Z Zurich Foundation

💬 “If you can unite people, then you can inspire people. And I think that’s really it. Start the conversation.”    During an anxiety-inducing semester at medical school, David Johnson, M.D. Johnson, a Z Zurich Foundation One Young World scholar, asked his Instagram followers a seemingly simple question: “How are you coping with stress?”     The question, and the responses, led David to found Let's Unpack It (LUI), a mental health advocacy platform for young people, in January 2020. The initiative focuses on 4 key pillars of wellbeing:    🧠 Psychoeducation  🌱 Meaningful youth engagement  🌐 Mental health resource development  🖋️ Policy and advocacy    These pillars have allowed David and LUI to begin breaking down taboos surrounding mental health and wellbeing in the Caribbean, create safe spaces for people to discuss their worries without fear or judgement, and advocate for legislation and policy changes in mental health in the region.     David’s determination to break down mental health stigma in the Caribbean is underlined by the LUI motto: Listen, Unite, Inspire. By starting the conversation, we can all inspire small, meaningful actions which add up to big changes for ourselves, our communities, and the world around us.     Find out more about Let's Unpack It https://lnkd.in/dRHauNYX  

💬 What if the classroom could adapt to students’ needs? Tailored educational experiences are essential for promoting social equity and inclusion, empowering all young people to succeed by addressing their diverse learning needs.   The Zurich@school program, a collaboration between JA Italia, Zurich Insurance Italy and the Z Zurich Foundation, challenged over 500 high school students between 2022 and 2024 to create original insurance projects. Supported by Zurich employees volunteering as mentors, the program aimed to develop students' hard and soft skills through interactive activities.   To see the program in action, we look at the positive impact on P.R., a student with a learning disability in language and math: 📋 Project-based learning: P.R. used creative thinking and problem-solving to tackle real-world challenges, applying theoretical knowledge practically. 🤝 Peer collaboration: The collaborative environment boosted P.R.'s confidence through communication and idea sharing. 📣 Public speaking: Presenting at the Zurich@school final event, P.R. developed his public speaking skills by presenting in front of 100 people.   The Zurich@school project highlights the importance of innovative and inclusive educational approaches, adapting to the unique needs of every student through creative and flexible teaching methods. #EnablingSocialEquity #Education #Inclusion

Strengthening communities and building resilience in Albania    The Albanian Red Cross is the largest humanitarian organization in Albania, where flooding is the most common extreme weather event.    Floods are the biggest contributor to losses of lives and livelihoods. Together with the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance, the Albanian Red Cross helped to develop policies for managing climate risks and reducing the risk of disaster.   These policies ensure local voices are heard, and that local communities are more prepared in the face of climate hazards. 👀 Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/gewz9wta #Adaptingtoclimatechange #DRRday #AreYouReady24

If you ever question your individual power to drive change, this story will make you think differently. Despite being married off at 14, having two kids at 16, and denied an education, Vlima became an award-winning changemaker for championing women’s rights and vastly improving lives in her community. Today’s generation of girls is disproportionately affected by global crises of climate, conflict, poverty and pushback on hard-won gains for human rights and gender equality. Too many girls are still denied their rights, restricting their choices and limiting their futures https://lnkd.in/gn6uQwz Read her incredible story of courage in crisis, resilience and hope in action! Plan_India #InternationalDayOfTheGirl #Changemaker #EnablingSocialEquity

Promoting and prioritizing mental wellbeing for every young person This #WorldMentalHealthDay, we are renewing our global partnership, Thriving Together, with UNICEF. Here’s how we will keep building support systems to promote mental health and well-being for adolescents 👇 Access the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/e3z5PZs8 Learn more about this collaboration on our website: https://lnkd.in/evsxWX59

🏙️ How can cities build climate resilience for communities? Empowering residents to influence policy and funding resilient solutions! As part of our global Urban Climate Resilience Program, together with Resilient Cities Network, we launched the Resilience for Communities (R4C) program in Greater Manchester. The R4C program is bringing communities and cities closer to plan together and listen to each other. Now, cities and their residents are working proactively to keep one another safe and shape a just and resilient future. We are excited to share with you the beginnings of a new resilience journey in Greater Manchester ⏯️ #R4C #ClimateResilience #AdaptingToClimateChange

It's impossible to imagine a world without teachers. They are essential to shaping young minds, inspiring curiosity and nurturing life long learning for today’s children and future leaders.   Recently, teachers came together in Ankara for the Professional Development and Social Impact Generators Programs to explore innovative teaching methods and techniques that will enhance effectiveness and engagement in the classroom. Since 2018, together with the Ministry of National Education, Zurich Türkiye and Türk Eğitim Derneği, we have built sustainable partnerships across sectors through ‘Our Teachers: Insurance of Education’ program.   So far, we have supported 1,138 teachers from 77 provinces, positively impacting 34,140 students and 170,700 family members.   We are so inspired by the amazing teachers who have created a supportive and resilient learning community for their students and families.    #WorldTeachersDay #EnablingSocialEquity #Education

Care at work: Nurturing caregiver mental health to shape the future of our workplaces Coinciding with World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10th October, UNICEF, alongside the UNICEF-led Global Coalition for Youth Mental Wellbeing, and the UN Global Compact are hosting a webinar to focus on this important topic. It will be an opportunity to hear from global experts, and business leaders including Linda Freiner, Chief Sustainability Officer at Zurich Insurance. The webinar will also include the launch of UNICEF and the Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health’s new business influence guide on nurturing caregiver mental health in the workplace. Register today via this link: https://lnkd.in/gyrEqCde Chinese (Mandarin) translation will be available. UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product, or service. 

We are incredibly proud of our Board Member, A. YILMAZ YILDIZ, for his outstanding leadership in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Yilmaz's commitment to creating meaningful social impact and inspiring others to join this vital mission is helping us every day to drive change and make a difference!

“Before, I didn’t speak much. I had a lot of fears,” shares Nishant, a student from Surkhet. But after joining school-based mental health sessions, he now feels more confident expressing his emotions. “These classes have really helped me. I can talk more openly about my feelings now.” These sessions, using socio-emotional learning tools tailored to local needs, are helping students like Nishant manage stress and find support. Read the full story https://lnkd.in/dMw5aTYA Together, UNICEF and Z Zurich Foundation are working to ensure young people in Nepal have the tools they need to nurture their mental well-being. Watch this space for an exciting new announcement on the partnership.   #MentalHealthMatters #OnMyMind #ImprovingMentalWellbeing   Photos: UNICEF Nepal/2024/RUpadhayay