HSBC presents donation for the WalkRunCycle 2012

HSBC recently held a cheque presentation ceremony at the Rizqun International Hotel. Funds raised from the HSBC WalkRunCycle (WRC) Charity event amounted to BND280,199.86 of which the beneficiaries are the four Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) that provide education and skills training to special needs children; SMARTER, Pusat Ehsan, KACA and Learning Ladders.

Gracing the event was Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources who was the Guest of Honour. Also present at the event were Senior Managers of HSBC, Vincent Ho, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Brunei, Rosdi Amin Yaakub, Head of Corporate Banking and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Lyndsay Rajah Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management.

The event started off with the recital of the Doa. This was then followed by a welcoming remark from Vincent Ho, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Brunei.

"I am deeply grateful to the Bruneian community in making this years' HSBC WalkRunCycle, the biggest charity event in Brunei Darussalam. Having well over 10,000 participants at the Taman was astounding and words failed to describe the atmosphere that evening. I am sure that you will agree with me that those who have taken part in this event will remember this momentous event for the rest of their lives" commented Vincent Ho.

"I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to all those who have given their support, the volunteer groups from G530, Sinemaru, Maktab Teknik Sultan Saiful Rijal and H.E.A.R.T for their medical services. My appreciation also goes to government agencies, like the Royal Brunei Police Forces, the EMAS-Ripas Ambulance Services, the JPMC Ambulance Services and the Municipal Board for their contribution to the event. To all our sponsors, volunteers and individual, HSBC could not have done this event without the support from all of you. Once again my sincere thanks and we should all be proud of our achievement" continued Mr Ho.

The ceremony preceeded with the official presentation of cheques to the four NGOs. Vincent Ho presented the mock cheques to the representatives from SMARTER, Pusat Ehsan, KACA and Learning Ladders. Malai Haji Abdullah bin Malai Haji Othman, on behalf of SMARTER (BND70k), Haji Hamid bin Maaruf, on behalf of Pusat Ehsan (BND70k), Haji Alim bin Haji Othman, on behalf of KACA (BND70k) whilst Dr. Sherina Haji Yunus, on behalf of Learning Ladders (BND20k) received their cheques respectively.

The HSBC WRC was a charity event that supported the special needs children of Brunei. HSBC aims to help create a better future and education for these children by raising awareness and funds through the WRC event. The theme for WRC 2012 was "Unleash their ability", to promote the abilities of the individuals and children with special needs.

The HSBC WRC 2012 was proudly sponsored by Triple Star, Scott, Cityneon Brunei, Fitness Zone, Red Bull, Kingston, Revive, Laneige, Pastamania, TLT Enterprise, Relentless, Brunei Tweet, Ranoadidas, Rentokil, Gardenia, G4S, Borneo Bulletin, Media Permata and Kristal FM and Aewon.

Record breaking participation in HSBC WRC 2012

After HSBC announces its latest figures of close to 6,000 registered participation last Thursday and the move of its closing date to the 28th April, there was an even larger number of enthusiastic sign-ups in the last two days at all of its branches in the country. As registration for the HSBC Walk Run Cycle 2012 closed as of last Saturday, there are now altogether more than 9,000 registered sign-ups for this charity event.

"I am in awe of the support that the Bruneian community has given for the HSBC Walk Run Cycle 2012. This indeed shows the generosity and the enthusiasm to give and be part of the largest charity event held in Brunei Darusslam. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who made the enormous effort to sign up. Both our sponsors and the HSBC team are extremely excited and are busy with the necessary preparation to ensure the safety and security of all the participants in the walk, run or cycle as well as in the carnival itself." ,stated Lim Boon Teck, Manager Corporate Sustainability, HSBC Brunei.

As preparations are in placed, further announcement on the progress of the event will be made through the media from time to time.

HSBC Walk Run Cycle will be held at Taman Hj Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien (SOAS) on Saturday, 19th May 2012 at night starting at 8.00pm.

While participants will be cycling the 40 kilometre route or walking, running or cycling the 11.5km, 6km or 2km route, those who are not participating will still get to enjoy the night carnival with stall games, bouncers and many more exciting activities throughout the evening.

The event also feature some fun elements where individual participants who come dressed up in costumes will stand a chance to win the latest iPad, while families who dress up in costumes will stand a chance of winning an exclusive hamper for the whole family.

HSBC WRC reaches its 6,000 mark

HSBC announces its latest number of participants in the upcoming HSBC Walk Run Cycle which is close to 6,000! In view of the safety and security of all participants, HSBC has decided to move the closing date, which was initially on the 05th of May, to 28 April 2012.

"We continue to be amazed with the generosity of the Bruneian community to commit to such a worthwhile cause," commented Lim Boon Teck, Manager Corporate Sustainabilty.

Individuals who are still interested in supporting the HSBC Walk Run Cycle charity event can submit their registration form to any HSBC branch around the country as soon as possible before the new closing date.

HSBC Walk Run Cycle will be held at Taman Hj Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien (SOAS) on Saturday, 19th May 2012 at night - 8.00pm.

Participants can choose to cycle on the 40 kilometre route or walk, run or cycle on the 11.5km, 6km or 2km route. With a registration fee of only $10 across all categories, one hundred percent of all registration fees and donations received will be channelled back to local charities.

Individuals who come dressed up in costumes will stand a chance to win the latest iPad, while families who dress up in costumes will stand a chance of winning an exclusive hamper.

Those who are not participating in the HSBC Walk Run Cycle event will still get to enjoy the night carnival with stall games, bouncers and many more exciting activities.

HSBC Walk, Run, Cycle on 19 May 2012

The most anticipated sporting charity event is back again! The HSBC Walk Run Cycle 2012, which was recently launched at the HSBC Fair last weekend at the Airport Mall, pays tribute particularly to organisations that provide training and education to special needs children of Brunei Darussalam, benefitting Pusat Ehsan Al Hajah Al Maryam, SMARTER Brunei, KACA and Learning Ladder.

For a different twist, HSBC Walk Run Cycle will be held at Taman Hj Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien (SOAS) on Saturday, 19th May 2012 at night - 8.00pm.

Participants will be able to choose to cycle on the 40 kilometre route or walk, run or cycle on the 11.5km, 6km or 2km route. With a registration fee of only $10 across all categories, one hundred percent of all registration fees and donations received will be channelled back to the four organisations and local environment initiatives.

To add on to the excitement, individuals who come dressed up in costumes will stand a chance to win the latest iPad while for families who dress up in costumes will stand a chance of winning an exclusive hamper for the whole family.

There will also be a host of fun and games planned for the evening, from lucky draw with over 60 prizes up for grabs to carnival games, bouncers and many, many more. The HSBC Walk Run Cycle promises to be a fun night out for the whole family.

"Ever since the launch, we have been receiving a lot of positive responses from the public especially on the registration fee and the different routes that caters for vast majority. The main attraction would be that the event will be held at night, which we believe would be the first of its kind in Brunei and everyone is very excited about it. As safety is our upmost concern, all precautions will be in place to ensure that everyone will have a safe and fun evening for the whole family," commented Mr. Lim Boon Teck, Manager Corporate Sustainability, HSBC Brunei. He then added, "I am greatly touched to have received calls from various educational institutions offering their assistance especially in volunteering. We strongly encourage educational institutions to play an active role in participating in this event to encourage the younger generations the value of community spirit and charity."

HSBC supports World Water Day

In support of World Water Day 2012, HSBC Brunei pledged to play a part in the conservation of water.

With a simple, low cost and easy-to-install device called the 'Thimble', HSBC Brunei pledged to reduce its annual water consumption by 30,000 liters.

The Thimble is a flow restrictor that replaces the rubber seal in a conventional water faucet. It can be easily installed with simple tools.

With the support from Water Department, HSBC Brunei will install these thimbles into the water taps in its business premises.

According to Lim Boon Teck, Manager Corporate Sustainability, HSBC Brunei, "As demand for fresh water increases with global population growth, the importance of water conservation strategy has gained urgency as well. In addition, climate change may exasperate water scarcity issue in regions which are already challenged by sustainability of water supply." He then added, "Although Brunei is not experiencing water scarcity issue, our water consumption per capita is one of the highest in the South East Asia and this is not sustainable in the long term. Apart from conserving water, we will also be partnering with Water Department and relevant local agencies to raise awareness on the importance of water sustainability."

Following the conclusion of the HSBC Climate Partnership in December 2011, HSBC will be announcing its next global environmental programme in June 2012- a five-year partnership with 3 NGOS: WWF, WaterAid and Earthwatch; that focus on water and how it helps communities flourish.

HSBC blood donation encourage response

HSBC has successfully hosted its second blood donation drive for 2012 at the HSBC Business Processing Centre in Jerudong. For most of the donors it was a run-in-the-mill experience, but for first time donors, this was the time they had to overcome their fear of needles and the sight of blood.

Over 50 HSBC staff including senior managers and members of the public supported the blood drive. A dedicated member of the public, Yahya Hj Ahmad, donated blood for the 50th time. According to Yahya, "It is our civic duty to donate blood if we can. We should also encourage our youth to do the same."

Hj Ibrahim Hj Bakar, Chief Supervisor Blood Bank, RIPAS, "We are still in constant need of blood supply. Members of the public are encouraged to donate blood at the blood donation centre at RIPAS".

Lim Boon Teck, Manager Corporate Sustainability, HSBC Brunei thanked donors and reminded the public that one pint of blood can potentially save up to three lives. He further added, "As the world's leading financial institution, HSBC firmly believes that giving back to the community is an essential part of the business."

The blood donation drive is one of HSBC's series of activities to celebrate its 65th anniversary.

HSBC Donates 10k Education Grant To Chung Hwa Middle School

In demonstration of its steadfast commitment to education, HSBC Brunei presented an education grant of BND10,000 to Chung Hwa Middle School, BSB.

The $10,000 cheque was presented to Chung Hwa Middle School in conjunction with the soft opening of the school's 90th anniversary celebration.

On behalf of the bank, CEO HSBC Brunei, Vincent Ho was on hand to present the cheque to Madam Kho Guik Lan, Principal of Chung Hwa Middle School. The Guest of Honour for the event, Ak Abdullah bin Pengiran Hj Tengah, Acting Permanent Secretary, witnessed the cheque handover.

Vincent said, "HSBC has been serving Bruneians since 1947 and the community has been very supportive of the bank. It is therefore important for us to give back and contribute positively to the community."

He added, "As a 'not for profit' school, one of the reasons for Chung Hwa Middle School's longevity and success is the dedication and unwavering support it has received from the local private and business community. HSBC is grateful for the opportunity to play a part in the school's education program and we hope our contribution will further assist with the school's aspiration to providing the best education for its students."

HSBC's investment in education is part of their global corporate sustainability strategy. HSBC Brunei recently launched Future First, its global flagship education programme that aims to make education more accessible for disadvantaged and special needs children.

Future First is a five-year programme managed by the HSBC Global Education Trust and currently supports more than 349 projects in 49 countries, benefiting nearly half a million children worldwide. In the next 5 years, NGOs in 86 countries where HSBC has a presence will be able to apply for funding of up to USD50,000 per annum from "Future First".

HSBC Blood Donation Drive a Success.

Today, generous customers and members of the public turned up at the HSBC Kuala Belait branch to participate in the blood donation drive.

The donation drive saw over 30 willing donors who rolled up their sleeves to do their good deed for the day. HSBC employees too took the opportunity to bleed for the cause.

The blood donation drive was organised as part of HSBC's 65th anniversary celebration, as well as to provide an avenue for the public to contribute back to the local community.

Today's blood donation drive is the first of a series of sessions to be held by HSBC in 2012. The next blood drive will be held on 16 February 2012 at the HSBC Business Processing Centre in Jerudong. More information will be made available nearer to the date.

HSBC Brunei introduces "Future First", its global flagship education programme for disadvantaged children.

Today, HSBC Brunei launched Future First, its global flagship education programme that aims to make education more accessible for disadvantaged and special needs children.

Invited to the launch were representatives from four local non-governmental organisations (NGOs); Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam, Pusat KACA, SMARTER and Learning Ladders, all of whom have been recognised for their valuable work in providing education for special needs children. Katak Ijau were also invited in view of their humanitarian work with children in poverty.

Future First is a five-year programme managed by the HSBC Global Education Trust and currently supports more than 349 projects in 49 countries, benefiting nearly half a million children worldwide. In 2011, HSBC renewed its commitment to Future First with fresh investment of USD15million. In the next 5 years, NGOs in 86 countries where HSBC has a presence will be able to apply for funding of up to USD50,000 per annum from "Future First".

Lim Boon Teck, Manager Corporate Sustainability said, "We are excited to launch this programme in Brunei. Children are our future. Through Future First, we can help deliver education projects that provide our children with a more sustainable and prosperous future. We are delighted with the opportunity to partner with local organisations that supports our community ."

In conjunction with the launch, HSBC Brunei presented educational toys to all four charities which were specially donated by its employees through a "Future First" toy drive held earlier this month.

HSBC Brunei supports its community investment efforts on two main areas, education for disadvantaged children and environmental education - both of which are the fundamental building blocks for the development of a sustainable community.

Envirosax recyclable bags giveaways from HSBC

In Support of the Government "No Plastic Weekend" initiative, HSBC Brunei has launched a limited edition Envirosax reusable bag to be given away each weekend when you shop at Hua Ho Kiulap, Delima, Tutong and/or Gadong stores till 04 December 2011 using your HSBC Credit Card.

Customers only need to present their shopping receipts totalling B$100 and above at the collection counter in Hua Ho Kiulap during the promotion period to collect the exclusive bag. The collection can now be done at anytime during opening hours.

The designer brand Envirosax has a different design each week from the "After Dark" series. Each exclusive bag is worth $12.00

Apart from this exclusive offer for HSBC Credit Card holders, there is also its existing Home & Away Privilege Programme which offers a selection of fabulous discounts and benefits across the globe, at over 19,000 outlets in more than 160 countries and territories. HSBC cardholders can enjoy fabulous deals at both local and overseas merchants simply by using their HSBC credit cards.

HSBC concludes WalkRunCycle event with appreciation dinner

Friday, 3 June 2011- HSBC raised more than $107k from its WalkRunCycle Charity event. A donation presentation and appreciation dinner was held at iLotus Restaurant.

The donations were divided equally and presented to three institutions, namely Pusat Ehsan, Persatuaan Kanak-kanak Cacat (KACA) and SMARTER Brunei. Each institution received B$35,788.

Among those present at the dinner were Vincent Ho, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Brunei; Rosdi Amin Yaakub, the bank's Deputy CEO and Head of Corporate Banking; and Dk Hamidah Pg Hj Othman, Acting Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management.

Also present were Malai Haji Abdullah, President of SMARTER Brunei; Hj Abdul Alim Othman, Managing Director of KACA Centre; Awg Hj Abdul Hamid bin Maaruf; Head of Administration of Pusat Ehsan; Reeda Malik of anakbrunei.com.bn; DJ Hum and DJ Jenny of Kristal FM; Sheikh Hj Khalid and spouse; and some 120 HSBC volunteers.

Learning the basics of money with HSBC

With a bag over her shoulder and two small boxes in her arms, a lady got out of her car and walked into the hall of a primary school with bright blue roofs in the district of Tutong. After her, a team of twelve entered the hall, carrying with them more small boxes, a few medium boxes, three cameras to capture the moments, and a laptop.

The team of bankers, from the oldest bank in this country – HSBC Brunei, was at the school to conduct a financial workshop. The workshop at PDN Pg Jaya Sengkarai Primary School was first of the four that were held over four days for students of four primary schools across Brunei.

According to Salyahrinah DP Hj Yahya, Treasurer of Global Markets, HSBC Brunei., the main objective of these financial workshops was to teach our children about smart financial habits at an early age, and continue to ingrain these habits in them so that one day, they can move on with their adult lives well prepared for their futures.

"Recently I came across a toy cash register at a department store. Toy like this is trying to teach children at an early age to shop and spend. Our children are the shoppers of the future and we need to ensure that they are well trained to consume by the time they earn their first paycheck," she continued. "A successful living involves knowing how to manage money smartly, and this can be achieved by an early financial education."

HSBC Brunei named these financial workshops for Year 5 students 'Money101' to depict entry-level educational programme into money management. The initiative was led by the Global Markets department of HSBC Brunei.

This was the second year the department ran the initiative, and so far, 7 primary schools, 310 students, over 50 HSBC staff volunteers, and 9 clients from 4 different companies were involved. Vincent Ho, CEO of HSBC Brunei was also present at one of the primary schools to provide an interesting insight on money management.

"Saving money is a fundamental but frequently disregarded money management skill. Understanding the importance and benefits of savings is, in fact, the key message in financial education. Exposure to money skills at an early stage will greatly assist children in becoming financially responsible adults."

Asked how the idea of financial workshops came about, Hiew Tzee Yin, HSBC money market dealer as well as the programme devisor, said: "We were discussing the debt crisis and how it affected so many around the world. The parties or areas responsible ran from lax regulators to shady institutions, from financial innovations to contagion, and ultimately, our discussion simmered down to the ordinary people."

Indeed, the late-2000s financial crisis made the world poorer. Brunei may seem to have endured relatively unscathed but the people are not free of financial problems. Over consumption and poor money management skills have resulted in uncontrolled spending and excessive personal debt.

"The contents of our financial workshops were designed to motivate and inspire children to make better financial decisions," said Tzee Yin. "The habit of savings is a money management basic. Children who understand the reasons and ways to save money are better prepared to manage their finances when they grow up."

The core design and contents of Money101 are constantly reviewed to ensure that the programme is capable of effectively teaching the children value of money and responsible behaviours regarding finances – lesson that will serve them through life - in a fun and engaging setting.

This time round, while the concept of money management basics is the same as it was first introduced a year ago, the approach was now different yet more interesting than ever.

The workshop started with a short opening and an ice breaker game. A few minutes for the ice breaker game worked well to break the ice and enhance mutual connection between the HSBC staff members and the students really quickly, mean while get them all warmed up for a series of activities to follow.

After the ice breaker, three HSBC staff members, each wearing a huge name tag, stood before the students. Another staff member walked onto the ground and introduced herself as the narrator. She started with a line familiar to all children 'Once upon a time, in a land not far away'. A story about money was then told.

"We introduce income and expenses through a captivating story in a typical Bruneian family setting that works around basic budgeting and rationing skills which are learned as the children receive their pocket money from their parents. As they manage their allowance money, their money management skills will improve," explained Diana Han, HSBC foreign exchange dealer who was also a coordinator and narrator for the workshop.

"Children are not born with 'money sense'. Money management skills must be learned. Whether one realizes it or not, what children see and hear at home highly influence their attitudes and values about money. Through this way, we are able to portray good role models of parents in the process of nurturing money management culture at home as they discuss money, spend, save, share and invest with their children in the daily lives," said Diana.

The workshop continued with a board game designed specifically for the workshop. Money101 board game is an educational game of income, expense, deposits, interests, loans and business opportunities. Created locally by the Global Markets team, the game reinforces both play and learning in a non-threatening yet competitive atmosphere, allowing the students to make their own decisions and take ownership of the consequences. Play is derived from the fun elements while learning comes from game elements as well as guidance from the HSBC staff members who facilitated the student groups.

"One square reads: You need a new bag. Do you buy (A) a normal one $5 or (B) one with a cool design $15. This essentially demonstrates the concept of needs and wants. If the student chose (B), we would explain that a cool bag is not a necessity, and that the extra $10 spent could be saved and perhaps invested into a business some day," as further explained by Tzee Yin.

As the students worked their ways through the board game, they understand how money works in term of dollar value and spending power. They also learned to accrue wealth as the game empowered them to earn money through working part time jobs and becoming entrepreneurs. While making payments along the way for real life expenses such as food, hobby, etc, landing on some of those 'expenses' squares provoked good thoughts about distinctions of needs and wants; and how these decisions affected their finances. The game also encourages charitable giving as it introduces philanthropy to children early so that they will likely become eager volunteers and donors in future. The concept of investing is also incorporated into the game as they earned interest on the money they deposited into their bank accounts as part of their savings plan.

Holding a water bottle at one hand and an orange dinosaur-shaped money box in the other, the students were both happy and ready to pose for some nice camera shots after receiving the gifts from their dedicated HSBC group leaders. "Smile! You are on camera!" someone shouted. The children put up their best poses and the camera went clicking away, capturing this truly memorable moment.

"HSBC is known for our long standing commitment to the local community. This money management programme for students is a worthy instance. We value the commitment of our staff members and thank them for their support and participation," said Lim Boon Teck, Corporate Sustainability Manager of HSBC Brunei.

"Again, I have to reiterate that it is critical that we, as grown-ups, reach out to establish and secure a solid financial future for our children," said Salyahrinah. "Our Money101 financial workshops were great successes. Last but not least, we would like to express our appreciation to our colleagues and clients who had taken time out of their schedules to join us in this meaningful initiative."

The two-hour workshops were held over a four-day period at Sekolah Rendah PDN Pg Jaya Sengkarai in Tutong, Sekolah Rendah Sultan Hassan Bangar in Temburong, Sekolah Rendah Mentiri in Bandar Seri Begawan and Sekolah Rendah Panaga in Kuala Belait.

The Global Markets department of HSBC Brunei, which led the initiative, manages the bank's treasury business, which comprises foreign exchange, money market and balance sheet management. Foreign exchange business performs trading and provides up-to-date market intelligence. Money market business is a conduit for personal and corporate deposits. Balance sheet management runs the bank's asset and liability books.

HSBC appreciates support for successful WalkRunCycle

Sunday, 22 May 2011 - Bruneians turn up in the thousands at Taman SOAS to participate in the HSBC 'WalkRunCycle' Charity event which aimed to raise funds for three great local institutions dedicated to the education of special needs children; Pusat Ehsan Al-Hajah Maryam, Persatuan Kanak-Kanak Cacat (KACA) and SMARTER Brunei.

"Based on our own estimate, the final turnout was close to 2,000 people. This is an impressive turnout rate given the heavy downpour in the morning. The turnout also speaks volumes about the Bruneian spirit for charity" said Vincent Ho, CEO, HSBC Brunei. The charity event managed to raise more than $106,000 which will be handed over to the three institutions next week.

"On behalf of the children at the three benefiting institutions, I would like to thank all participants who made the effort to fill up their donation cards. $106,000 is a fantastic result and I am sure the children from these institutions will benefit from it." said Lim Boon Teck, Manager Corporate Sustainability.

The event also received much support from HSBC's corporate customers and local SMEs. The 45 lucky draw prizes worth more than $20,000, was a key highlight of the event and would not have been possible if not for the generous sponsorship from various corporate companies and SMEs .

"The sponsorship we received from our corporate customers really made a positive difference to our event. We trust that the event has been a good platform for them to showcase their products while contributing to charitable causes." said Rosdi Amin, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Head of Corporate Banking.

The event was truly designed to be family oriented with many sides of interesting activities such as face painting and bouncers. In particular, the "Hawaiian Shake and Dance" competition organised by Red Bull, attracted a lot of interest and participation on that day.

While the marching band played songs to entertain the crowd, many were seen having a good time taking photos with participants in costumes. Even Brunei's very own international star, Wu Chun, made a special appearance at the event and delighted many fans when he made time to meet the fans and take photos with them.

Lim Boon Teck, Manager Corporate Sustainability continued, "The response to the event has exceeded all our expectations. On behalf of HSBC, I would like to thank all participants especially our Royal guests for being there with us despite the heavy downpour. My appreciation also goes out to my HSBC colleagues, the police and medical personnel who did a fantastic job to ensure everyone's safety. We are strongly encouraged by the positive feedback, we will definitely make it bigger and better next year. Hope to see everyone again in WalkRunCycle 2012!!"

The HSBC WalkRunCycle event was supported by Triple Star, SCOTT, Fitness Zone, Laneige, SotoRindu restaurant & catering, Red Bull, Kingston Beverage Sdn Bhd and Shopping.com.bn. Other sponsors included Interhouse Co, Armtrix Enterprise, Madmilk, IBIC Sdn Bhd, Gardenia and G4S. This event was also supported by Borneo Bulletin and Media Permata as exclusive media supporters, Kristal FM as the official radio station and by BruneiTweet.

HSBC staff liven Learning Ladders with Colours

Recently, over 40 HSBC Brunei staff together with a group of Jerudong International School students and teachers volunteered to spend their Saturday painting murals at Learning Ladders.

That same morning, Tareq Muhmood, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Brunei, was on hand to present the BND9,000 cheque over to Dr. Sharina Haji Yunus, President of Learning Ladders. The donation to Learning Ladders will go towards the training courses for new ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) therapists. This in turn served to expand Learning Ladders capacity to cater educational needs for more autistic children.

Lim Boon Teck, Manager Corporate Sustainability, HSBC Brunei said, "Through our sustainability projects where first and foremost, we encourage our staff to give back to the community for a good cause. We are pleased to work with Jerudong International School students and teachers who came up with the mural designs and lent a helping hand to be apart of this particular project. Without our staff's, teachers and students effort and time, none of this would have been possible."

Learning Ladders Society is a registered non-profit society established in 2007 for children with autism, brain injury, developmental delay, dyslexia and other learning disability. Dr. Sharina said, "Through HSBC's supports, only then we are able to increase our staff from three to currently seven staff. With the on-going support, the qualified ABA therapists will have the skills developed to pass on to the children with quality assurance."

Light refreshments were served and the volunteers took the opportunity to mingle with the staff who were working at Learning Ladders. A group photo session was then held to commemorate the event.

"Im so glad that im given an opportunity to be a part of giving back to the community. Even though it's a minor contribution, but it is a big impact for the children to see how colourful the walls are." said Siti Nurulzamin binti Haji Zaini from Security & Fraud Risk, HSBC Brunei.

HSBC encourages to give the Gift of Blood

HSBC kicked off its blood donation drive for 2011 marking the first blood donation campaign for the year. The one-day event was held at HSBC Bandar Branch on Wednesday, January 19. Over 50 of the bank's staff, customers and members of public donated blood. Among the bank's senior management team participating in the campaign was Mr Nabel Huwazan, Chief Technology and Services Officer and Mr Lim King Fui, Financial Controller.

"We are indeed delighted that we have received good responses not only from our staff, but the customers and members of public who turned up today to support this worthy cause," Lim Boon Teck, Manager Corporate Sustainability, HSBC Brunei said.

A team of dedicated Medical Officers of the Blood Bank Unit, Ministry of Health was on hand throughout the day to help facilitate the campaign.

The campaign is organised as part of the HSBC Corporate Sustainability programme and its pioneering role in serving the local community and meeting its needs. Mr. Lim also commended the staff, customers and public's positive response to the campaign, citing quite a sizeable turnout at the donation center in a bid to meet the increasing demand on donated blood, especially rare types, by public and private hospitals and thus help save lives.

WHO recommends that blood donation by at least 1% a country's population is generally sufficient to meet a country's basic requirements for safe blood. Requirements are higher in countries with more developed health systems. Among the greatest needs: to replace blood lost in childbirth (a major cause of maternal deaths worldwide), and to treat the anaemia that threatens the lives of thousands of children who have malaria or are undernourished.

In May 2010, WHO Member States agreed on a resolution on the availability, safety and quality of blood products. The resolution paves the way to increase access to safe blood transfusions and to safe and affordable blood products in developing countries. It also echoes the Melbourne Declaration, released on World Blood Donor Day 2009 in Melbourne, Australia, which calls on countries to achieve 100% voluntary unpaid blood donation by 2020.

HSBC Brunei Delivers Its Corporate Sustainability Strategy

The year 2010 proves to be a prolific year for HSBC Brunei on delivering its Corporate Sustainability strategy. HSBC Brunei employees participated in over 4,000 hours of Corporate Sustainability related activities, showing an impressive 73% increase from 2009.

HSBC employees volunteered to raise funds for charitable causes, rolled up their sleeves to donate blood, painted hospital rooms, tutored school children, learnt about environment conservation, spread awareness on the effects of climate change and so much more.

Globally, HSBC is a well-known advocate of action on climate change and HSBC Brunei too supports this cause. In January, in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint and set an example in this support of climate change issues, HSBC Brunei replaced its senior management car fleet to the eco-friendly Toyota Prius hybrid car. To date, the amount spent on fuel for the bank's whole fleet is 42.6% less than the previously owned car fleet and also reduces the Bank's carbon emission by 8 tonnes per annum.

The bank also demonstrates its solid commitment to reducing the impact its operations has on the environment by opting to only use paper that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FSC is a non-profit organisation devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world's forests. Products bearing the FSC logo guarantee that the wood and paper-pulp are from a certified well-managed forest.

By incorporating environmental concerns into the way HSBC conduct its business, HSBC is not only ensuring the sustainability of environment but its business as well. HSBC also urges other organisations and individuals to support the cause through events that educate Brunei businesses on the importance of incorporating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into their business model.

In June, the bank held a free workshop called 'Living Business' showing companies how to implement socially responsible business practices as well as receive guidance on how to build a sustainable business while improving its operating efficiency. More recently, HSBC sponsored a business luncheon seminar where CSR practitioners shared their view on why CSR is the next megatrend similar to the IT revolution in the 1990s.

Apart from the business community, HSBC Brunei is also active in promoting environmental education through schools. In collaboration with the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, HSBC Brunei instigated Brunei's participation in the international "Green Wave" movement this year. More than 40 schools participated in "Green Wave" which saw more than 100 trees planted at various schools across the nation. Through 'Green Wave", an estimated 2,000 students were educated on the importance of preserving biodiversity.

Active involvement with school students and investing in education is also a priority in the HSBC Corporate Sustainability strategy. A well educated population is vital to the development and prosperity of the country. Investing in education is one of main focus within HSBC's Corporate Sustainability programme in the belief that it provides the fundamental building blocks for the development of communities that the bank operates in. Recently HSBC donated $20,000 to help 200 primary school children who face financial difficulties in meeting the cost of buying their educational necessities.

In addition to financial contribution, HSBC employees also play an active role in the education of Bruneian youth. In April, the HSBC Speakers Group under Toastmaster's International organised a Youth Leadership Programme (YLP) for students from Pusat Tingkatan Enam Meragang and Jerudong International School. The programme, which is in its 5th year, teaches students to become more confident in public speaking and on how to present ideas in a logical and more convincing manner.

The bank also introduced Money 101, a series on money management, to selected primary schools across the nation to educate school children the importance of savings while enhancing their understanding of the value of money in a fun and entertaining way.

Almost all HSBC CS activities are initiated, planned and executed by HSBC staff. From fun-filled days at the beach and fishing with special individuals from KACA and Pusat Ehsan, physical labour work to beautify a hospital ward and houses of people in poverty; these activities provides HSBC employees with the opportunity to give back to the community and demonstrate their commitment to supporting charity organisations and welfare
of the community.

The two biggest community events organized by HSBC employees in 2010 was Cycle for SMARTER and the HSBC Charity Golf Tournament @ The Empire. Through these 2 events, HSBC successfully raised over BND40,000 to SMARTER and over BND10,000 to KACA and Pusat Ehsan respectively.

"The well being and development of our community is vital to our business sustainability. We are extremely proud that HSBC employees understand that link and are supportive of the causes that we take up. The Bank is pleased to present our staff with the opportunities to give back to the community, opportunities that they may not have access to as individuals. By participating in these activities, our staff also acquires a great sense
of achievement; this is a win-win situation" said Tareq Muhmood, CEO HSBC Brunei.

HSBC Shares The Importance Of Financial Planning

HSBC's Assistant Manager Retail Coach, Ms Elizabeth Sim paid a visit to Sekolah Menengah PAP Hajah Masna recently to give a talk on the importance of financial management. Forty two enthusiastic students attending the talk were given an insight into the financial world through an engaging seminar and activity.

In the seminar, Elizabeth Sim touched on the proper management of cash and credit, the concept of insurance and even shared some of the features of investment tools with the students.

The activities that the students participated in were designed to educate the students through a fun filled environment. Prizes were given away to the students that managed to obtain the highest scores on the interactive games.

"Our visit is part of a region wide financial literacy education program called HSBC Living Finance. The program is to help teenagers acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to make financial decisions in the future as well as to widen their exposure to the world of finance. Such exposure at an early age is essential" said Lim Boon Teck, Manager Corporate Sustainability.

HSBC Living Finance is one of many programs that HSBC conducts for local schools. Others include the Youth Leadership Program where students are taught presentation, speaking and writing skills and also the Climate Champion Roadshow which hopes to promote environmental awareness amongst the youth. Schools that are interested in any of these programs can write in to the HSBC Corporate Sustainability Department, 3rd Floor,
HSBC Chambers, Corner of Jalan Pemancha/Jalan Sultan or call 225 2114 for further information.

HSBC Brunei donates $20,000 to Ministry of Education

Monday, 29 November 2010 - Education is extremely vital to the development and prosperity of the country. Investing in education is one of main focus within HSBC's Corporate Sustainability programme in the belief that it provides the fundamental building blocks for the development of communities that the bank operates in.

It is in this belief that HSBC today donated BND 20,000 to the Ministry of Education to provide assistance to financially disadvantaged primary school students. The donation in form of book vouchers will be used to positively impact over 200 local primary school children, assisting them with their textbooks and stationery needs over the next year.

The donation presentation ceremony held at the Ministry of Education was attended by Ibrahim bin Haji Abdul Rahman, Acting Director of Schools, Ministry of Education as the Guest of Honour, Tareq Muhmood, CEO, HSBC Brunei as well as senior education officers and HSBC senior managers.

"Education is the driving force of economic development and to personal achievement and success. By investing in education, we hope to provide opportunities of the youth so they have a place in the competitive and continuously evolving society. It is our sincere hope that with this donation, students will focus on their education without having to worry about their financial burdens." Said Tareq Muhmood, Chief Executive Officer HSBC Brunei.

"At HSBC, we believe education is important and foremost for our youth, prioritising those who are from disadvantaged backgrounds. Our projects focus on education for disadvantaged children, financial and business literacy, and building environmental education and understanding. The projects that we drive and support contribute to the relieving of social disadvantage and provide opportunities for a better future." said Lim Boon Teck, Manager Corporate Sustainability, HSBC Brunei.

The donation is one of the many initiatives undertaken by the bank in the area of education. Amongst others, HSBC has rolled out several financial management workshops to primary and secondary schools across to nation to help foster good money management skills while they are still young so these skills will develop into life-long habits.

HSBC Shares The Importance Of Financial Planning

01 December 2010 - HSBC and Beach Bunch today held a signing ceremony, marking the beginning of a partnership where HSBC will provide financial assistance to Beach Bunch bid to obtain Blue Flag certification for Meragang Beach.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by Tareq Muhmood, CEO, HSBC Brunei and Rizan Latif, President, Beach Bunch and was witnessed by members of the Beach Bunch as well as HSBC senior management staff.

Through this MOU, HSBC has pledged USD 36,000 to support the Blue Flag project, enabling the Beach Bunch to commence on the required feasibility studies and environmental assessments on Meragang Beach as well as the enrollment of the Beach Bunch to the Foundation of Environmental
Education (FEE).

Tareq commented, "We are delighted to receive this opportunity to partner up with the Beach Bunch. Today's MOU further demonstrates our commitment to sustainable environmental management and preservation."

Lim Boon Teck, Manager Corporate Sustainability added, "HSBC's collaboration with the Beach Bunch is part of our pursuit to introduce environment education to local schools. Once the Beach Bunch becomes a member FEE, this opens up the pathway for them to introduce FEE's Eco School program to schools in Brunei. Our support of the Beach Bunch builds on our stance to deliver environmental education."

"Beach Bunch would like to thank HSBC on the funds and this is the beginning of the journey towards pursuing sustainable environmental development of Brunei beaches. The funding will enable us to start the foundation component of the project which include FEE registration, visual concept designs, environmental public health and safety studies" according to Rizan Latif, President, Beach Bunch.

As one of the world's leading financial organisations, HSBC believes that it plays a huge role in supporting the economies that it operates in. Today's MOU signing is one of the many environment-related programmes that HSBC supports.

Fiona Goh represents HSBC Brunei in HSBC Triathlon 2010

Participating for the 3rd year in a row, Global Service Delivery provides another once in a lifetime opportunity for our employees to represent HSBC Brunei in the Triathlon. The local tryouts were held in June and July 2010 and 16 of the best athletes were selected from 15 countries to compete as Team Global Service Delivery. This year, Fiona Goh of Service Delivery has been chosen to compete in the HSBC Best Place to Work Triathlon.

HSBC is holding their third corporate triathlon at Dorney Lake on Sunday, September 12th. For this exciting event, other companies are invited to enter their teams and compete against the HSBC employees. Dorney Lake offers a clean open water swim, followed by a closed bike loop around the Lake, and finally the run goes down the side of the lake, making it the perfect course for beginners and seasoned triathletes alike.

Individuals and teams are also urged to help HSBC in their fundraising efforts by donating or raising funds for the nominated charity - HSBC Build a School. For this year's event, funds raised will pay for books, clothing, uniforms, food and medical supplied for the children enrolled and adopted by the schools built in 2008 and 2009 and other schools across these underprivileged areas.

HSBC's Islamic Welfare Body holds Doa Arwah, Iftar for Orphans

In observance of the holy month of Ramadhan, the bank's Islamic Welfare Body (BKI) with the support of the Corporate Sustainability division organised the annual tahlil and doa arwah event for 50 children and their guardians.

The event, now in its 5th year was held at the bank's headquarters Bandar Seri Begawan and was attended by Rosdi Amin Yaakub,Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Head of Retail Banking & Wealth Management as his capacity of Chairman of BKI as well as members of the BKI.

HSBC holds Indahnya Ramadhan Charity Drive

In celebration of the holy month of Ramadhan, HSBC Brunei has launched its charity drive 'Indahnya Ramadhan' aimed to collect donations for those who are less fortunate. 'Indahnya Ramadhan' comes in the form of a puzzle which is made up of 2,500 pieces. For each one dollar donated, customers will be allocated one puzzle piece where they may sign their names if they wish. Customers will also receive a thank you card as a token of appreciation. Donations to the 'Indahnya Ramadhan' Charity Drive can be made through any HSBC branch as well HSBC Finance at Sumbangsih Bahagia. This annual charity drive was organised by the bank's Retail Banking & Wealth Management department.

Rosdi Amin Yaakub, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Head of Retail Banking & Wealth Management, HSBC Brunei said, "Ramadhan is a special month for the Muslim community and it is a time for us to also remember those who are far less fortunate and are in need. With this charity drive, it is our sincere hope that the funds from this charity drive will benefit many and represent our customers' generosity."

"All proceeds from this charity drive will be donated to the Department of Community Development, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports" he added.

HSBC enlightens students on money management

In an attempt to promote a financial future away from excessive personal debt, HSBC Brunei has put together a money management workshop tailored for students in primary schools as part of its ongoing effort in contributing to the community.

The programme was rolled out to four primary schools across various districts. Over 30 HSBC staff volunteered to facilitate the two hour workshops.

Environment Education

Conserving Brunei Green heritage through Education

Each year HSBC support out of school educational programs such as PRYNSA, Living Finance,
Climate Change seminar, Youth Leadership Program and Young Entrepreneur award; with the
aim to ehance student competitive edge by equipping them with skill and knowledge not
found in standard academic curriculum.

HSBC Cycling Challenge

Pedal power to sustain Brunei rainforest.

HSBC cycling challenge is the most anticipated mass cycling event in Brunei since 2008. The event was held to raise awareness and support for Brunei’s Heart of Borneo project.

HSBC Climate Partnership

Our ground breaking 5 years programme on climate change.
Adopt The Climate Principle, a framework for climate change best practise for the financial sector.

CLICK HERE

Staff Volunteerism

Lending a helping hand in time of need.
HSBC contribution to the community goes beyond financial; we actively encourage
our staff to be physically involved in community projects close to their heart.