Partnering for Purpose: Driving Literacy Through Collaboration

For the past two years, I have had the privilege of leading Cisco's Partnering for Purpose program. A global initiative designed to simplify and enhance the collaboration between Cisco, our partners, customers, and suppliers worldwide, Partnering for Purpose amplifies and accelerates our collective positive impact on people, the planet and the communities in which we live and work.

A key part of this collaborative work is identifying local examples of impactful initiatives that can be:

• Shared globally for greater visibility and awareness
• Scaled to drive greater impact

Making a Difference

A standout example of Partnering for Purpose in action is our work improving literacy amongst children in UK schools.

Since 2019, Cisco UKI has partnered with Chapter One, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create a world where all children have the literacy skills needed to thrive. Chapter One provides one-to-one reading support through a network of corporate partners and volunteers at a critical point in children's literacy journeys.

As part of our partnership, a group of Cisco UKI employees volunteer 30 minutes each week during the school term as online reading partners. They support 5-7-year-old pupils in primary schools across England, providing assistance at a crucial stage in their literacy development.

If students don't develop a strong literacy foundation at an early age, they are unlikely to become proficient readers in later school years. Without these skills, children's self-confidence and self-esteem can suffer significantly, making it difficult for them to reach their potential. The negative impact can span generations. Providing children with the right support at the right time can transform their futures.

This is where being an online reading volunteer makes a difference.

Driving Greater Impact

I have been a volunteer reader with Chapter One since the 2020/21 academic year, supporting a pupil each year. I live by the African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child," and when I first saw the call from our UKI Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team for Chapter One volunteers, I knew immediately that I wanted to get involved. Two years ago, when we started to develop the Partnering for Purpose initiative, I knew Cisco UKI 's work with Chapter One would be an excellent example of where we could scale and drive greater impact.

Through the Partnering for Purpose initiative, we have extended Chapter One's impactful volunteering opportunity to our UKI channel partner community. In the 2023/24 academic year, 17 partner employees from six of our channel partner organizations joined forces with 34 Cisco employees, delivering 349 hours of reading support to 51 children. Collaborating with World Wide Technology (WWT), CGI, Stone Group, Computacenter, Virgin Media O2, and TCS, we have successfully amplified our impact by over 62%.

"I just wanted to say thank you for helping me out. I enjoy reading much more. Right now, I am reading the Train to Impossible Places by PG Bell. I just wanted to say thank you again, so much" - Connor, now aged 9

The Chapter One online platform makes it easy and flexible to support your assigned child from anywhere. I have had sessions while mobile, and even while on holiday. This flexibility has also been of great value to Bea Brewer from CGI, who said, "It's a great platform and a lovely way to give back and connect with the community with such ease."

By supporting children's literacy development at such a crucial stage, we are investing in their life outcomes and our shared future. Our collective efforts not only enhance literacy skills but also nurture a brighter future for these young learners, who will be tomorrow's leaders.

Looking ahead to the next academic year, we are once again collaborating with our UKI channel partner community to amplify our collective impact. If you are interested in participating in this initiative, click here to join us.

As James Hampson of Virgin Media O2 reflects, "I honestly think my student's achievements have made my list of highs more than my own this year. If anyone is thinking of participating, I couldn't encourage it more."

Register to join our Chapter One online reading volunteer program!

Visit the Partnering for Purpose SalesConnect

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