Children from countries such as Lesotho, India, Myanmar and Malaysia will benefit from RM103,000 raised by about 200 OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad (OCBC Bank) staff who fasted through an entire work day recently.
The 8-Hour Corporate Famine programme was a collaborative effort between the Bank and international humanitarian organisation World Vision Malaysia. Led by its Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Ong Eng Bin, OCBC Bank staff broke fast together at the close of work in this adaptation of World Vision’s 30-Hour Famine programme.
Of the RM103,000 raised, RM35,335 came from those contributing specifically to the 30-Hour Famine programme, with the amount duly topped up ringgit-for-ringgit by Dato’ Ong for a grand total of RM70,670. Alongside this, there were also pledges amounting to RM31,260 for World Vision’s Child Sponsorship Programme, and one-off donations totalling RM1,070.
“I am pleased with the response of my colleagues, some of whom had never voluntarily fasted in their lives. The event gave us the opportunity to come together as one big family to unite for the benefit of those who go to bed hungry every night. By fasting, we also got a sense of what life is like for the vulnerable. In this sense, the event also made us appreciate what we have,” said Ong.
In its quest to aid children in need, OCBC Bank also rolled out a credit/debit card CSR initiative in partnership with World Vision Malaysia. Through the programme, the first 500 sponsors get a rebate of RM65 when they pledge to sponsor a new child through World Vision.
Last year, OCBC Bank staff pledged a total of RM180,000 to aid children in Asia and Africa under World Vision’s Child Sponsorship Programme.
World Vision Malaysia CEO Daniel Boey said the organisation was grateful for the partnership with OCBC Bank and thanked the many OCBC staff members who joined the 8-Hour Corporate Famine programme in support of World Vision’s initiatives.
“This is the second consecutive year we are collaborating with OCBC Bank. Once again, the effort was spearheaded by Dato’ Ong himself, who believes very much that when people band together for a good cause, more can be done for society.
“OCBC has been extremely supportive of our other initiatives as well and it is because of partnerships like these that we are able to continue serving the poor and vulnerable,” he said.
