Newsroom
26 January 2017
Maybank announces regionalisation of its eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN programme following success of six Singapore-led pilot projects
26 January 2017
Flagship programme sponsors university students' projects that alleviate poverty and empower communities in ASEAN
Maybank has announced that it will expand and regionalise its eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN programme following the success of six pilot projects completed in 2016 by local university students.
Under the programme, which was conceptualised and piloted in Singapore, Maybank through its Corporate Social Responsibility arm Maybank Foundation, provides university groups with up to $30,000 each in funding for projects to reduce poverty and empower ASEAN communities through initiatives that deliver tangible long-term impact, socially and economically.
The six pilot project teams comprise students from various disciplines from National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU). The teams presented their projects at the eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN showcase held at Suntec City Convention Centre.
The Project Cheway team from NUS came out tops and won the "Power Up Award 2016" based on judging factors such as community impact and sustainability of the programme. (Please refer to the Appendix for information on the different projects.) Representatives of the Project Cheway team received the award from Datuk Lim Hong Tat, CEO of Maybank Singapore and Puan Nora Abd Manaf, Group Chief Human Capital Officer of Maybank Group, who is also the Programme Patron.
The six completed projects involved over 200 participating university students who collectively impacted the lives of around 1500 people. By applying knowledge gained in their tertiary education coupled with the support from Maybank, the students were given the opportunity and platform to come up with innovative and sustainable solutions to real-life issues in different communities.
"The programme has enabled the participating students to broaden their minds and gain a better understanding of challenges in the region, thereby fostering greater intra ASEAN collaboration. By regionalising the programme and relying on our regional business footprint in all the 10 ASEAN countries, we are confident that we can make a bigger positive impact to more needy communities," said Mr Shahril Azuar Jimin, Chief Executive Officer of Maybank Foundation.
In March 2017, Maybank will start the second run of the programme, and this year it will support up to nine new projects by teams from Singapore universities. This is part of the plans for scaling up the programme, and in the next phase, Maybank plans to bring this programme to the regional level which may include universities from other ASEAN countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. However, the implementation mechanism and funding size may be different to suit local needs and requirements. Possible projects can target structural or livelihood improvements, financial literacy, skills training amidst others. Work has commenced in terms of seeking potential partners for expanding the programme to the rest of ASEAN, and more details will be announced in the other countries progressively.
"Through this programme, we want to raise more awareness among today's youths of the issues faced by different communities and harness their passion and creativity in resolving them. We hope to empower them to become change makers by using social innovation to improve living conditions and lessen poverty," said Datuk Lim Hong Tat, CEO of Maybank Singapore.
eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN is one of the six flagship programmes funded by Maybank Foundation, which supports sustainable CSR programmes, leveraging on the Bank's reach in the region. Maybank is the only financial institution with business presence in all 10 ASEAN countries.
Maybank Foundation undertakes sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives for the Maybank Group regionally in line with its mission of humanising financial services. The Foundation focuses on 6 key areas, namely Education, Community Empowerment, Healthy Living, Environmental Diversity, Arts & Culture, and Disaster Relief. In all six areas and in every country it operates in, Maybank Foundation is focused on activities and programmes that would create meaningful, measurable and sustainable impacts that differentiate the Maybank Group and complement its mission to humanise financial services.
Appendix
Information on eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN 2016 projects
School
|
Project name
|
Location
|
Details
|
---|---|---|---|
NTU | Ecoventure | Ban Hua Hin, Laos |
|
Project Mai | Tra Vinh, Vietnam |
|
|
NUS | Project Cheway | Baseco Compound, Philippines |
|
RACE Project Mangkang | Mangkang, Indonesia |
|
|
SMU | Project Luminaire | Bohol, Philippines |
|
Project Touch | Concepcion, Philippines |
|