Trafigura Foundation

Geneva (Switzerland)

The Geneva Charity Committee (“GCC”) is composed by 7 Trafigura employees of 7 various nationalities! It is dedicated to raise funds and to support philanthropic initiatives in Geneva. They meet once a month to discuss about the fundraising activities they will organise and the project they would like to support.

^{GCC Members (from right to left): Dev Patel, Muriel Sefta, Louise Barbagallo, Galina Novomlinova, Jan-Maarten Mulder, Mikael Gerard, Jason Liddell.}

Project Supported by the GCC

"CEFAM": 

Training/Meeting Centre for Migrant Women in Meyrin. CEFAM helps them adapt to life in Switzerland eg. how to get out and about in Geneva, promotes skills development such as sewing enabling them to earn some money, learning to cook and generally creating a networking environment for them to socialize and interact with other women.

Carrefour Rue: “Feed the Needy”:

This is a local charity which provides a hearty and nutritious meal once a month for up to 150 of local homeless individuals.  We have been sponsoring this event since January 2010, and have recently committed our support to fund it for the rest of the year. This initiative is managed and run entirely by volunteers, including a number of Geneva based Trafigura employees who have given up some of their Saturday to shop/cook/prepare a meal for upto 150 people.  The financial sponsorship from Trafigura means that the entire food budget for 2010 has been met.

Fundraising Activities Organised by the GCC

SPORT

In 2008, 6 Trafigura roadrunners took part in the Geneva half-marathon. They raised CHF4’560 that they decided to give to CEFAM. The GCC also believes that social and work integration is the key to improve people life-condition.

An auction of sports equipment was held and raised more than CHF 20'000.

Eric de Turckheim, Paul Earland and William Lovett carried out a sponsored bike ride across 5 countries!

FOOD OF THE WORLD

Most recently, the Geneva CC has taken advantage of the diverse make-up of the committee and Geneva office itself to host “Food of the World” events to raise money.   The idea is for members of the committee and other willing victims to cook lunch for the entire office and charge upto CHF20 to fellow colleagues for the privilege of eating it.  Cuisines cooked so far: Italian, Russian, Bulgarian…