What is Projects with a Heart?

Projects with a Heart (PwH) is a global grassroots movement established and run by employees, and endorsed by PMI. Its internal platform enables all willing employees to donate their time and skills to benefit people in need.

It is a 100 percent voluntary and independent charitable association. PwH aims to make the world a better place by creating a digital bridge that connects those who need help with those who want to help—without anyone in between.

Supported by a network of over 100 volunteering ambassadors across the globe, PwH is proving that companies don’t change the world—people do.


  • 700

    projects

  • 60+

    countries and territories

  • 56,000

    people helped

  • 1million

    USD raised and distributed

Spain: Arepas for Madrid

5:53

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Lebanon: Beirut blast relief

7:46

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Pakistan: Helping a small business

3:42

Pakistan
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How did Projects with a Heart start?

In 2017, one of the first projects was purchasing a bus for the children at the Little Saints’ Orphanage in Lagos, Nigeria. One thousand employees from 60 countries raised the money in three weeks. This project resulted in cutting out a three-hour daily walk to school and back for 52 orphans.

In November 2018, Projects with a Heart became officially registered as a charitable association.


How does Projects with a Heart work?

  • Any PMI employee can submit a project aimed at helping someone in need (e.g., of food, water, housing, clothing, health, education, care and support, etc).
  • Once the project is submitted and published on the internal PwH platform, colleagues can support, vote, contribute, or volunteer for it. If the cause gathers the necessary amount of votes, the project owner can proceed with its execution.
  • Employees can then help by donating time, money, or skills to complete the project.

Is PMI involved as a company?

While a majority of the projects are smaller-scale, local, and employee-driven, there are also bigger global campaigns where PwH infrastructure is put to use to fundraise for a larger cause. PwH has led fundraising drives following earthquakes, floods, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other large-scale disasters. These bigger campaigns have seen Philip Morris International match or supplement PwH fundraising with a company donation.

PMI also encourages employees’ charitable behavior by granting volunteer leave to those who ask for it.

Timeline

Key moments for Projects with a Heart

2017

Little Saints’ Orphanage bus

2018

Earthquake in Palu, Indonesia

2018

Projects with a Heart officially established

2019

Mozambique cyclone

2020

COVID-19 pandemic

2020

Beirut explosion

2021

Croatia earthquake

2021

Golden Steps School

Employees generated and funded an initiative to donate a minibus to an orphanage to transport children to school. In 23 days, employees from 60 countries raised enough for the bus, insurance, and maintenance for three years.
Following the devastating earthquake of September 2018, 14,000 employees from 104 countries contributed within three weeks. PwH’s donation of USD 164,000 was matched by PMI. The money went to support relief efforts and rebuilding of the community, particularly housing and schooling.
A group of employees officially created a global initiative to organize and galvanize charitable projects. PwH is registered as a charitable association.
PMI employees from over 69 countries raised USD 33,760 in three weeks, following the devastation caused by Mozambique by Cyclone Idai in March 2019. With PMI matching the employees’ donation, three new schools were built in the affected area.
As the pandemic spread across the globe, PMI employees jumped into action to support their local communities and hospitals. More than 250 projects from 33 countries were submitted and completed within the first eight months of the pandemic.
Following the port explosion in August 2020, PwH raised over USD 100,000 to help rebuild 35 apartments, prepare food boxes, and provide school books for children.
Following the December 2020 earthquake, PwH raised CHF 55,000 to help 35 families buy essential supplies and repair their damaged homes.
PwH employees raised USD 15,400 to purchase new equipment for children with special needs at the Golden Steps school in South Africa.

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