Our commitment
The philosophy of the SKM founders was to give back to the community in an unheralded yet meaningful way.
This commitment is as strong at SKM today as ever, with the establishment in 2007-08 of a Community and Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee at Board level to bring together the large pool of strategic and technical skills within the firm and the determination of our people to help those who need it most. Guiding principles established by the committee help to harness our strength and size by collectively giving to fewer initiatives, but making more of an impact.
Our priority areas
The principal focus of SKM’s Community programs has been determined following extensive staff consultation and ratified by the SKM Board. The three areas are generic in nature to allow for wide interpretation and the application of SKM’s technical and creative skills to deliver positive, self sustaining outcomes. They are:
- Environment
- Communities in need
- Disaster relief
Our approach
Our Community programs are delivered through a combination of pro-bono, “in kind” and cash that allows us to make long-term commitments in the areas we choose to support:
- Pro-bono service by SKM staff for a wide range of projects
- Cash is utilised as a catalyst that favours matching by other identified stakeholders, preferably on “first down/last up” basis.
- “Hour matching” by SKM with staff input has been practised for several years in the provision of Community support and assistance.
Our key partners
SKM works closely with a number of community organisations including:
Beacon Foundation
The Beacon Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that helps young people build their self-esteem and find meaningful employment. Tackling youth unemployment is the focus of the foundation, with a secondary aim of tackling indigenous youth unemployment.
Registered Engineers for Disaster Relief (RedR)
Established in 1992, RedR is a specialist non-profit organisation that recruits and trains volunteer engineers and other technical professionals for deployment into disaster relief situations.
Engineers without Borders (EWB)
Engineers without Borders works with disadvantaged communities to improve their quality of life through education and the implementation of sustainable engineering projects.
Renewable World
Renewable World is a registered charity tackling poverty in developing countries through the provision of affordable renewable energy systems for poor communities in remote, off-grid settings.
Other organisations
At a regional level, SKM CSR committees support initiatives that endeavour to make a measurable change in their respective communities, whilst still being aligned to SKM’s core focus areas.
Recent activities
