BYEE’s generation game

Bayer is among a few corporations to develop and maintain corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities related to the  environment?

CSR forms an integral part of Bayer’s philosophy and strategy as a business enterprise. The

Mr David Champion

company regards itself as part of society and therefore considers its duty to behave as a responsible corporate citizen. Bayer’s CSR commitment is exemplified by numerous projects in many parts of the world, some of which the company has organised or supported for many years. In 2009 Bayer provided funding of education and research, environment and nature, health and social needs, sport, and culture.

As a research-based enterprise, we also place great emphasis on promoting science education for young people and have therefore been committed to promoting youth environmental programmes. In cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Bayer organises and promotes a number of specific projects which aim to improve knowledge about the environment among young people and support them in their environmental commitment. One of these projects is the “Bayer Young Environmental Envoy (BYEE) Programme”, under which, selected students go to Germany on a weeklong study tour to experience how environmental protection is practiced by people, the government and business with regards to technology and environmental awareness.

What is BYEE?

 This is a global environmental education program for the youth organised by Bayer and the UNEP since 1998, aiming to encourage youth leaders in establishing activities or programmes to promote environmental awareness and protection among their communities and facilitate the networking and experiences in environmental protection among youths.

The programme was launched in Vietnam for the first time in 2006 with support from the Ministry of Education and Training, Youth Union and Ho Chi Minh City Environment Protection Agency. It has now gained wide awareness and appreciation among young students. More than 80 young envoys have been recruited under the programme. 

Are there any differences between BYEE 2010 and those of the  previous years?

Unlike the previous years, we have enhanced the format of recruitment in the programme this year. The candidates are required to submit not only an essay about an issue of environment but also an individual initiative to improve that issue.

Once they are selected as a new envoy after a rigorous judgment of the environmental professionals, they are required to implement that initiative. This is a quite big challenge for them since there are actually few competitions that push the participants into the real action likewise. Additional challenge to the new envoy in the programme this year is that they have to seek the sponsorship to implement their project apart from our partial funding.

What is the most interesting thing that the candidates get?

Apart form the above-mentioned values that program offer them with the environmental awareness and protection and the networking and experiences in environmental protection among like-minded people, the programme this year appears as a good exercise for young people to show and confirm their values to their family, friends and their communities.

It is also a good occasion for them to learn and enhance their social soft skills of which they are lack of training at the university. Especially, for young people who love nature, it has become a social forum where they can meet and share their passion with other young people about the environment and environmental protection.