By establishing the MIT Initiative in 1998, Henkel assumed a pioneer role among Germany's corporations. The success story of MIT over the last ten years provides a shining example of how employees, retirees and CSR-aware companies can benefit from each other and work together in order to make a globally significant contribution to social development.

Through MIT, we support the volunteer work of our employees and retirees with in-kind, product and financial donations, paid time off from work, and specialist advice from Henkel. Thanks to their voluntary initiatives, their dedication, their readiness to help, and their willingness to assume responsibility, concrete projects are supported and carried out. The main emphasis is on the extent of the volunteer engagement and the influence of the employee. The greater the involvement of the employee or retiree in the project, the greater the possible support by Henkel. In 1999, to intensify the mutual exchange of experience, our employees established the MIT network. This idea arose during the first MIT Round Table, which has been held annually since then.

The MIT projects are divided into two categories: MIT Community Projects and MIT Children's Projects.

The MIT Community Projects are selected by local juries and funded by the local Henkel companies. Since 2001, in addition to these, Henkel has been focusing on children and adolescents by the MIT Children’s Projects. Starting in 2007, Henkel has been supporting the MIT Community Projects by providing an additional amount of 500 thousend euros especially for economically underdeveloped regions.

MIT is rolled out worldwide. Up to now, 50 countries of the Henkel world have adopted this module to support their employees’ and retirees’ enthusiasm in making the lives of people worldwide a little better.

By establishing the MIT Initiative (Make an Impact on Tomorrow) in 1998, Henkel assumed a pioneering role among Germany’s corporations. The MIT success story over the last eleven years provides a shining example of how employees, retirees and companies can benefit from each other and work together to make a globally significant contribution to social development. After eleven years, the proud MIT record is that, to date, more than 4,000 Henkel employees and retirees have been involved in over 7,000 projects in more than 110 different countries.

In May 2008, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of MIT, 120 employees and retirees from all over the world took part in the annual Round Table in Düsseldorf. For this anniversary, Henkel is providing special support amounting to 100,000 euros for an MIT project in Guatemala that was selected from among 86 entries.

638 photos from 17 countries: no wonder the jury found it hard to select the best pictures from all the colourful, happy and touching images. Just as well, then, that there wasn't just one winner but 20. In the photo competition, employees and retirees who work as volunteers supported by the MIT Initiative  were invited to submit shots of their projects. The prizes on offer to the winning projects amounted to a total of 20 special grants worth 500 euros.

Their 'remit' was to paint a picture of their favorite festival. The 20 nurseries, schools and other children's organizations that submitted the winning paintings were all awarded a grant from the MIT Initiative. So the youngsters have a chance to really celebrate the next time their favorite festival - the one they painted with such imaginative talent - comes around!