HSBC unveils Covid-19 charity projects
MANAMA: An estimated 80,000 people across seven countries in the region are expected to benefit from HSBC’s global $25 million Covid-19 charitable fund, including over 4,000 in Bahrain.
The bank announced it will begin making contributions to a range of projects in Bahrain, Algeria, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE to help underprivileged individuals and families impacted by Covid-19.
The disbursements, organised in close co-operation with HSBC’s partner charities around the region, will also help hospital workers in the frontline fight against the virus.
HSBC’s head of sustainability in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT) Sabrin Rahman said: “Our efforts in MENAT as part of the group’s $25m Covid-19 charitable fund will be vitally important to our local communities. We have acted quickly to the urgent call for support by putting our resources to work where they have the biggest impact and donating to specific projects so that we are able to ensure accountability and track the real impact our funding has had on people’s lives.”
“We carefully selected local charity partners that have track records of being able to identify and help vulnerable communities by getting them food, medicine and education resources,” Ms Rahman added.
In Bahrain, $65,000 will be donated to support local and migrant workers in need of meals, hygiene baskets and dry rations.
An estimated 4,000 people will be reached.
HSBC Bahrain chief executive Melika Betley said: “It is very important that we continue to support our community in times of need. We believe that the donations will help to provide immediate relief to some of those who need it most during these challenging times.”
HSBC’s disbursements in MENAT will account for $1.2m of the $25m global fund and underpin the bank’s existing long-term community programmes.
HSBC MENAT’s student-focused future skills programme will pivot to be delivered remotely, using e-learning channels, while its entrepreneur-targeted programmes, such as the Social Impact Accelerator (C3) and the TiE Mentorship Programme, will also adopt virtual and online sessions.
Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/799838
