Cleaning up Hamburg’s waterways with GreenKayak

Each year, our smartclippers receive a “Social Day” where each employee can take a fully paid day off to give back to their community in whatever way they see fit. While individuals are free to pick which cause they want to support, our colleagues often choose to volunteer together as a way to fit in some extra team bonding. Most recently, our People & Culture Team used their Social Day to volunteer with GreenKayak and clean up the waterways of Hamburg.

GreenKayak is an organisation focused on combatting pollution — specifically plastic waste — in waterways. Volunteers can rent kayaks for free in exchange for their assistance in collecting trash from rivers, lakes, and harbours. Through their work, GreenKayak strives to raise awareness about water pollution and create an enjoyable experience that encourages the community to participate in environmental conservation efforts. 

Despite the overcast weather, our People & Culture team was dedicated to the cause and spent the day collecting trash from the Alster Lake. Of course, the biggest accomplishment of the day was giving back to the community, but the team was also very proud that no one took an unplanned dip in the water. 😉  

“Our social day on the Alster was a rewarding experience that we highly recommend to anyone interested. It’s a great way to contribute to environmental conservation, stay active, and bond with friends and colleagues.”

Miriam Blockhaus, Working Student at smartclip

After hanging up their paddles, the smartclippers joined two special guests for lunch on the water. Our Head of Training & Development, Sonja Schuster, is currently on maternity leave but decided to stop by and reconnect with her teammates and introduce her newest family member. 

Hats off to our People & Culture colleagues — we can’t wait to see what our smartclippers do next! Interested in learning more about our Social Day initiative? Check out our Marketing and Product Education Team’s day volunteering with Clean Up Your Alster

Christian Osterhues

Christian is the VP People & Culture for smartclip Europe with over 18 years of experience in Human Resources. He started at smartclip in 2012 and was the first to establish a professional Human Resources Management team. Christian oversees the People & Culture Department, including Recruiting and Training and Development.

Christian Osterhues
VP People & Culture

Portrait of Lee Richter Junior Content Editor Europe at smartclip

Lee is the Marketing Specialist Europe at smartclip and is responsible for content writing, editing, social media, and creative support across the department and company. Originally from the United States, Lee graduated from the University of Cincinnati, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Electronic Media. Before joining smartclip, she has worked with various organisations managing social media accounts and assisting in the video and audio production processes.

Lee Richter
Marketing Specialist Europe