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TELUS

Growing Gardens

TELUS International team members volunteered to create an organic community garden – the first publicly accessible food growing space in Cork city

In November 2021 the team at TELUS International Ireland in Cork held the first ever Eco – TELUS Days of Giving, a day to focus on environmentally beneficial projects within the community. A team of 50 volunteers worked to create an organic community garden – the first publicly accessible food growing space in Cork city.

The team planted 20 fruit and nut trees, built 18 large raised beds and compost bays using upcycled pallets from the office— some of which were specially designed to be wheelchair accessible—installed bug hotels and bird feeders, and upcycled

and painted picnic benches. Thousands of wildflower seeds were sown on the day.

The garden, designed in collaboration with local horticulture students and Ciara Parsons, resident Horticultural Therapist & Sustainability Representative at TELUS International Ireland, will now serve as an asset to students of the neighbouring special school St Gabriel’s and the local Tidy Towns group, as well as nearby residents and visitors.

“Our goals included: educating people locally on growing their own food whilst also reducing their carbon footprint; providing a rewarding volunteering opportunity; and strengthening our bond with the local community to embody our company ethos of ‘We give where we live’,” notes Parsons.

REFLECTING WHAT’S IMPORTANT “At TELUS International Ireland, our corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities reflect what’s important to team members in our focus on social impact, sustainability and wellness. Our team is empowered to take the lead on CSR initiatives, with collective decisions made on charity partners and community projects,” says Miriam Manning, HR Director, TELUS International Ireland. “We are hugely proud of our very first Eco – TELUS Days of Giving and the incredible

achievement made by our volunteers on the day. We’re excited to hold more transformative projects like this one in the future.”

In another new volunteering initiative in July, TELUS International Ireland volunteers worked with Cork- based charity Cope Foundation on a project that benefits the community as well as the environment. Cope Foundation supports over 2,800 children and adults with

THE NATIVE HONEY BEES HAVE BEEN SUCH A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR CAMPUS, HELPING WITH THE POLLINATION OF OUR PLANTS AND ENHANCING THE BIODIVERSITY OF OUR GARDEN SPACE

Ciara Parsons, Horticultural Therapist

intellectual disabilities and autism.

“Together with Cope service users, we worked in their allotment style garden in Ballincollig, a vital space to learn, socialise and connect with nature. We had a fantastic day working alongside a great group of people,” recalls Parsons.

In another initiative, working with

beekeeping services company An Beach Dubh, TELUS International Ireland introduced approximately 60,000 native Irish honey bees to the Mahon, Cork headquarters.

“The native honey bees have been such a great addition to our campus, helping with the pollination of our plants and enhancing the biodiversity of our garden space, while we do our bit for conservation of the native Irish honey bee,” says Parsons.

Miriam Manning, HR Director (far right), and volunteer team members at the Eco TELUS Days of Giving event in November 2021