Osiani Ephina has set up a range of social projects and initiatives to support the community in Amapa, a remote region in the north of BrazilAt Anglo American, our impact on the communities in which we operate is fundamental to our sustainability strategy. If we are to grow and flourish, these communities must grow and flourish too. Osiani Ephina is an embodiment of this vision.Osiani works in community relations with our iron ore mining operations in Amapa, a remote region in the north of Brazil. The population in the area has nearly doubled to over 11,000 since our arrival in 2007. During this time, Osiani has set up a diverse range of social projects and initiatives to support the community and make sure our impact in the area is a positive one.The growing community in Amapa faces a range of challenges particularly around sexual health, education and economic self-sufficiency. Working closely with the community, Osiani designs and directs investment into initiatives that meet these specific needs and change people's lives.Her projects, Conjunto da Obra, vary from health initiatives that give local hospitals the funding they need to invest in vital medicine and equipment, to educational projects to improve literacy and increase access to the internet. Other projects have included providing people with the knowledge and skills they need to improve their income: for example, through sewing, farming or business entrepreneurship.Osiani's work has had a huge impact on the lives of people in the area. In 2010, Amapa received a socio-economic assessment toolbox (SEAT)score of 3.2 for social performance, up from 1.6 in 2007. This score represents the fastest increase in social performance of all of Anglo American's business units worldwide.Copy on this page is provided by Anglo American, sponsor of the social impact hubFrom: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/living-our-values-brazil-osianis-story 07/07/2011 07:50The FINANCIAL -- An altruistic desire to preserve the natural environment remains low on the agenda of businesses according to the 2011 Grant Thornton International Business Report.Just 36% of businesses globally are motivated to move to more ethical practices by a desire to 'save the planet', down from 40% in 2008.However, businesses remain focused on the merits of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in terms of building brand, securing key staff and winning future contracts. Globally, 56% of businesses cite public attitudes/brand building and recruitment/retention of staff as the key drivers (alongside cost management) this year, highlighting the importance of public opinion in shaping businesses' CSR priorities.Ed Nusbaum, CEO of Grant Thornton International, said: "In an increasingly crowded and dynamic marketplace, businesses globally are becoming more aware that adopting a proactive approach to wider corporate social responsibility issues can help them to stand out in the minds of employees, consumers and potential partners.The survey also uncovered some polarisation in the reporting of CSR practices: A quarter of businesses globally report their CSR activity, but this ranges from 53% in Latin America and 41% in the BRIC economies to 17% in North America and 18% in the G7 economies. Moreover, businesses are divided as to whether the reporting of CSR activity should be integrated with financial reporting: 44%