The Human Safety Net: how Generali is supporting vulnerable communities

When Generali was established in Trieste, Italy, almost two centuries ago, people and community were at the centre of the business. Today, in a time of great change and challenge, Generali is using this considerable heritage to support the people who need it most with an ambitious and wide-reaching flagship CSR programme.  “Building a more resilient economy after this pandemic means building a more resilient society,” says Gabriele Galateri di Genola, Chairman of The Human Safety Net Foundation and the Generali Group. “This is why today we should act concretely to push the boundaries for equal life chances and social inclusion.” 

At its core is a commitment to supporting families with children aged up to six who live in vulnerable conditions and to promoting the integration of refugees in Italy through work and entrepreneurship.

Social impact

Many of the world’s oldest insurers have historic links with shipping, and, similarly, Generali’s origins are closely tied to Trieste’s port. It opened its office in Venice, soon after its establishment in Trieste, before building a network of offices across Europe.  Today, proud as it is of its Italian roots, the company has a decidedly global outlook, and this is reflected in the reach of its community programmes. 

Generali’s The Human Safety Net now extends across 23 countries, partnering with a network of more than 50 non-profit organisations, such as Hope Worldwide in Indonesia, SINGA in France and Mission Bambini in Italy, all of which work to support families and refugees at risk. In 2020, investment in the social foundation grew to €7.5m, plus €3.5m of additional resources from co-funding and fundraising. These have been used to support vulnerable people, helping them to flourish by identifying and nurturing their potential. So far, The Human Safety Net has supported more than 100,000 at-risk families and refugees.

During a difficult and uncertain year for the world as a whole, Generali’s commitment to communities has been strengthened by a global recruitment campaign that has encouraged employees and agents to become company ambassadors. Over the course of 2021 and beyond, 500 of these volunteers will support recovery and helping to improve lives by offering their unique skills on top of their job. They facilitate volunteering via a global platform that matches Generali’s community partners with digital volunteers and resources. 

In collaboration with The Human Safety Net, Generali has developed two pilots with a total value of €34m, which will allow the company to increase the impact of its investment in its two key areas – vulnerable families and refugees – beyond the programmes it funds. Social inclusion has been identified as vital, and social housing, adequate nutrition, microfinance and employment will all be areas of focus.  For Sucheta, who lives in India, her involvement with one of the programmes at a local family centre was hugely significant for her and her young daughter.  With support from the facilitators, she improved her language skills and was able to contribute to her daughter’s learning.  “The support available from the educators has enabled growth and positive development for my whole family,” she says. “I now feel confident and thrilled I can play a driving role in my children’s education.”

The lion’s share

Generali has a historical relationship with Venice — it has the city’s symbol, the Lion of St Mark, as its logo, so it makes sense that the company is committed to helping create a “capital of sustainability” here.  This concept, shared by Generali Group CEO Philippe Donnet, has been recently announced as a vision of the Veneto regional government to promote sustainability as a priority in the city.

The initiative will involve working with a number of leading public and private organisations and will focus on improving employment, living and working conditions and the industrial and energy sectors.  With its sights set on these goals, Generali will soon reopen its original 1832 Venetian office, in the 16th-century Procuratie Vecchie in Venice’s iconic St Mark’s Square, as the global hub and home to The Human Safety Net. The internal structure of the historic Procuratie Vecchie has been reconfigured by David Chipperfield Architects to accommodate the vital work of the social foundation. 

The flagship building will be used to promote healthy social impact and to inspire visitors to support and act.  “This new space for the community and for social innovation aims to unlock the potential of people living in vulnerable conditions,” Donnet explains. “Together with the Venetian community, we are committed to supporting the city’s ambition in becoming the world capital of sustainability.”

A change for good

The potential of The Human Safety Net to change people’s lives for the better, while contributing to economic growth and strengthening the road to recovery, is vast. By combining the skills and the experience of NGOs, social enterprises and community groups, it amplifies the impact each can make individually. This use of private companies’ resources and core businesses in the asset management and insurance industries has the capacity to generate great change. 

With its home in St Mark’s Square, Generali’s foundation will become part of the Venice landscape. Today, the company is a world leader in the insurance market, but its original pillars of people and community, established when it opened its doors in the city 190 years ago, are still at the heart of its values and work.