PMI provides direct relief to poor and hungry people all over the world. But direct aid can only go so far, and we believe in empowering people to better their own living conditions. We support programs that reduce their dependence on charity through training, job creation, and micro-financing.
Domestic violence is the most common type of violence against women. It affects all areas of the world and every sector of society. We were one of the first corporations to become involved in the fight against violence in the home. Today, PMI supports a variety of programs ranging from awareness building to violence prevention, victim protection, and rehabilitation of those affected by domestic violence.
In 2007, more than 1 million primary school age children could not attend school. Though the statistics have improved, the number of those deprived of an education has remained stubbornly high in certain regions. At PMI, we strive to ensure access to schooling for children living in communities where we do business, and also to improve the quality of education, from primary school to university and beyond.
More than 1 billion people in rural areas lack proper sanitation. Around the globe, deforestation is exacerbating this problem by degrading the soil, reducing rainfall, and encouraging vector-borne diseases. PMI supports several programs to protect and enhance natural resources, reforest the land, implement conservation agriculture, provide clean water, ensure food security, and develop important infrastructure. The projects we fund are diverse, but they have some key goals in common: long-term, sustainable results and self-sufficiency for the people concerned.
In 2008, natural disasters resulted in the deaths of over 235,000 people, affected 214 million more, and represented $190 billion in economic cost, according to the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. As soon as disaster strikes in a place where we operate, our local staff are on hand to find out the most essential needs of the community and how we can help. We offer immediate aid, often working hand in hand with local organizations, but we also stay on afterwards, helping to bring normalcy back to people’s lives.