GKN Mission Everest challenged us to do more for our communities and bring hope to the children of Africa and is a project of which we are all proud of.

During 2007 GKN people contributed an extra $1.7 million to their local communities in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. GKN promised to match the value of the extra community work and fundraising around the Group and has committed $1 million to Africa - $500k in 2007 and $500k more in 2008.

Together we will have contributed $2.7 million to try and help make the world a better place for people in need.

Keeping our promises – that’s the GKN Way.

Painting Happiness Project – GKN Driveline Brazil

With the intention of doing something to help elderly people and to make their lives more comfortable, employees from Finance and IT functions at GDB have created a project called "Pintando Alegria" (Painting Happiness).

At least once a year, one institution in urgent need for help, which could be either a nursing home or orphanage, is selected by the team. In this institution, the team then carries out small refurbishment projects – painting, cleaning and gardening – whatever is necessary to make the place a much better place to live. All materials used in the tasks are donated by GKN and the work is carried out by the employees, their families and whoever else is willing to help.

The most recent institution selected was a home for the elderly in the city of Cachoeirinha called "Lar dos Idosos Coração de Jesus" (Jesus' Heart nursing home). This is a private institution, which was working on a very low budget and with support from the local community to shelter about 30 elderly people.

The team helped with various activities, such as cleaning the floor and ceiling, painting of external and internal walls and small refurbishments of the toilets and furniture – and a comprehensive upgrade of the garden, which was in a very poor state.