On Aug. 23, representatives from 16 international Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) flocked to FedEx Corp.’s Memphis headquarters as part of a state-of-the-art leadership training program.

Representatives from 16 international groups visited the FedEx headquarters to learn about how they could better advocate for road safety.

(Submitted by the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety)

Over two weeks of training, FedEx aided the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety in its inaugural Alliance Advocate cohort. Alliance leaders will return to their low- to moderate-income countries with new tools to improve advocacy around automobile and road safety.

“These NGOs have established out of their own despair because they see a huge need in their communities,” said Lotte Brondum, administrative director of the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety. “FedEx led our members and together we have built a program where we are building the capacities of our civil society organizations around the world.”

Over the training, the Alliance Advocate cohort visited the whole spectrum of FedEx operations. At the company’s social media hub, cohort members learned about press relations and crafting an efficient message. At the FedEx cargo hub at the Memphis International Airport, the members witnessed the nuts and bolts that make up a $47 billion shipping company.

Throughout the week, FedEx officials lectured on leadership and capacity building.

Brondum said FedEx has supported the alliance for years. The United Nations Road Safety Collaboration, a group created in 2011 out of the UN General Assembly, has held large-scale meetings in the past, but the August session marks its first training.

She hopes the training will be an annual occurrence and that the group returns to Memphis next year.

“Road safety is a priority at FedEx, and we are pleased to support the work of those who are committed to helping save lives and develop solutions that responsibly and sustainably make our roads safer,” said Shane O’Connor, communications adviser with FedEx Global Citizenship.

The 2016 cohort included members from Nepal, South Africa, Togo, Uruguay, Georgia, Malaysia and Nigeria. Brondum said a disproportionate number of road crashes occur in these countries. They have fewer automobiles, but lack sufficient road infrastructure, automobile safety and education about safe travel.

Amy Rolloque, program officer at Safe Kids Worldwide Philippines Inc., said the FedEx training has given her the tools to overcome challenges her nonprofit faces in the Philippines.

She said motorcycle accidents are prevalent in the Philippines, with entire families piling on the vehicles in rural areas. Helmets are too expensive for the typical family, but Rolloque wants to change that.

“FedEx has been very important and taught me things I’m going to bring back to my country, like that I have to be consistent in my branding and how to be human-centered in my message,” Rolloque said.

“By using empowerment and educating the community who are involved, and getting the support of the government as well as companies that can help us make helmets accessible for children, I think these will help me to improve the use of helmets by 2020.”

While the training has wrapped up, alliance members will stay on course through webinars and progress check-ins with the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety. Brondum said NGO representatives will also work with their local FedEx officers to further build relationships and capacity.