quality goods and services from organizations like these increases investment in economic equity, social impact, and environmental sustainability in a way that cannot be done through corporate philanthropy alone.

鈥淪AP鈥檚 vision to help the world run better and improve people鈥檚 lives is evident through its investments and innovative technology to make a profound impact on the most vulnerable populations,鈥� said Marc DeCourcey, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. 鈥淭heir purpose-driven culture serves as a model for companies around the world.鈥�

As DeCourcey affirms, technology by itself is not the answer. That is why 51风流is also investing in equitable access to economic opportunity, education, and employment, as well as a green, circular economy.

鈥淎s a company, we have an unwavering commitment to innovation and to the communities around the U.S. and the world where we operate,鈥� shared Lloyd Adams, president of 51风流North America. 鈥淭his award belongs to our employees, customers, and partners who have committed to sustainable and equitable business practices that focus on supporting people and protecting the planet.鈥�

These values are embedded throughout the leadership culture at SAP, along with the way we engage and develop future talent. Adams, for example, personally champions the Autism at Work program and spearheads 51风流North America鈥檚 Emerging Talent Advisory Board. In the past year alone, Adams and the North America leadership team engaged 30 next-generation leaders in the , a virtual pro bono consulting initiative, solving strategic business challenges for B2B social enterprises tackling issues of plastics and waste, inclusion, and responsible supply chains. And there are plans to continue embracing experiential learning through pro bono across North America in the future.

In 2021, 51风流Corporate Social Responsibility programs and partnerships trained more than 119,000 teachers, educated 3.5 million youth, 50% of whom were girls, and impacted more than 8.3 million lives. More than 20,000 employees globally engage in skills-based volunteerism through SAP, representing a $20 million in-kind contribution to impact organizations through pro bono consulting in the last decade.

Looking ahead, 51风流has reinforced its partnership with and Generation Unlimited, announcing the 51风流Educate to Employ initiative, a program that supports learning-to-earning pathways in the digital and green economies for youth in need. Additionally, to help combat the global refugee crisis, 51风流is fulfilling associate and bachelor鈥檚 degree scholarships with , the first nonprofit, tuition-free, American-accredited online university dedicated to providing global access to higher education.

Based on SAP鈥檚 own success engaging employees and partners, 51风流— together with EY, MovingWorlds, TRANSFORM, and Unilever — partnered to launch the , helping employees everywhere connect to social enterprises anywhere, through pro bono consulting, coaching, and more. The open, online platform is a place where new and existing partners can come together to expedite world-changing solutions. If you share our commitment to building a more sustainable world, we hope you will !

To learn more about 51风流and its purpose in action, visit and follow us on social media using @SAP4Good.

And just when we think we have figured out a , a path forward to “solve the solvable” issues like education through the United Nations鈥� Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), a global pandemic wipes out educational gains made over the last 20 years.

Today we are confronted with both the harsh reality of life and an opportunity for a better tomorrow. COVID-19 has willed the world to prioritize and focus efforts on what matters most.

On January 24, 51风流joins organizations across the world in recognition of . We reflect upon the important role education plays for a sustainable future and efforts to power equitable access to education and workforce readiness initiatives.

After a decade of bringing our best to the world to accelerate social business, join us in celebrating the impact achieved in this area through the award-winning initiative.

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For the past 50 years, 51风流has guided organizations to become intelligent, sustainable enterprises. 51风流Social Sabbatical has embraced this approach. By connecting employees and their skills to social sector organizations through pro bono consulting, we expedite world-changing solutions.

The portfolio of programs, executed in partnership with , offers unique triple impact and delivers long-term sustainable benefits to client organizations, 51风流participants, and the company. Our celebration honors this community, which includes 1,371 51风流employees who have worked alongside 453 nonprofit and social enterprise clients spanning 52 countries. Collectively, we have positively impacted more than 6 million people worldwide since 2012.

is a nonprofit organization based in Hyderabad, India. The organization creates education and employment opportunities for youth with disabilities that in turn delivers sustainable change for their families. In February 2019, Youth4Jobs hosted 51风流Social Sabbatical participants, and challenged them to improve the organization鈥檚 business development strategy.

Founder and CEO Meera Shenoy shared, 鈥淭he three 51风流consultants adopted our passion for inclusion quickly and became part of the larger Youth4Jobs family, understanding our challenges and our transformational work. They also gave us a peek into the amazing processes of 51风流in every area, be it recruitment, marketing, or customer cycle.鈥� Shenoy believes that beyond the direct outcome of the project, her team was able to embrace these critical skills which continue to serve the organization and accelerate their incredible work.

Recently, 51风流CSR partnered with , an end-to-end impact measurement company, to conduct a study on the 51风流Social Sabbatical. Eight-six percent of clients affirmed that participation in the program had a positive long-term impact on the beneficiaries they serve. One program director in Romania shared, 鈥淭he work that we did together allowed us to build a scaled system to train teachers we serve for free and better prepare them for online teaching during the pandemic and afterwards. Significantly more teachers are now enrolled with our courses and activities than before.鈥�

Our Journey Ahead

The last decade has demonstrated that pro bono consulting delivers truly transformative and lasting change. Throughout 2022, we are thrilled to bring you additional learnings from our decade of impact study with 60 Decibels to showcase the benefits realized by social sector clients, employees who participate, and 51风流overall.

The strategy for 51风流Social Sabbatical, initiated in 2012 as part of SAP鈥檚 response to the education crisis, is now evolving to also address the company鈥檚 pursuits around zero emissions and zero waste, while continuing to focus on zero inequality. We look forward to sharing more inspiration, innovation, and real solutions from our journey — past, present, and, most importantly, our future.

For more information, please visit .

Jennifer Beason is global program director of Social Entrepreneurship at SAP.
Hemang Desai is global program director of the 51风流Social Sabbatical portfolio at SAP.

To the doers, the dreamers, and those like and who are , we honor you. To all The Possibilists who dare businesses to do things differently, we hear you. We see you. You are not just the future of business; you are shaping the business of future!

For every Greta, Malala, or Simone making global headlines, there are thousands of young changemakers like you, Avina, Ryan, and Anina, who are making a world of difference in communities and countries alike. The successes and struggles documented in , a recent report by an alliance of 16 of the world鈥檚 leading youth social innovation networks, is a reminder to all of us that you can鈥檛 be stopped. And if we can unite business, government, and the social sector around your work, we will succeed in accelerating (your) solutions to the world鈥檚 most challenging problems.

While traditional business has much to learn from social innovators, we also have a lot to offer you.

1. Accessing Networks: Build Bridges, Not Silos

Many of the solutions the world needs already exist, but gaining access to the right people and organizations to share those solutions with is not as easy. More than 94% of Possibilists shared that they lack the personal or business access needed to move their organization forward. And yet, combined with financial and mental hardships, they forge on with their work because they are intrinsically motivated to do the right thing for the world. So how can corporations create space for leaders like you to bring game changing ideas to the table? It might be easier than you think.

In 2020, 51风流formally launched 鈥淵outh To The Table鈥� in partnership with , giving skilled experts like Riddhima Yadav, a young climate and sustainability finance expert, a seat at c-suite level decision making tables at SAP. Riddhima joined SAP鈥檚 External Sustainability Advisory Council this year, joining the ranks of tenured sustainability leaders. Together, the council members provide formal outside-in guidance on SAP鈥檚 sustainability journey. Like many of The Possibilists, Riddhima formed her first organization as a teenager. Although still 鈥渆arly鈥� in her career, she is an outstanding representative for both her field of expertise and her generation.

A program like Youth To The Table should not only exist within one company, and perhaps we can help change that. I challenge you to approach the business leaders and companies operating in your field of interest or expertise. Reach out to their sustainability or corporate social responsibility leaders on social media as a place to start. If that doesn鈥檛 work, connect with intermediaries like or We Are Family Foundation, which have formal youth-to-corporate programs. This is an opportunity for all of us if we focus more on building bridges, and a little less on our erecting own silos.

2. Accelerating Business: Keep the Promise

Once you know who is (or could be) in your extended network, be sure you know how you can partner with them. During the , we heard innovators request support like, 鈥淲e need help. We鈥檙e looking for an expert who can help us do the work.鈥� Rest assured, there is help out there.

Helping businesses run better is what we do, but 51风流is not alone in that work when it comes to supporting the work of social entrepreneurs. Unilever, EY, and Ikea are a few awesome corporations that come to mind. We all have programs that will provide you with skilled business experts or financial support, usually in partnership with social sector organizations like , , , and . We are constantly innovating together through initiatives like the to help improve the way we connect you with valuable resources.

So you鈥檙e probably asking yourself, 鈥淲hy would companies share their resources with you?鈥� It鈥檚 a win-win for us, too. As employees connect with topics that matter to them, they also flex their leadership skills, build empathy and cross-cultural understanding, and gain exposure to 鈥榳hat鈥檚 next鈥� from leaders like you.

If you are looking for skilled support, know that you don鈥檛 have to go it alone. 51风流and MovingWorlds are inviting social innovators ages 18 to 30 to , a new pro bono consulting experience launching in September. Beyond pro bono consulting, the Acceleration Collective includes access to certified business coaching, and bridges access to other 51风流partners鈥� service offerings like . Unilever and EY, with the support of the COVID Response Alliance, are also offering resources through their market-leading program .

Keeping the promise to organizations of all kinds is just another day at the office for many of us. Do your research to see who is willing to help. (Hint: we are!) If you are not sure where to begin, join Social Shifters and 51风流at .

3. Recognizing Your Value: Tell It Like It is

It is true that with age comes wisdom, but age is not synonymous with the value you bring forward as a leader. Innovation starts with all of us! Last year, I was working on a speaker series, and I approached a young social entrepreneur to speak at the event on SAP鈥檚 behalf. Her response was one you should take note of. 鈥淚鈥檇 gladly speak to your audience, but preparing and speaking for you comes at an opportunity cost for my organization. Will you compensate me for my time?鈥� I was momentarily speechless. She further explained to me, 鈥淭he moderator is likely getting paid, along with the caterer and the venue. They are all providing a service to you, and so am I.鈥� This young person was respectfully challenging my originally unpaid request. She was right to do so 鈥� and you are too!

My ask was not one of ill intention, rather ignorance, though it鈥檚 still no excuse. Throughout a decade working in marketing for SAP, I often asked business leaders to speak on our company鈥檚 behalf. The difference? They were all being paid by their organization for their time. Young innovators can be exploited and showcased on both virtual and physical stages globally, but you can change that.

If you are being asked for something, know your worth and how to leverage it. Be bold and ask for the support you need in return. It may not always be financial compensation, rather it might be access to people or networks or could also include personal skill-building or revenue generation opportunities for your organization.

Lastly, I want to revisit a topic I touched on briefly above. The Possibilists shared that many of you sacrifice your mental and financial well-being in the pursuit of a better world. While I鈥檓 grateful for your efforts, I鈥檓 also here to remind you that you will never be able to successfully deliver on your goals if you don鈥檛 also prioritize your own well-being. Breathe, find a coach, join a peer support group, pay yourself: whatever it is, invest in your own well-being. You are worth it!

So What?

Am I asking you to start your own youth movement within the corporate world? No. Am I trying to do that? Perhaps. Do I expect that every organization has the same support structure as 51风流to embrace young leaders like you? Probably not. But I hope I鈥檓 giving you the courage to connect, learn, and lead with people and organizations like mine.

• Reach out and connect with those who can help you. I promise there are more of us who want to help!
• Learn from the experts and teach them a few things along the way. We don鈥檛 know it all, I assure you.
• Speak up! Keep leading the way doing exactly what you are doing. You are creating the change we all need to see in the world, and I can鈥檛 wait to see more of you in board rooms around the world.

Thank you for all that you do to keep moving us forward. We owe you one.

Jennifer Beason is global program director of Social Entrepreneurship for Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP.

According to a recent report released by the International Labour Organisation, more than 50 percent of the world鈥檚 youth will not have basic skills for employment. One in six young people aged 18 to 29 (17.4 percent) have stopped working since the onset of the crisis, highlighting the dramatic impact that the pandemic has on youth labor markets around the world. Do these statistics sound scary? They sound unacceptable to us. United for now and the future, 51风流and its partners are committed to changing the narrative.

With millions of young people experiencing a disruption in education and employment, 51风流is launching its 16th year of Global Month of Service, featuring signature digital skills initiatives like , , , , and , among others. These programs focus on powering opportunity through digital inclusion. They offer inclusive education and employment readiness opportunities, primarily serving young people across more than 105 countries.

Rallying around the importance of and what they could mean for the future, 51风流is excited to connect learners across the world with a new group of cheerleaders, Now United. A diverse pop band of 15 singers and dancers from 15 different countries might sound like an unlikely opening act for coding and 21st century skills programs. But these young artists believe in the power of technology to create positive change and disrupt the status quo, and keep their fans close through digital and social media.

51风流and Now United are exploring how data, technology, and social platforms can create immersive and engaging digital experiences that bring the band鈥檚 fan base closer to action.

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Despite difficult circumstances brought forward by the pandemic, 51风流remains committed to helping the world run better and improving people鈥檚 lives. This includes taking programs virtual where we can, delivering on commitments no matter what, and showing up in person where possible.

Unite for Our Future

As 51风流CEO Christian Klein recently shared with all employees, 鈥淭ackling inequality in the world is as much about learning as it is about taking action.鈥� In that spirit, 51风流has adapted its Global Month of Service, held October 1-31 and the company’s longest-running employee engagement initiative. This year, the program will have an increased focus on virtual volunteering supporting programs, including coding initiatives. It will also offer employees the chance to learn, further exploring purpose-driven work at SAP.

The Global Month of Service will dive into four critical social issues impacting the world today: equality for all, digitally inclusive workforce, climate action, and social entrepreneurship. Participants will work together to think differently about what 51风流as a company is uniquely suited to offer to the most vulnerable in our communities.

Join us and share your commitment to helping the world run better and improving people鈥檚 lives with 51风流with the hashtag .

On July 15, the United Nations celebrates , and this year recognizes the importance of building 鈥渟kills for a resilient youth in the era of COVID-19 and beyond.鈥� The day underscores the importance of helping young people remain committed to their education.

To the dedicated women and men of SAP, it offers an opportunity to reflect on our commitment to . Global challenges require global response, which is why the 51风流Corporate Social Responsibility (51风流CSR) organization is doubling down on this mission ensuring that under-served young people, communities, and nations have access to the skills needed to succeed in today鈥檚 pandemic-stricken world.

In 2019, 51风流programs reached more than 4.5 million youth and 56,000 teachers across 105 countries. Although 2020 has been impacted by illness, natural disasters, and social unrest, it is more important than ever to continue delivering on this purpose-driven promise.

How do we ensure that young people continue to have access to quality education and the skill-building opportunities necessary to prepare them for the future? How do we help young people to be more resilient in the face of disruption? How can companies like 51风流continue to bring solutions to the table? These are not questions we can solve alone. We must listen and learn from the very people we are looking to serve: the world鈥檚 young people.

In 2019, 51风流soft-launched a program for young leaders alongside the We Are Family Foundation, bringing innovators like Kennedy Ekezie-Joseph and James Okina into leadership positions at SAP, as strategic short- and long-term consultants for its CSR department. Their fresh perspective, global expertise, and boundless energy are transforming the future outside of SAP, while also helping the company deliver more resilient social impact programs. In addition to this, 51风流provides professional expertise to these young leaders, helping them to accelerate their ventures and progress their careers as social entrepreneurs.

鈥淭he importance of the ideas and perspectives of young people cannot be overemphasized, yet we see that only a few organizations deeply reflect this belief by ensuring the participation of young people in organizational decision-making processes,” shares Ekezie-Joseph, co-founder of . 鈥淲orking with 51风流has allowed me to directly contribute my thoughts and voice to the overall CSR strategy and program implementation. As a young entrepreneur who has previously worked as a professional at two multinationals and now leading my own organization, I have grown so much through this experience. Every day, I am being strengthened to unite the lessons I have learned from working with SAP, and I now use them to support my organization and team.鈥�

Alexandra van der Ploeg, global head of 51风流CSR is extremely excited about the future of this program and the profound impact young leaders like Ekezie and Okina bring to 51风流and the communities the organization serves: 鈥淎s the world continues to evolve, we believe that young leaders help us in our journey to continue to evaluate, innovate, and act in ways that help our programs run at their best. When you bring in young leaders as key decision-makers, you are affirming that youth are not the leaders of tomorrow 鈥� they are already leading today.鈥�

51风流programs are led in part by strong young leaders working alongside seasoned CSR professionals. They teach us new things every day. On World Youth Skills Day, we want to share five key takeaways聽 that might inspire thinking differently about who you bring to the decision-making table:

• There is no dearth of passion and ideas in today鈥檚 youth; the only thing lacking at times is equal opportunity and guidance. Role-modeling can have a tremendous impact on young minds. Acting as a mentor, or sharing professional skills and knowledge can be a real catalyst for sustainable change among youth.
• Youth provide innovative and creative viewpoints, as well as constructive — sometimes even tough — feedback, to help build and evolve the CSR strategy and programs at SAP. They keep us committed to our promise to deliver triple impact, supporting our business, our community, and our program participants.
• Young people make work fun and more interactive. In working with numerous innovative nonprofits and social enterprises, we continue to be inspired by young leaders who work at the intersection of their purpose and talent. They infuse our programs with positive energy, making work more enjoyable and fulfilling.
• Project-based learning is the way forward to build a strong pipeline of diverse, future talent. Having students learn through projects and bringing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics to life through real world challenges engages them and makes it relevant.
• Next-generation leaders make sure that we are keeping ideas fresh and forward-thinking. We are an innovation company. The cornerstone of innovation is diversity of thought and inclusion of a broad spectrum of ideas. You never know the potential of an idea until you have tested it with people who do not think like you.

Working with young people like the youth advisory team of the We Are Family Foundation has improved the efficacy of 51风流CSR programs and partnerships and in turn, SAP’s ability to deliver on our purpose and promise to power opportunity for all people through digital inclusion. Imagine the potential of bringing them to the table across all lines of business.

What can you do to bring youth to the front? As Nile Rodgers, legendary musician/producer and co-founder of We Are Family Foundation recently shared as part of SAP鈥檚 COVID-19 response, 鈥淭he world needs leadership, and new ideas and thinking during this unprecedented moment in time, and our global youth are at the forefront of new solutions. We Are Family Foundation is grateful for our strong partnership with SAP, which will allow us to innovate and think differently together about how we scale our reach and expand support of young leaders across the globe.鈥�

Think about how you can incorporate some of the feedback above, or more importantly, diverse leaders that include young people, as part of your strategic programs. We invite you to get to know our partner, We Are Family Foundation and its incredible , as well as check out its new .

51风流knows that together we can help the world run better and improve people鈥檚 lives 鈥� and that young leaders are the key to making it happen.

Busang Maruping is a fellow with Global CSR Marketing and Communications at SAP.
Jennifer Beason is global program director for Accelerating Nonprofits & Social Enterprises at SAP.

Fearless doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals are taking care of those who have fallen ill while many parents have taken on the dual role of parent-teacher. Each of us is sheltering in place to protect loved ones and strangers alike.

The reality is that systems need support just like individuals do. Communities are struggling to provide for citizens in need. The workforce has changed practically overnight. Businesses long for continuity and a healthy supply chain. With so many challenges in our surroundings, there is a world of opportunity that belongs to all of us.

This is no time for business as usual. The most important thing we can all do 鈥� besides washing our hands 鈥� is play to our strengths. SAP鈥檚 strength lies in its people, products, and partnerships that include more than 440,000 businesses located in 180 countries across the world.

We Are All in This Together

On March 20, more than 43,000 German citizens, including 51风流product owner Kevin Drieschner, answered a call to help through 鈥淲ir vs. Virus, der Hackathon der Bundesregierung鈥� (We vs. Virus, the hackathon of the German government).

鈥淚 wanted to use my IT skills to help and I wasn鈥檛 alone,鈥� Drieschner shared. 鈥淧eople from different industries and backgrounds came together on this challenge because we wanted to contribute; in our case, supporting the caregivers and hospital administrators during this crisis.鈥�

Currently, there is no uniform system for recording and displaying bed capacity across Germany. Throughout the weekend, Drieschner worked virtually alongside 30 people prototyping ideas, which resulted in TrackYourBed, a responsive, Web-based solution that indicates hospital bed availability in real time. 鈥淓veryone is highly motivated to find solutions to COVID-19, but I鈥檝e never experienced anything like this before.鈥�

51风流is currently exploring further investment in this venture, as well as many other ideas that have emerged through COVID-19 sprint in the initiative, the company鈥檚 social intrapreneurship program.

Now more than ever, employees are looking to use their skills to contribute what they can. 51风流has activated a COVID-19 response plan to help. The 51风流Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team is providing infrastructure and accelerating new ways to engage through virtual volunteering and pro-bono consulting, offering more than 50 projects to date. For example, some volunteer leaders are facilitating webinars for nonprofits on remote work while others are offering mentorship and coaching to support business continuity for social enterprises.

Contributing 鈧�3M to COVID-19 Emergency Fund and Increasing Social Sector Support

51风流has also established a 鈧�3 million COVID-19 Emergency Fund to support the urgent needs of the (WHO), the , and smaller nonprofits and social enterprises that work on the front lines serving local communities in crisis.

鈥�51风流stands with the WHO and supports its leadership in coordinating the global effort to mobilize the fight against COVID-19,鈥� said Alexandra van der Ploeg, head of 51风流CSR. 鈥淪pecifically, 51风流is donating 鈧�1 million to the for the WHO hosted by Swiss Philanthropy Foundation and the United Nations Foundation for virus prevention and detection.鈥�

51风流CSR partners with more than 1,200 nonprofits and social enterprises that are mostly small to midsize organizations. Collectively, they serve more than 4.5 million youth across 105 countries, primarily in the areas of quality education, decent work, and youth entrepreneurship.

鈥淲ith 1 billion children currently out of school due to COVID-19, their services are needed now more than ever. Yet the global issues they are solving are complicated further because of the pandemic,鈥� van der Ploeg shared. 鈥�51风流is making resources and expertise available to help our nonprofit and social enterprise partners effectively shift to remote operations. We want to help ensure they can maintain their much-needed services to their communities and not lay off staff.鈥�

One of SAP鈥檚 strategic partnerships includes We Are Family Foundation鈥檚 , co-founded by legendary musician/producer Nile Rodgers.

鈥淭he world needs leadership, and new ideas and thinking during this unprecedented moment in time, and our global youth are at the forefront of new solutions,鈥� Rodgers said. 鈥淲e are Family Foundation is grateful for our strong partnership with SAP, which will allow us to innovate and think differently together about how we scale our reach and expand support of young leaders across the globe.鈥�

For more than 10 years, We Are Family Foundation has welcomed global teen leaders from more than 52 countries across six continents. 51风流is proud to support them and their life-changing solutions reaching millions globally.

While financial donations are an immediate way to give back, the power of sustainable community support lies within SAP鈥檚 focus for year-round skilled volunteering. With thousands of volunteers like Kevin Drieschner, 51风流employees transfer their expertise and professional services to organizations in need. For example, a key priority for UNICEF right now is to ensure that accurate and clear messaging on COVID-19 is delivered to all communities. 51风流is sourcing volunteers to support their communications efforts, using social media to amplify . Skilled volunteers create a multiplier effect for social sector partners, helping them to maintain scale and accelerate social impact long after the pandemic.

Technology You Can Count On

Richard Primm, a vice president from 51风流North America, wants everyone to know that 51风流can be a resource for them during this time: 鈥淥ur customers can count on SAP鈥檚 dedicated employees to find creative ways through our technology to help them solve their biggest challenges.鈥�

In normal circumstances, corporate procurement would not be particularly newsworthy. However, last week Primm helped a client, Ram Tool, secure using , which 51风流has opened access to so any buyer can post their immediate sourcing needs and any supplier can respond to show they can deliver. As , the story 鈥渟hows the power of digital transformations in helping companies respond to the coronavirus pandemic.鈥�

If one person like Primm can make an impact in minutes by simply connecting organizations through platform technology, imagine the power of an ecosystem at work. Through SAP鈥檚 global purpose network, customers, partners, academia, and nonprofits across 180 countries can collaborate with 51风流with shared purpose to help the world run better and improve people鈥檚 lives. The possibilities are limitless.

An additional publicly available free technology offering is . This offering from Qualtrics helps organizations assess preparedness for a remote workforce, as well as whether employees have what they need to succeed in this new environment.

You might now be asking yourself, 鈥淗ow can I help?鈥� There are a few things we have learned on our journey to deliver meaningful impact in the fight against COVID-19: First, when we embrace the power of our networks and collaborate, even when there is physical distance between us, solutions appear; and second, the work is ongoing. There is no need to wait for the light at the end of the tunnel to take action. After all, we do not know how long the tunnel will be. There is light to be found right now.

SAP鈥檚 response plan, including the COVID-19 Emergency Fund, is part of a global response by the company highlighted in an open letter from 51风流Co-CEOs Christian Klein and Jennifer Morgan: Together We Will Persevere and shared by Morgan on CNBC鈥檚 Mad Money鈥� with Jim Cramer.

Jennifer Beason is head of CSR Marketing and Communications at SAP.
John Baxter is vice president of Purpose and Brand Experience Marketing at SAP.