What are Good Do’er Days?
Good Do’er Days is an initiative designed to foster a spirit of giving and community involvement within our organization, aligned with our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals for environmental stewardship and social impact. At its core, Good Do’er Days is about empowering our global team of Do’ers to give back to their communities through volunteerism. Whether it’s supporting local charities, participating in environmental cleanups, organizing food drives, or engaging in social outreach programs, our Do’ers are encouraged to dedicate time and energy to causes that matter to them.
We recognize that making a difference starts at the local level, which is why each member of our team is provided with four days a year to volunteer in their community through charitable actions or services of their choice. This initiative is one of the many ways we support our employees’ passion for giving back while simultaneously making a tangible impact in the communities where we live and work.
In 2024 alone, our team has collectively donated over 550 hours of community service across various regions, contributing to causes ranging from environmental conservation to educational outreach and health initiatives. These efforts not only support the communities around us but also reinforce our commitment to sustainability and social responsibility on a global scale.
With that, we would like to share an incredible story of environmental stewardship from Matthias Baetens, a Sr. Cloud Data Architect who ventured from Singapore to Japan to help clean up the oceans and beaches, support a turtle nest excavation, and restore coral reefs.
Marine Conservation in OkinawaAt DoiT, we spend most days helping other companies solve their most complex cloud challenges. My job is very diverse and gives me interesting challenges on a daily basis, but I wanted to take a moment to share a bit more about one of the coolest perks of working at DoiT—our ability to take Good Do’er Days and contribute to social or environmental initiatives we’re passionate about. On the road to doing some good in the world, my passion has always been supporting Marine Conservation efforts.
I deeply love scuba diving and care about our environmental footprint. So, when I was planning to go to Okinawa for holidays at the start of the year, I thought: why not combine work & pleasure into one trip that also benefits our planet? 💼🏝️🌏
While planning my trip, I was inspired by this post by the Official Okinawa Travel Guide, which discussed the threats to the coral reefs in the region, such as the crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, increasing water temperatures, construction, and local initiatives to keep them from further deteriorating.
So, what did I get up to?🪸 Coral seedling making and planting with Lagoon Diving:
We created coral seedlings by attaching coral fragments to concrete blocks and planting them underwater. This activity helps restore and expand coral reefs, which are crucial for marine biodiversity and ecosystem health.
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🧹 Underwater cleanup dive (bye fishing lines):
During the dives, we removed fishing lines and other debris from the ocean. This prevents marine animals from getting tangled or ingesting plastic and helps preserve the underwater habitat.
🐢 Turtle nest excavation with Okinawa Churamura Sea Turtle Conservation:
We excavated a sea turtle nest to assess hatching success and rescue any remaining hatchlings. This activity supports sea turtle conservation efforts by providing valuable data and potentially increasing hatchling survival rates.
🏖️ Beach cleanup on the beautiful Zamami Island and in Yomitan: we conducted beach cleanups around the Okinawa archipelago, removing trash from the coastal areas. This prevents pollution from entering the ocean, protects marine life, and maintains the health of coastal ecosystems.
🔬 Visit to the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST): we visited OIST to learn more about marine research and conservation science, the background, and the collaboration of the on-the-ground groups with researchers from this institution. This educational experience provides context for conservation efforts and highlights the importance of scientific research in guiding marine protection strategies.
Interested in more: head over here to read the full story.
Want to get your hands dirty?! 🌊🧼It’s the perfect timing!
PADI is organizing the PADI AWARE WEEK running from 14 to 22 September 2024 (and probably around the same time if you are reading this far in the future). Find a local dive organization that is involved in marine conservation and ask them about their activities, like we did this weekend in Singapore.
If you are based out of Singapore, consider joining the Blue Water EduFest running from 7 to 9 November 2024 and signing up for the ONE°15 Clean Up (you’ll find me there!) 🇸🇬🤿. Or keep an eye out on the Submersibles webpage since they organise clean-ups from time to time.
