Open Doors 2024 Annual Report Launch
Members of the Open Doors Initiative team joined professionals from our network of partner companies as well as participants for the launch of our 2024 Annual Report. Detailing the impact of our work on nearly 30,000 individuals who engaged directly with ODI or our partner organisations, the stories of several featured participants clearly show that it is a critical time for recommitment to values of diversity, equity and inclusion.
ESB CEO and ODI chair Paddy Hayes opened the event by stating that the report captures the "measurable progress" made by the initiative as well as "the lives we've touched, and the systems we've challenged:
"It tells the story of the collaborative impact of the companies, civil society organisations, public agencies, and individuals who have chosen to act and effect change. As we look to the future, the challenges remain real. But so too does our determination. The need for inclusive action has never been greater, and neither has the opportunity to be part of something meaningful.”
Esmat Ibrahimi added to the conversation by sharing his story as a refugee from Afghanistan. He spoked about some of the challenges he faced, and how Open Doors supported him to access education, training, and employment in Ireland.
Paddy Hayes (ODI Chair and CEO ESB), Esmat Ibrahimi (ODI Participant), and Jeanne McDonagh (ODI CEO)
Jeanne McDonagh, CEO at Open Doors, then spoke about how many people live with fear. Fear of change, fear of movement, fear of social upheaval. Some have to leave their homes and countries, some can’t live in a society which disables them, some fear walking on the street with their loved ones, some are not accepted in the place where they come from.
World events are destabilising and are having a chilling effect on social impact and positive change. People and leaders are rescinding from their real values, to, as they see it, protect livelihoods and businesses in a tumultuous world.
So how do we get the pendulum to swing back to consensus, stability and economic prosperity? We know that Corporate Social Justice, through understanding and responding to the lived experiences of the underrepresented, is key as is creating an environment where everybody thrives through the eradication of systemic inequalities. This is the future we need.
We need to actively mitigate against harm and promote inclusion. Companies are catalysts for social change, and it is reflected in people acting with their values and choosing to support those companies that mirror them.
Please download the full report to discover how ODI has been leading the movement towards Corporate Social Justice and the resulting impact, thanks to the dedication of our partner organisations and team.