More than 11,000 Motorola employees in 47 countries have joined forces to improve their local communities on the company's second annual Global Day of Service.

The event held on October 10 has employees taking a half day off work to volunteer at more than 300 projects that address a variety of community concerns, including education, environmental sustainability and social services. Projects in China include visiting a school for migrant workers' children in Chengdu. At schools around the world, Motorola employees will deliver an introduction to engineering course created by the company's Women's Business Council with the aim of inspiring young people to pursue careers in science and technology.

"Motorola cares about the communities we serve, and we're using both our minds and our muscles to show it," said Ed Zander, Motorola chief executive officer. "We are proud of the talent, creativity and dedication our employees demonstrate in the community on this day and throughout the year."

Thousands of employees also will participate in in-office projects such as a global giving drive to benefit the UNICEF School-in-a-Box program, which is used around the world to get children back to school in the first 72 hours of an emergency. Each kit contains supplies for a teacher and up to 80 students.