BEA China Releases 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Report
Issue Date:[2018-04-17]

Shanghai, 17th April, 2018— The Bank of East Asia (China) Limited (“BEA China”) has today released its “2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Report”, which is its 10th annual corporate social responsibility (“CSR”) report, providing a full picture of BEA China’s progress and achievements in 2017.

According to Mr. Cartier Lam Chi-man, Executive Director & Chief Executive of BEA China, “In 2017, BEA China has seen positive development. Operating performance has seen a breakthrough, while charity work has also continued to break new ground, and our various charity projects have been remarkable. We are committed to innovation in services, to employee welfare, and to charity. In the future, we will continue to work with our partners to further expand the bank’s range of CSR projects and benefit more people in need."


Youth education is a key part of BEA China’s charity programmes, and the Firefly Project launched by the bank has benefited tens of thousands of underprivileged teachers and students in rural areas. In addition, BEA China values the education of its employees' children and provides meaningful support for employees in educating their children. During the conference, BEA China extended a special invitation to Ms. NING Xia, director of the China Welfare Institute Information and Research Center and the Soong Ching Ling Children Development Center, to share her professional and advanced expertise on education with employees. Ms. NING’s lively and engaging talk imparted practical tips on how parents can better communicate with their children.

 

Continuous focus on charity programmes
Corporate social responsibility becomes part of the employee mindset


In 2009, BEA China and the Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation jointly launched the "Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation – BEA Charity Fund", which aims to improve youth education in rural areas. By the end of 2017, BEA Charity Fund had raised RMB 73.86 million in total, which was used to continue the implementation of three core projects – the Firefly Project, the BEA University Scholarship Programme and the Funding Plan for Non-governmental Organisations. In 2017, the Firefly Project established 13 new Firefly Centres equipped with computers, libraries, student desk and chair sets and other facilities, and donated more than 6,000 Firefly Backpacks containing stationery for rural students. Up to now, the total number of Firefly Centres established by the BEA Charity Fund has reached 76, covering 25 provinces/cities and autonomous regions. The Firefly Project has seen more than 44,000 Firefly Backpacks donated to underprivileged students, facilitated volunteers contribution of over 643 teaching hours on short-term programmes, and trained 913 rural teachers in order to improve local educational conditions for students in remote and disadvantaged areas.


BEA University Scholarship Programme provided subsidies to 35 outstanding needy students from Fudan University, Zhongshan University and Tsinghua University. The Funding Plan for NGOs continues to provide positive support to outstanding NGOs which aid hospices, autistic children, couples who have lost their only child, and migrant children.


In addition, the BEA Charity Fund has also launched the “NGO Show • One-Year Teaching Programme” long-term volunteer teaching programme, recruited excellent volunteers nationwide to teach in remote areas such as Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture for one year, and provided full support for volunteers with specialist training, teaching assistance, a “Dream Fund” offering research and other grants, and help with finding career opportunities after the completion of the programme.

 

Volunteer culture takes BEA China by storm


BEA China has actively developed a charity culture involving everyone from management to ordinary employees, and actively participates in charity public welfare activities. Volunteer teams throughout BEA China branches are actively involved in programmes relating to education, helping the poor and elderly, and protecting the environment. In 2017, 1,104 volunteers throughout BEA China participated in different forms of charity activities, contributing 6,354 volunteer hours. This commitment indicates the extent to which CSR has become a part of every employee’s work and life.

 

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