Communtiy activities
Rouse & Co. International actively supports the various communities in which it operates. The support ranges from providing legal support on a pro bono basis and supporting charitable institutions to working directly with various community institutions.
Some examples of our community work and involvement are set out below.
Desa Bawuran - an Indonesian village destroyed in an earthquake
In 2006, our Jakarta office held its retreat in Desa Bawuran, a village near Jogjakarta that had been destroyed in an earthquake. Although much rebuilding had taken place since the earthquake in May, the signs of devastation were everywhere, with many people still living in tents.
Our staff spent a day in Desa Bawuran playing with the village children, making bricks, planting trees and helping layi the foundations for a new village meeting hall. It was a wonderful experience to be giving something back to the Indonesian community in a tangible, albeit very small, way. There were heartbreaking moments and happy moments. All our staff contributed fully and the teamwork , spirit and willingness to get in and help was wonderful to see.
Community Links
Community Links is an innovative inner city charity that runs community-based projects in East London, which is where our head office is based. The Charity was founded in 1977 and now helps over 50,000 vulnerable children, young people and adults every year. Its successes have encouraged other community-based organisations nationwide and influenced government policy. We make a donation each year for the children’s summer vacation and Christmas party.
Foresight
Foresight is a Charity that has been set up to raise money for research into Retinitus Pigmentosa, a hereditary retinal degenerative disease, for which there is currently no cure, that leads to progressive vision loss. The Charity was established by a group of friends of a Retinitus Pigmentosa sufferer. We provided pro bono assistance in setting up the Charity.
Cubitt Town Junior School
We have an ongoing relationship with the Cubitt Town Primary School, located a 10 or 15 minute walk from our head office in London. Groups from the London office visit the school each week to assist students, many of whom have learning difficulties, with English language and reading skills.
Fair Trials Abroad
Fair Trials Abroad was launched by British lawyer, Stephen Jakobi, following the widespread public outrage and concern generated by the case of Karen Smith, a British citizen arrested in Thailand and tried without proper legal representation or redress. It pursues its mission to 'Protect the Rights of the Travelling Citizen' by taking on individual cases and by research at a strategic level that uses patterns of discrimination and injustice that are thrown up by the casework. It is regularly invited to advise the European Union on matters of national legal systems and discrimination against EU citizens whilst abroad. We provide pro bono case management assistance to Fair Trials Abroad on an ongoing basis.
Trade Plus Aid
The Trade Plus Aid charitable trust, established by Charlotte di Vita, donates funds to projects designed to alleviate poverty in some of the world's poorest communities. It has accredited three development projects to Rouse & Co. International/Rouse Legal (formerly Willoughby & Partners) in recognition of their valuable pro bono work: providing seed capital in East Timor (Project partnered with Opportunity International); conserving wildlife in Zambia (Project Partnered with EIA); and caring for Street children in Mongolia (Project Partnered with CNCF).
