Running head: CULTURAL CHALLENGES 1 Researching Cultural Challenges Name Instructor Institution Date CULTURAL CHALLENGES 2 Researching Cultural Challenges Introduction Adidas is a global sports company which traces its roots from Germany. Adidas runs a number of programs with a mission of using sports to change the lives of people. Corporate giving, community involvement, and employee engagement are the pillars on which its programs are based on. Adidas supports the work of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other aid agencies worldwide who provide assistance to victims of disasters by donating products and providing monetary support to them (Riiskjær, 2009). The company has signed partnership deals with humanitarian aid agencies in a bid to reduce the challenges of supplying reliefs to affected areas. Adidas has long-term projects such as Wir Zusammen, a commercial-driven integration enterprise in Germany with a mission of helping refugees trace their place in the community (Riiskjær, 2009). Various products and foodstuff have also been donated to many refugee camps worldwide by Adidas while in partnership with aid agencies and NGOs. Some of the refugee camps that have benefitted greatly include those in Syria and Turkey. Adidas empowers women and is adamant about improving the lives of children by signing partnership deals with Save the Children in 2008. Adidas also supports education by giving scholarships to children from poor backgrounds as well as providing educational institutions with grants. Humanitarian Considerations Refugees face various challenges in the society. Some of the challenges include lack of basic necessities, education, and employment opportunities. Victims of disasters such as fire or floods face the challenge of spending nights outside. Women in some parts of the world are still CULTURAL CHALLENGES 3 discriminated and face challenges of acquiring education and employment at reputable organizations. Bright children with poor background face the risk of dropping out of school. Adidas organization engages in charity work as can be reflected from their provision of grants to charitable giving organizations, educational institutions and non-profit entities (Riiskjær, 2009). They donate reliefs to refugee camps and to victims of disasters as well as providing scholarships to children from poor backgrounds. In order for the organization to engage more fully in solidarity work, it needs to involve the community more by letting them come up with programs that they feel need to be addressed (Theodori, 2017). Adidas can employ local workers in the different regions that they have set base and encourage these employees to come up with initiatives such as the construction of a school and health centers that the local community will appreciate. Cultural Challenges Some of the challenges XYZ students might face when engaging with the population served by Adidas include the acquisition of contagious diseases when dealing with the sick children, trauma after witnessing the adverse effects caused by disasters and time management. Diverse beliefs of how policies should be formulated and how things should be done is the other challenge (Theodori, 2017). The university can help students overcome these issues by training the students on exercising safe measures when dealing with people who have contagious diseases. Setting up a guidance and counseling desks where students are counseled so that they are not traumatized by the outcome of disasters. The students should also be taught on how to manage their time efficiently while on the volunteer work. Roadblocks CULTURAL CHALLENGES 4 Discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, color, and race is one of the roadblocks students of XYZ University might endure while on service learning at Adidas. Language barrier is another issue that might be a liability while on service learning due to the diverse populations served by the organization. (Stankiewicz, & Moczulska, 2012). A student of XYZ getting injured while on service learning is another risk that should be addressed. Conclusion Generations’ cultural conflicts between the students who are considered baby boomers and the old generation who are known as generation Y (Stankiewicz, & Moczulska, 2012). The conflict can arise from how the two groups view issues and professionalism. Another cultural conflict can arise from the education perspective between those whose vocational and on-the-job training enabled their career development and those who equate academic credentials with success (Stankiewicz, & Moczulska, 2012). Advertising conflict can arise when advertisements to foreign culture are translated into another language without being carefully reviewed. Encouraging the formation of affinity groups to help bridge cultural differences as well as establishing healthy working relationships at the workplace is the resolution for solving disagreements brought about by cultural conflicts. Having a good communication flow in the company as well as having dedicated leadership will also solve those conflicts. CULTURAL CHALLENGES 5 References Riiskjær, S. (2009). Adidas' image. Forum For Idræt, 2. http://dx.doi.org/10.7146/ffi.v2i0.31930 Stankiewicz, J., & Moczulska, M. (2012). Cultural conditioning of employees’ engagement. Management, 16(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10286-012-0057-x Theodori, G. (2017). Reexamining the associations among community attachment, communityoriented actions, and individual-level constraints to involvement. Community Development, 49(1), 101-115. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15575330.2017.1391307 
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