A FUTURE OF WORK FOR ALL PEOPLE
WHAT IS THE SUNFLOWER PROGRAM AND WHAT IT MEANS IN THE ITALIAN CONTEXT?
Lauren Noel, Sunflower Program Lead & Senior Manager, Global Accounts Program
ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) is core to Indeed’s mission of supporting job seekers in getting jobs and bringing about a future of work that is equitable and inclusive for all people. One of Indeed’s key goals is to enable 30 million job seekers facing barriers to get hired by 2030.
It is in this context that in 2022 the program Sunflower, in collaboration with UNHCR, was initially launched to support refugees impacted by the war in Ukraine in Poland. It has evolved in the last two years and now supports all refugees located in cities around Europe.
I oversee the series of job fairs dedicated to refugees, which is a concrete step to support and integrate the approximately 10 million displaced people (source: UNHCR) who have arrived on European shores in recent years.
Our upcoming Italian Job Fair (Milan, 3 Feb 2025) not only provides employment opportunities for newcomers eligible to work but also offers valuable educational resources and support services around CV writing and interviewing skills, as well as legal information, bringing together all stakeholders to create change.
I have observed the program’s positive impact on refugees and employers. Collaborating with the company’s customer base to address social issues can be a powerful way to make a difference and create shared value. In October of 2023, for example, hundreds of refugee job seekers in Milan were given the opportunity to meet with employers and local support organizations to find jobs needed to thrive and contribute to their communities.
HOW IMPORTANT IS STAKEHOLDERS’ COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING BIAS AND BARRIERS IN THE WORKPLACE?
Elena Rossi, ESG Project Manager - Refugee Job Fairs (Jobseeker Support and Outreach)
Indeed welcomes over 350 million unique visitors every month, driven by its mission to create a world where job seekers everywhere have equal opportunity. The integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles within Indeed’s core mission is particularly noteworthy.
One key goal of Indeed’s ESG strategy is to enable 30 million job seekers facing barriers to secure employment by 2030, demonstrating the company’s commitment to fostering an equitable and inclusive future of work.
Indeed positions itself as a leader in workplace Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), leveraging its extensive customer network to support job seekers. By engaging with Indeed, companies can deepen their understanding of barriers and bias in the job market, leading to increased transparency and long-term value creation with a positive societal impact.
An exemplary initiative showcasing Indeed’s stakeholder collaboration is the Sunflower program, a series of job fairs for refugees organized in six key European cities (Paris, Berlin, London, Amsterdam, Dublin, and Milan) in collaboration with the UNHCR. To organize these fairs, Indeed has mobilized its key departments of Sales and Marketing to partner with its Social Impact team (the “S” in ESG). This collaboration ensures the maximization of the fairs’ impact, connecting refugees with prospective employers as well as relevant NGOs on the ground.
WHAT FEELINGS DO YOU HAVE WHEN YOU ORGANIZE THESE EVENTS? WHAT IS YOUR STORY?
Suzan Elhajj, Senior Project Manager
I was born in Amman, Jordan, to a Palestinian refugee family. I spent my early years in a neighborhood called AlNuzha, studying at United Nations Schools. Education was my path to a better future, and finding a job was crucial for supporting my family. Participating in events to help refugees find jobs fulfills a lifelong dream. Growing up as a child to a refugee family, I understand the challenges of displacement and the desire for stability.
Employment for refugees means restoring dignity and providing hope, impacting entire families by improving education, healthcare, and quality of life. Refugees are resilient and eager to rebuild their lives. Supporting their employment benefits both individuals and communities. My journey from a refugee child to helping refugees find jobs is a personal mission. By aiding refugee employment, we create positive ripple effects for families and communities. I am committed to this cause and grateful to Indeed and its partners for making it possible.