About Community

Clean Water – 3.575 million people die each year from water-related disease.

The Akran Foundation has sought to help poor and disadvantaged people by improving their quality of life in communities, enabling them to become more self-reliant and independent. We endeavour to do this in the most efficient and effective ways possible by distributing funds and resources directly to charities on the ground and to recipients. We stand by our ethical commitment every day by partnering with organizations around the globe to support initiatives and programs that respond in a meaningful way.

International Support

Akran has sought to help poor and disadvantaged people by improving their quality of life in international and local communities, enabling them to become more self-reliant and independent. We endeavour to do this in the most efficient and effective way possible, by distributing funds and resources directly to charities on the ground and into the hands of recipients. Akran partners with organizations around the globe to support initiatives and programs that respond in a meaningful way to community needs and priorities.

Reaching those who need our help the most:

• Children from underprivileged backgrounds and orphans.
• Abandoned or abused children living in Government care.
• Families living in slum communities.
• Physically and mentally disabled children.
• Children without an opportunity for education.

Akran operates on a global scale to create and support relevant and effective initiatives that truly make a difference in the everyday lives of disadvantaged people. We are committed to investing our time, expertise and resources to help develop and maintain vibrant and sustainable communities.

Internationally, Akran supports many community initiatives throughout Africa and Asia, including:

• Providing essential basic amenities.
• Grants and educational support for underprivileged students.
• Medical and dental care.
• Provision of supplies to hospitals.
• Promotion of educational opportunities.
• Promotion of self-sufficiency.
• Provision of sustainable water supply systems for clean drinking water and hygiene.
• Sanitation services
• Construction of schoolhouses for children in remote villages.
• Provision of school supplies and libraries.

Our community commitment is shared across our entire organization. Through Akran's Employee Matching Gifts Program, employees are encouraged to make personal contributions to qualified charities and The Akran Foundation matches those contributions on a 1-for-1 basis.

Local Support

By finding new ways to deliver great product and customer experiences in a socially responsible way, we strive to be a company that is respected and trusted by customers, employees and people who live in the communities where we do business.

Akran recognizes that its business has a direct and indirect impact on the societies in which it operates. Sound business practices require that business decisions give due consideration to the interests of Akran's customers, employees, suppliers, business partners, local communities and other organizations.

Akran undertakes a wide variety of activities aimed at contributing to society in fields where it is best able to do so, to help address the needs of communities in Canada and around the world where it conducts business.

We are proud to work independently and in collaboration with the PPAC, (Promotional Product Professionals of Canada), to support those in need. For years, Akran has been actively involved in donating money, training, equipment, and personnel to worthy non-profit and educational institutions. We are fortunate to be able to provide our financial support, time and service to caring organizations and to express our gratitude to the communities we serve.

Organizational support by Akran include The Missing Children's Network of Canada, Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre, The Children's Wish Foundation, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), Children's (SickKids) Foundation, Ottawa Heart Institute, Operation Go Home, Life Networks, United Way, Habitat for Humanity, and the Ottawa Food Bank. We currently help over 100 charities.

Akran also operates a variety of volunteer programs that encourage our employees to participate in similar activities, thereby involving staff in their communities.

Respecting Diversity

Diversity is reflected in our work environment and marketplace – including ethnicity, race, gender, age, sexual orientation, faith, language, and culture. Akran has offices across Canada and in the United States. We have employees in North American and in international manufacturing and distribution centers, as well as sourcing hubs in Asia. Embracing diversity is part of doing business. It creates an atmosphere of inclusion and appreciation, encourages innovation, and supports a better work environment for our employees.

We recognize that our customers are increasingly diverse and have different product needs. Diversity within our employee population enables us to generate the innovation and creativity necessary to better serve their needs.

Employee workshops at Akran address issues such as cultural conditioning; the impact of differences on communication, behaviors, and decision-making; and the dangers of stereotypes and misperception in an increasingly globalized world.

Child Labour

Child labour is all too common in parts of the world where poverty and a lack of opportunity remain systemic problems. Akran has taken a firm stand against child labour. We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to child labour anywhere in our supply chain.

Akran deals exclusively with manufacturers that meet the applicable minimum legal age requirement by law (15 years of age minimum). Factories are required to maintain official documentation verifying each worker's date of birth. Suppliers must also comply with all other applicable child labour laws, including those related to hiring, wages, hours worked, overtime and working conditions or they are excluded from our supply chain.