McCann Renews Raleigh International ‘Out of Office for Good’ Partnership

11 volunteers from McCann Worldgroup agencies in the UK will travel to Tanzania as part of its flagship international skills-based volunteering programme, ‘Out of Office for Good.’ The programme is designed to strengthen essential skills for local youth who aspire to create a more sustainable future for their communities, countries and the planet. 

Now in its second year, the leading agency network has collaborated with youth-driven sustainable development charity Raleigh International to train and support 23 members of the Raleigh Tanzania Society (RTS). The volunteers will support the RTS in the creation and design of awareness-raising campaigns to get their voices heard and support environmental policy in Tanzania. This follows the 2018 launch of the programme when 10 McCann Worldgroup in the UK volunteers delivered training to Raleigh National Society members from Costa Rica and Nicaragua, which has resulted in the promotion of sustainable environmental management and disposal of waste in major urban centres. 

Tanzania has a strong history of youth engagement, however rural young people still need support to engage with key decision-makers at both local and national levels in areas such as sustainable development and environmental protection. In Tanzania, livelihoods and domestic consumption practices contribute to a loss of over 300,000 hectares of forest each year, increasing pressure on fragile natural resources as well as the ability of marginalised communities to derive a sustainable income. According to Raleigh, this coupled with the impact of climate change on access to water and agricultural productivity makes it increasingly difficult for people to break out of the poverty cycle.

The hand-selected team of volunteers from McCann Worldgroup in the UK range from directors, managers and apprentices across strategy, creative, client services, and PR. Over two weeks, the team will work closely with the RTS to upskill their knowledge in a series of skills-based workshops and mentoring covering communication planning, digital media, strategy and creative effectiveness. 

Mark Lund, UK CEO of McCann Worldgroup, said: “We have worked very closely with Raleigh International to ensure that this year’s curriculum capitalises on the innate potential of young people as influencers of positive social change. We’re honoured to collaborate with the Raleigh Tanzania Society and develop campaigns that will support Tanzania’s long-term sustainability goals. While this is a unique opportunity for us to continue to create a legacy of youth participation in this region, this experience will also empower our volunteers to build their confidence and push themselves to overcome new challenges and achieve new goals.”

Commenting on the 2019 programme, Alistair Mackay, director for Raleigh Tanzania, said: “Young people in Tanzania are creating a groundswell of momentum for youth-driven change in Tanzania. The McCann Worldgroup programme will empower young people from the Raleigh Tanzania Society to take action on key environmental issues, by building crucial skills and knowledge in the area of campaigning and influencing. Their training and support will accelerate development of more effective campaigns that have greater reach, engagement and ultimately mobilise more young people to take action themselves.”