This year’s focus is on ‘Building Sustainable Communities’ in Cambodia and beyond

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright today announced “Building Sustainable Communities” as the theme of its 2022 Global Charitable Initiative and will partner with Save the Children to improve living conditions for fishing communities on East Tonle Sap Lake, one of the most ecologically fragile areas of Cambodia.

Raising funds for the four-year ‘GREEN project,’ implemented by Save the Children in collaboration with institutional partners and local authorities in the East Tonle Sap Lake region, is one of three pillars of the firm’s charitable effort this year. The other two pillars involve working with local communities on sustainability-related projects around the world and focusing on internal sustainability within the firm.

“Our Global Charitable Initiative will bring us together to build sustainable communities locally and globally. Save the Children has positively impacted countless lives worldwide. We are delighted to collaborate with Save the Children to help safeguard the future of this vulnerable community in Cambodia, while also making a difference in our own communities and workplaces,” said Farmida Bi, CBE, Norton Rose Fulbright’s Global and EMEA Chair.

Caroline Whatley, Director of Partnerships and Chair, Global Corporate Partnerships Group at Save the Children, commented, “We’re so excited to be partnering with Norton Rose Fulbright to help Cambodian families tackle the impact of the climate crisis, which is a child’s rights crisis at its core. The communities living on East Tonle Sap Lake have been hit hard by extreme weather and climate change-related disasters. By joining forces, we will help these communities adapt to the effects of climate change and earn a sustainable living, so that the children can build the future they deserve.”

Cambodia’s East Tonle Sap Lake is home to more than 40 000 people and 8 000 fishing households, whose livelihoods and future have been hugely impacted by climate change. This fundraising effort aims to improve the community’s economic development and resilience to climate change through increasing access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene, by helping families diversify their incomes to reduce reliance on the fishing industry and by improving access to education for the children of East Tonle Sap Lake.

The partnership will also promote green livelihood opportunities for young entrepreneurs and small businesses in the community, providing access to training and piloting new green initiatives for example in waste management and eco-tourism.

Additionally, firm personnel across its 52 global offices will also work to improve the environment in their local communities, identifying sustainability projects and volunteering in support of them.

Norton Rose Fulbright is also focused on continuing to implement sustainability improvements throughout its business operations. Embracing best practices with environmentally-friendly behaviour will help the firm to achieve its goal of becoming a leader in sustainability.

2022 marks the tenth anniversary of Norton Rose Fulbright’s Global Charitable Initiative. Since the program’s inception, the firm has selected a specific cause each year for its Global Charitable Initiative as part of the firm’s commitment to give back to its local communities and beyond. 

Save the Children is a global non-governmental organization that operates in more than 100 countries, helping children reach their full potential by making sure they stay safe, healthy and learning.