Led by a team of professional builders and gardeners, the volunteers worked alongside St. John of God service users and Special School students to transform wasteland; revamp tired classrooms; and make-over communal areas and chill-out rooms across the one acre campus. The global education leader also donated brand new furniture, laptops and HMH digital educational software to the Centre as part of a major initiative designed to promote core company values of collaboration and innovation.

Timed to coincide with National Volunteering Day, the special day of service was conceived to give employees the opportunity to use their creative talents, energies and expertise to benefit the local Dublin community. Menni Services encompasses day, residential and respite services for adults and children with intellectual disabilities in south-west Dublin. The Islandbridge campus also includes the St. John of God Special School which educates 96 students aged from four to 18 years old.

“It’s been hard work, but an absolutely fantastic experience for me personally and for all the HMH employees who took part. Generating social impact is an imperative for HMH as an educational leader, and employee volunteerism is central to that. We are absolutely delighted to give our employees the opportunity to participate in such a worthwhile project and the St. John of God Centre has been a thoroughly deserving partner,” said Fiona O’Carroll, General Manager of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in Dublin.

Throughout the day, almost 1,300 man-hours were dedicated to 18 projects across the campus. Over 300 plants were used to transform ten courtyards and outdoor spaces, including a flagship sensory garden which will provide stimulation to individuals with a significant level of sensory, physical and intellectual disability. The HMH volunteer team also worked their way through 600 litres of paint on a number of painting, carpentry and building projects, including the creation of three new breakout pods which will give Special School students privacy and relaxation space within the existing classrooms.

Annamarie Mc Gill, Director of St. John of God, Menni Services added: “Menni Services have been planning these renovations and landscaping projects for a number of years, but as finances became tighter, we just haven’t been able to devote the budget or the man-power. We are so grateful that HMH employees have given up their time and energy to make this project a reality.”

The project was part of a long-term commitment to employee volunteerism and community involvement at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. The company has committed to provide every employee with an allocation of ‘volunteering days’ per year, and a brand new volunteer project with the Educational Disadvantage Centre will roll out in October 2010.