Maybank Continues With Sponsorship Of Students At PIO

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Launch of the Maybank Child Sponsorship Program - Phase 4

Maybank Cambodia today announced the continuation of its long-term partnership with People Improvement Organisation (PIO) to provide an additional one-year sponsorship support to 50 underprivileged students.

Since 2012, Maybank has sponsored 20 underprivileged children by providing them the opportunities to pursue education as a way out of poverty. The sponsorship program entailed a monthly funding allocation to cover basic food and school support as well as special regular engagement sessions with Maybank employees.

Under this program, Maybank employees/volunteers organized unique, meaningful initiatives to help motivate and create a positive impact on the children. The initiative is a reflection of the commitment of Maybank employees to bring about meaningful changes in the community, while at the same time training and developing them to be leaders and partners in the community.

In addition to the child sponsorship, Maybank Cambodia will also be providing various other forms of support to other students studying at the PIO Stung Meanchey school. PIO is an organization which runs three schools and an orphanage for children who seek a living in garbage dumps or collect garbage around Phnom Penh. It also helps marginalized children deprived of the opportunity to access to education.

Chairman of Maybank Cambodia, Dato’ Johan Ariffin said that this program reinforces Maybank’s mission of humanising financial services and its commitment to be at the heart of the community.

“The Maybank Child Sponsorship program resonates strongly with our role as a responsible corporate citizen. This program, now in its fourth year, has proven to be successful in fulfiling our commitment in creating and empowering the communities to improve their lives, contributing to the betterment of the society in a sustainable and impactful manner,” he said.

“We continue to be one of the most active corporate citizens in Asia. We are committed to improving the lives of the communities in which we operate. Around Asia, we try to implement projects that have a positive effect on social capital. In 2015, in addition to financial support, about 23,000 of our Maybank Group employees worldwide contributed around 120,000 volunteer hours and provided their expertise and knowledge to strengthen various community programs. Maybank Cambodia has been a part of this success,” added Dato’ Johan.

CEO of Maybank Cambodia, Cynthia Liaw said, “It is a great opportunity to be able to continue with this sponsorship program in our quest to give back to the community through targeted social investments and volunteer efforts. Our long term partnerships have successfully enabled us to take part in reaching out to the communities where we operate. Maybank has always been about lending a helping hand, and this value is a significant part that make us who we are today. We also thank our staff and PIO in making the program a success.”

The Founder of PIO, Phymean Noun said that nobody wants to work on the garbage dump and sleep on the street. “I know PIO is making a difference when I see the poor children happy, enjoying themselves at school, smiling with hope for the future. PIO schools have classes from Nursery to Grade 6. And from Grade 7 to 12 the students are enrolled at the public school, supported by PIO. PIO supports all the students until the end of their studies and we help them in finding their first job after they graduate. If they want to continue to study at the University, PIO will find sponsor to pay for them until they finish University. For the girls, we can also enroll them for vocational training classes at PIO,” she added.

Dato' Johan Ariffin, Chairman of Maybank Cambodia
Dato’ Johan Ariffin, Chairman of Maybank Cambodia, believes the bank’s CSR initiatives reinforce its mission of humanising financial services

“Maybank’s involvement with PIO over the past few years has made a significant difference in the lives of the children. The Maybank staff have played their role very well in mentoring and inspiring the children, which is an invaluable experience for the children,” Phymean highlighted.

Maybank’s cooperation with PIO is part of its growing employee volunteerism initiative that has worked very well over the years. Engagements by the Maybank volunteers are continuous, holding on to the core values of Corporate Responsibility through sustainable initiatives and programs. Maybank volunteers work closely with the children at PIO on a regular basis to provide tutoring and mentorship programs, with the ultimate goal to help them excel in their studies and achieve their career ambitions. Maybank believes that education is the most important factor in improving children lives, and the force that brings about change and new opportunities for people and their community. Maybank also believes that investing in education helps to achieve sustainability that is crucial in improving the lives of the community.

Through this program, Maybank has received various recognitions, both internally and externally. Within the Maybank Group, Maybank Cambodia was recognised for having the Best Overall CR Program in 2012 as well as accorded the Best CR Education Initiative Award in 2014. In Cambodia, Maybank received the Most Outstanding Social Performance Bank Award in 2013, as well as Cambodia’s Best CSR Bank Award in 2015 by the Global & Banking Finance Review.

PIO’s founder, Phymean Noun herself was also accorded with various recognitions for her role in making a difference in the communities and beyond. A recipient of the CNN Heroes Award in 2008, she has recently received a Special Award for Outstanding Asia from the Canadian Multicultural Council-Asians as well as a Special Honor Medal from the President of Cambodian Red Cross and First Lady of Cambodia. Most recently, Phymean also received the Children Nobel Prize Award from the Queen of Sweden.

 

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