What if just one week of movement could not only improve our health but also create a positive impact on the world?… That’s exactly what the Global Challenge accomplishes.
The Global Challenge is more than just a fitness initiative—it combines physical well-being with a meaningful cause. It is one of our initiatives with the greatest impact, carried out for the 4th consecutive year.
This year, we joined hands with SOS Children’s Villages, an international NGO focused on helping children at risk, to create safe spaces where “children can be children again.”
We made this our most successful Global Challenge yet. Check out the highlights!
Global Challenge 2024
The Global Challenge week took place from September 23 to 29, 2024. This global initiative invited all colleagues from Indonesia, Peru, Ukraine, and Denmark to join. It was a great chance to work together for a bigger cause despite our distance.
By participating in this week-long event, we not only got active but also aligned our efforts with our purpose, empowering people in emerging markets… and beyond!
Every employee’s registration guaranteed a $20 donation. These small contributions all formed a decent donation that is being used to improve the daily lives of children and families affected by the war in Ukraine.
Our colleagues engaged in various physical activities—running, walking, biking, or exercising—aiming for 7 hours of activity over 7 days. It wasn’t about competition; the emphasis was on wellness, unity, and mutual support, all while making an impact for a greater cause.
The Global Challenge not only raised funds but also had a lasting impact on the company culture, fostering happiness and connection among colleagues.
The Results
The Global Challenge 2024 has been our most successful yet. Let’s break down the results:
- An incredible $4,860 has been raised for SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine.
- 243 colleagues responded to the call of the Global Challenge 2024.
- 83% participation across all 24Slides offices, showcasing our united spirit. 2 out of 4 offices even had a 100% sign-up result.
Participants were motivated to engage in at least one hour of physical activity every day for seven days in a row—this journey aimed to foster a consistent habit of physical activity.
During the Global Challenge week, the 24Sliders showed a lot of enthusiasm, inspiring each other in our WhatsApp and Strava groups. The goal was to remain engaged and support one another, fostering togetherness and feeling part of a bigger cause.
In addition to our colleagues’ engagement and the donation we’ve collectively raised this year, we have also observed a positive trend of colleagues extending invitations to their friends and family to join them in their activities. This created a supportive environment that resulted in more joyful participants and the formation of social activity clubs.
We allow ourselves to believe that the sense of community not only instilled greater pride among colleagues but also spread the Global Challenge’s impact beyond 24Slides into local communities.
“Supporting SOS Children’s Villages in Ukraine means more than just providing aid—it’s a beacon of hope in our hardest times. As a Ukrainian, seeing our children robbed of their childhoods breaks my heart. But knowing that our efforts can help restore some normalcy and safety to their lives by creating safe spaces to play, learn, and heal gives me immense pride. Every donation we make not only meets immediate needs but also builds a brighter future for these children, showing them that kindness and solidarity can overcome the darkness”
Natalie, Product Manager
“As someone who didn’t usually work out, this challenge has been helping me to get active and motivates me to keep going at it”
Participant of the Global Challenge 2024
“Health must be pursued. This global challenge forced me to move from my comfort zone. I will continue this enthusiasm even though the global challenge is over… thank you, cool program”.
Participant of the Global Challenge 2024
“This is my very first global challenge, and I’m glad I could participate. I had a wonderful experience, and this kind of challenge motivates me to stay committed to maintaining a healthy body”.
Participant of the Global Challenge 2024
Our goal
For the past two years, millions of children and families in Ukraine have faced the horrors of war and uncertainty. They live on the run or in bombed-out homes with the traumatizing, constant fear of attacks. That’s why, this year, we partnered with SOS Children’s Villages.
SOS Children’s Villages is an international NGO focused on children at risk all around the world. It has been active in Ukraine for over 20 years but has had to significantly increase its efforts since the war began in 2022.
The needs in Ukraine are many, and with the donation from this year’s Global Challenge, we are able to support activities around basic emergency aid for families still in Ukraine, protection and assistance to reach safety, and trauma treatment focused on war trauma and psychological support.
Thanks to the dedication of our team, we were able to donate a total of $4,860 to help support children and families affected by the war.
With this donation, SOS Children’s Villages could provide 3,276 meals to at-risk children, equip 324 children with notebooks and colored pencils to support their education or provide clean drinking water for 243 families for a whole month.
In SOS Children’s Villages, we are happy that 24Slides is supporting our work in Ukraine – a country that has been badly affected by war and where many children have unfortunately lost their homes and some also parental care.
With donations from companies like 24Slides, we can engage in efforts to strengthen the well-being and psychological resilience of young children, such as consultations to help process stress, grief, and trauma caused by the war.
Carl Gustav Lorentzen, Head of Partnerships, SOS Children’s Villages
Photo: SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine – katerinailievska
As a certified B corporation, it’s essential to partner with organizations that share our mission of creating positive change in the world. Our aim is to bring us one step closer to reducing poverty and inequality in the world.
Initiatives like the Global Challenge serve as an example of how we can make a global impact. By participation, employees not only contribute to a significant social responsibility effort but also enhance their own well-being. It proves that when teams come together, even from a distance, every small action makes a big difference.
We can’t wait to see the next Global Challenge! See you there!
