UOB Malaysia and its Commercial Banking clients raise more than RM350,000 to provide vulnerable children with basic essentials and digital remote learning tools during COVID-19
Extends support to four children’s homes in Kuala Lumpur under the UOB My Digital Space Programme
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 21 May 2020 – United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Bhd (UOB Malaysia) and more than 100 of its Commercial Banking clients united to raise more than RM350,000 to help four children’s charities in Kuala Lumpur pay for basic essentials and implement online learning programmes during COVID-19. In particular, the funds raised1 will go towards purchasing digital devices and education software to help meet the educational needs of more than 250 children from the Persatuan Kebajikan Sri Saradha Devi Illam, the Yayasan Sunbeams Home, the Shelter Home for Children and the Special Children Society of Ampang.
The contribution is part of the UOB My Digital Space Programme, a multi-year education programme to bridge the digital gap for children from disadvantaged backgrounds across the region and to connect them to a world of digital learning opportunities. The UOB My Digital Space Programme is one of the initiatives under UOB’s global #UnitedForYou COVID-19 Relief Programme2, which brings together the strengths of the UOB network and like-minded partners to help customers, colleagues and communities through to better times.
Ms Ng Wei Wei, Managing Director and Country Head of Wholesale Banking, UOB Malaysia, said that the contribution demonstrates UOB Malaysia’s commitment to and the generosity of the Bank’s clients in supporting vulnerable children across the country, especially during these challenging times.
“The entire country is feeling the effects of COVID-19 but the impact on children is especially significant. Many are struggling to keep up with their lessons amid school closures while others have lost access to extracurricular programmes and additional support to help them with their studies. With this contribution from UOB Malaysia and our clients, we hope to help the most vulnerable children in our communities to continue receiving the care and education they need through remote learning enabled by technology. Through the UOB My Digital Space programme, we can bridge the digital gap for children from needy families and ensure that they are not left out of opportunities education brings.”
In addition to supporting children in their remote learning, the money raised will also help the homes pay for basic necessities, including paying for food programmes as well as the salaries of their teachers and carers.
Ms Meenaloshini Venugopal, Secretary of the Persatuan Kebajikan Sri Saradha Devi Illam, said, “We are glad to receive the support of UOB Malaysia as we continue to provide quality education for the children of Sri Saradha Devi Illam. The funds will help us sustain our home schooling programme and provide our children with digital devices to help them study remotely in the current situation. With this generous contribution, we can offer the children of Sri Saradha the opportunity to progress with their learning and development while ensuring the continuity of our care facilities.”
Making a positive difference through art
As part of its fundraising efforts, UOB Malaysia held a remote art charity auction for its Commercial Banking clients, who generously contributed RM50,000 for three artworks by Kevin Leong, a student from the Special Children Society of Ampang.
Ms Ng said, “At UOB Malaysia, we believe that art broadens minds, enriches lives and strengthens societal bonds. As part of our fundraising initiative, we arranged the auction for our clients to help aspiring artists continue to develop their talent and to hone their skills, and to reach a new audience.”
UOB launched its global #UnitedForYou COVID-19 Relief Programme to help alleviate the financial burden or distress many are facing during this difficult period through various initiatives. These include relief assistance schemes to help customers that are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as initiatives to support customers, colleagues and communities for the longer term.
1 More than RM80,000 will go towards remote learning initiatives including purchasing computers for the beneficiary homes.
2 Please refer to accompanying fact sheet for more information on UOB’s relief assistance initiatives for communities globally.