On 3rd November, 2020, the 100th Firefly Centre, donated and built by Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation – BEA Charity Fund (“BEA Charity Fund”) and located at Shanqi Town Central Primary School, Shucheng County, Lu’an, Anhui Province, officially opened. Representatives from the Committee for Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese, the official of Shucheng County, Lu’an, Anhui Province and the management of the Bank of East Asia (China) Limited (“BEA China”) attended the opening ceremony. This event also marked an important part of BEA China’s centenary campaign: “A New Journey for the Next Century”.
Commenting on BEA China’s Corporate Social Responsibility (“CSR”) initiatives at the opening ceremony, Mr Montgomery Ho Shun-wah, Executive Director & Chief Executive of BEA China, said: “Through BEA Charity Fund, BEA China contributed to the community by implementing a series of CSR initiatives in 27 provinces and autonomous regions across China over more than a decade. 2020 marks BEA’s 100th year in Mainland China, giving the opening of the 100th Firefly Centre in China at Shanqi Town Central Primary School extra meaning.”
Mr Ho also expressed his sincere gratitude to the representatives from the Committee for Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese, Shucheng County, Lu'an, officials of Anhui Provincial Government and teachers at Shanqi Town Central Primary School. “With the vision of creating a better tomorrow for the young generation, BEA will continue to invite more personal and corporate partners to participate in educational initiatives.”
As one of the key projects carried out by BEA Charity Fund, Firefly Project provided rural schools with a variety of support measures, including multimedia equipment such as computers and projectors, as well as brand new desks, chairs and a library, to improve school life.
BEA Charity Fund also donated 520 “Firefly Backpacks” containing stationery and reference books for students at the school during the opening ceremony, providing them with encouragement at the beginning of their new school term. In future, BEA Charity Fund will invite school principals and teachers to the rural teacher/principal training programme, providing them with training on teaching methodology, adolescent psychology, and home-school communication skills.
Since its incorporation, BEA China has consistently sought ways to contribute to the communities it serves through CSR initiatives. In future, BEA China will continue to inspire partners to support public educational welfare and improve educational opportunities for underprivileged children in rural China.
