Local Deji Elementary School Honors Dow Corning as Green Education Partner

Zhangjiagang, China ? Dow Corning, a global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology recently launched its Green Leader piloteducational program in Zhangjiagang as a way to invest in its local communities and to build public understanding of sustainable development. The company today received Long-term Green Education Partner plaque from Deji Elementary School, the school partner of this initiative.

More than 150fifth graders from the Zhangjiagang Deji Elementary School participated in the Green Leader workshops on October 27 and November 3. Of that group, 30 students were selected for their creativity in environmental protection to visit Dow Corning’s Zhangjiagang integrated silicone manufacturing site as well as to present their green ideas inspired from the workshops on November 17.

“We attach great importance to promoting science and sustainability in education since sustainability is fundamental to our success as a company,” said Brian Austin, Dow Corning Zhangjiagang site Managing Director.

During the workshops, more than 20 employee volunteers organized by the site’s Community Relations have supported the students in exploring a wide range of concepts including environmentally-friendly transportation, waste classification, and how green energies impact on daily lives. Students were encouraged to actively discuss all these topics through a fully interactive session. They were also urged to apply their learnings to their everyday lives.

“The plaque from Deji Elementary School symbolizes our shared vision that the bright future of our society depends on having well-educated, skilled and motivated young people,” said Austin. “We hope Dow Corning will continually help instill a stronger sense of social responsibility in the young generation with the involvement and expertise of our employees.” Dow Corning Zhangjiagang site will continue to host visits from the local community providing students with sustainability education.

Mr Huang Zhangfa, principal of Zhangjiagang Deji Elementary School added, “Dow Corning has provided a fresh and meaningful addition to our usual classroom activities and we are impressed by its continual dedication to advocating sustainability in our community. Our students really enjoyed the Green Leader course. Not only did they learn a lot through the fantastic project, but they were also inspired by the volunteer spirit of the Dow Corning employees.”

The Green Leader program is developed by Dow Corning and Junior Achievement, one of the world’s largest education non-profit organizations, Science and sustainability in education is an important part of Dow Corning’s corporate social responsibility activities. The company has conducted “Fascinating Silicone in Life” ? Dow Corning Science Days across China since 2008. The program has provided more than 2,500 students opportunities to learn about the surrounding environment through hands-on experiments. 1,200 more students are expected to benefit from this year’s program and Zhangjiagang was the first stop with around 160 kids participated.