The Torch

The 'Dream Action' with the title 'Sharing our dreams, sharing our talents' , was launched by DSM in 2002 on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. It inspired over 1,100 DSM employees in 30 countries to submit more than 700 ideas for improving the world around them and how they themselves could actively contribute to this improvement. Finally, several dreams were selected for nomination, and DSM gave them the time and the money to realize their dreams.

One of the winning ideas in the Dream Action was named The Torch. The DSM site that holds The Torch initiates and carries out a project, normally on a small scale, that will benefit the local community.

24 projects were realized in 2004 and in 2005-2006 almost 30 projects were realized. For 2007-2008 30 projects have been selected. It is very motivating to see how many DSM employees are involved in their society and environment:

The Torch jury received more than 70 proposed projects for Torch 2007-2008. The overall quality of the proposals was very good. It was interesting and motivating to see how many DSM employees are involved with their society and/or environment. The jury finally selected 30 Torch projects from all over the world and different business groups. 3 Torch actions from China are listed for year 2007-2008.

Shandong, June 1st, 2007-- The establishment of the DSM Liaocheng Education Fund with RMB 100,000 donated by DSM was celebrated in a primary school in Liaocheng, Shandong. DSM employees from the Animal Nutrition & Health department made their dream of "Improving Children's Education in China's Poor Areas" come true.

This year, DSM has already built libraries in two primary schools in rural Liaocheng and equipped each library with a computer. DSM has also printed 2000 notebooks, including useful information on vitamins and animal breeding, for the children there.

As part of the Troch Project, the employees of DSM China were encouraged to donate their own books to the library. A total of 4,176 books were collected, together with pencils and notebooks. Notably, DSM Sourcing donated RMB13,796 to set up another DSM library in a Hope primary school in Liaocheng.

Zhu Zhong from ZJK Gist-brocades Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd (DSM Anti-Infectives) has realized her dream with The Torch on October 11 in Zhangjiakou . 

"DSM values safety as a top priority, and we would like to extend this to the outside world," said Zhu Zhong, explaining the Torch dream to provide the children of the middle and high school in Zhangjiakou city with 100,000 bicycle reflectors, in order to make them ride more safely at night. This Torch initiative was also aimed at enhancing bicycle safety awareness: not only among the schoolchildren, but - through them - also among their parents, relatives and hopefully even the Chinese bicycle manufacturers.