A GLOBAL biopharmaceutical company with offices in Santry and Citywest celebrated the sixth anniversary of its company volunteering programme recently by helping to refurbish a science lab at New Cross College, Finglas.
AbbVie’s Week of Possibilities programme involves more than 9,000 employees globally who work with local non-profit partners to help make a difference in communities around the world.
Under the programme more than 60 AbbVie employees from the company’s Citywest and Santry offices helped refurbish the New Cross science lab during the week-long initiative.
AbbVie say the work reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to science education and the Finglas students will now have a new-look science facility when they return from their summer break in September.
The volunteers’ efforts included the cleaning, sanding and painting the school’s laboratory benches, worktops and walls. They also helped create a series of striking murals.
The 60-strong team also replaced and fitted new science equipment to encourage a stimulating science-focused learning environment.
AbbVie has joined forces with the national volunteer development agency, Volunteer Ireland on their Irish projects. In all, Week of Possibilities projects were rolled out in three communities in Cork, Sligo and Dublin – locations at which the company has a major presence.
The partnership with Volunteer Ireland means AbbVie’s efforts can align with the needs of their local communities.
Principal at New Cross College, Derek Lynch, explained what the Week of Possibilities project meant to the local school.
“As a DEIS school, where a large cohort of our students come from a financially challenged background, we are extremely grateful to be chosen by AbbVie for their global volunteer week activity,” he said.
“We are not in a position to fund the refurbishment of our Science lab ourselves, and it’s a real lift for our students and teachers to come into an environment that will enhance teaching and learning.
“As principal of New Cross College, I commend AbbVie for their ethical leadership and thank their employees for their significant contribution to our school improvement.”
AbbVie General Manager, Todd Manning, said the company had an ongoing commitment to help transform science education in local communities.
“We hope that our efforts this week will give the students of New Cross College a better chance of a successful future and potentially inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers,” he added.