Community

HSBC CARES ENOUGH TO SAY 'NO' TO DRUGS

Monday 28 May 2007

HSBC volunteers were seen out and about in the community again last weekend when they joined the government's Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) Drugs Awareness Roadshow at the Freda Radin School in Jalan Sungai Akar.

Around 30 of the the Bank's staff members gave up their Sunday to help out at the Roadshow, which was attended by the community's schoolchildren and their families. Amongst others, they ran carnival-type game stalls and organised fun, interactive activities for adults and children alike. One of HSBC's Branch Managers, Mr. Gerald Sim, also gave an informative talk to the schoolchildren on the benefits of keeping savings and encouraged them to cultivate this essential habit. He emphasised how having savings would be very useful for the children's future, whether for use on a rainy day, to further their studies or simply as a form of investment.

HSBC Cares, the Bank's corporate responsibility programme, focuses on the three core areas of education, environment and the community. Since its official launch two years ago, the programme has proved extremely popular amongst staff and the community because it is a means for the Bank to help develop and upgrade the community they live and work in. The clear commitment of the Bank's staff to making the volunteering programme a success is evident by how many of them have willingly given up their free time for a good cause. To date this year, staff bankwide have already initiated and participated in 2 fundraising walkathons, a blood donation campaign, 3 NCB Drugs Awareness Roadshows, a cleaning campaign and an outing with Pulaie Complex residents to the recent 'Finding Nemo' Disney on Ice show. There are many more 'HSBC Cares' projects lined up for the second half of 2007, with hundreds of volunteers already lined up to participate in these.

Tareq Muhmood, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC who himself has volunteered for an HSBC cares activity had this to say, "It's always an enlightening and humbling experience to participate in causes that you know will make a world of difference to individuals and particularly the community. Seeing so many of my staff voluntarily sign up to be partners in these initiatives gives me genuine pride in leading them as a team. They make me realise that being the world's best international bank means more than just a high commitment to work and our customers, it also means commitment to helping develop the Bruneian community through good causes such as these. We truly appreciate the continued trust placed by the Narcotics Control Bureau in inviting HSBC to be part of their Roadshows over the last two years. We intend to keep up our good work and goodwill with them in future events."