NortonLifeLock Blog | Corporate responsibility

April marks Earth Month, a time to focus on the challenges facing our planet while propelling new ideas that will create a lasting positive impact on our future. Designed around Earth Day on April 22, this year’s theme is “Investing in Our Planet”, which aims to hold everyone accountable for the future of the environment.¹.

Investment can come in the form of building healthier communities, countries and economies to accelerate the rapid change we need. A key part of our environmental stewardship program is partnering with leading nonprofit organizations to amplify our impact, while continuing to make progress in our own sustainability practices. Today, we are proud to announce that, for the next three years, this investment includes continued new support for Barefoot College International (BCI).

BCI is an incredible organization, whose mission is to realize the infinite potential of underserved people in rural communities. BCI has forged a global women-centered network dedicated to sustainable development in poor communities². BCI focuses on complementary training, called ENRICHE, which offers these women much more than just job skills. ENRICHE includes digital and financial literacy, health and reproductive health, civil and human rights, and microenterprise creation.

Through our partnership, NortonLifeLock will support their affectionately titled Solar Mama Initiative, providing solar engineering and education programs through an annual donation of $100,000 from 2022-2024. The program is global, operating in over 90 countries.

In addition to our new commitment to Barefoot College, we are delighted to report on the success of our support for GRID Alternatives National Tribal Program. The nonprofit partnership, which you can read more about here, helps low-income communities get clean, affordable, and renewable energy, while creating jobs and increasing transportation options.

To date, GRID has installed approx. 800 kilowatts of clean energy in partnership with tribal communities, already reaching 80% of target. From completed projects, an estimated $2.4 million in long-term energy savings will be unlocked for Indigenous Nations over the life of the systems.

“There are constant power and water outages, and solar power can help solve those problems in my community,” said GRID intern Yulissa Raphealite from the rural reservation community called Pine Hill. “It can really benefit communities.”

This year and every year, NortonLifeLock is focused on our role in protecting the planet. From empowering the next generation of solar engineers to helping provide access to low-cost electricity, one of the best ways to create lasting change for our planet is to partner to like-minded organizations to accelerate our progress. We look forward to continuing these exciting partnerships and wish you all a happy and sustainable Earth Month!

¹ https://www.earthday.org/earthday-2022/

² https://www.barefootcollege.org