Community Engagement

Our colleagues in Boston frequently volunteer with Horizons for Homeless Children, a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of children and families experiencing homelessness. We recently sponsored “Fun Fridays” where children and their parents engaged in activities using materials in the Horizons STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) room, which The Cabot Foundation has helped fund. With activities such as "Snowmen Bowling," "Polar Bear Prints" and "Ice Melt Animal Rescue," the children and teachers of Horizons had fun decorating their space with an Olympic theme and playing and creating with science and art. Our Cabot Boston employees contributed to and supported the festivities by crafting medals using paper and ribbons and several of our team members also participated in the games.

The Cabot Foundation has supported the homework school “La Place” in Liège, Belgium, since its establishment in 2019. La Place provides after-school support to children ages 6 to 12. The organization helps to foster intellectual development, social independence, and creativity. Currently, 20 children from five neighborhood schools are enrolled at La Place and meet there at least twice a week for homework support and social engagement. The goal of this organization goes far beyond simple homework assistance and coaching after school and aims to help children maintain a positive self-image, facilitate inclusion and diversity within the community in this multicultural neighborhood, and help them become responsible, active, optimistic, and supportive citizens.

Reading is fundamental to learning in school and participating in society. Children who can read and write are more likely to succeed in school and have more options later when entering the workforce. Our team in Cilegon, Indonesia, has focused its community engagement program on increasing interest and capabilities in reading and donated funds to establish two reading corners in the Rawa Arum area of Indonesia. In June 2021, these reading corners were inaugurated by Cilegon Mayor Helldy Agustian and for people of all ages, to read and learn.

Our team in Maua, Brazil, supports Associação Estrela Azul, a nonprofit organization that supports vulnerable and at-risk children, adolescents, youth, and their families. Funding from the Cabot Foundation helped launch the Sewing Stars Project, which teaches sewing techniques and helps train and grow the careers of women in the community. In 2021, a Cabot Foundation grant was used to support training for 60 new students and taught classes including Sustainable Fashion and Creative Sewing, in which scraps and used clothes are transformed into decorative or personal use accessories.