In recent years, AIA Vietnam and the National Fund for Vietnamese Children have jointly organised many community-oriented activities for underprivileged children, such as providing scholarships, life buoys, school supplies, and most recently, bicycles through the "Real Life Journey" events. Stephen Clark, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Vietnam, shares with the press his thoughts about these community activities.

Stephen Clark, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Vietnam.

Why does AIA take interest in charity activities for underprivileged children?

AIA's business philosophy is always associated with the development of the society and the communities where we do business. The company has actively participated in many social activities to strengthen our engagement with and support to local communities. In particular, we are strongly aware of the important role of the young generation who are the country's future owners. We always give priority to activities which involve caring for children's development. Therefore, many programmes have been organised to improve the education and living conditions of needy school children, and these contribute towards fostering the growth of Viet Nam's future.

How many charity events has AIA held to support underprivileged children and how have they benefited from these programmes?

For over 14 years of our operations in Viet Nam, AIA has actively supported many charity activities for poor but studious children, disabled children and those exposed to Agent Orange. Till date, AIA Vietnam has awarded thousands of scholarships, lifebuoys, school supplies, water filters and sports kits to these children across the country. We have also aided those seriously in need of help, such as our donations to people affected by natural disasters in the central provinces and the Mekong Delta areas. AIA Vietnam is also a pioneer in launching the "AIA Health Now" programme with a desire to encourage healthy physical and mental habits among AIA customers, employees and agents.

AIA has launched the "Real Life Journey" event by donating bicycles to unprivileged children to help them continue their schooling, and this has turned out to be a significant programme. Please share more details about this project.

Stephen Clark, CEO of AIA Vietnam and his wife cycle in a community-oriented activity for underprivileged children in Da Nang. — VNS File Photo

A real and critical issue in Viet Nam is that there are about 200,000 children dropping out of school annually. One of the main reasons for this is that they have to walk very long distances between home and school. Wishing to offer a solution, AIA Vietnam has collaborated with the National Fund for Vietnamese Children in organising the "Real Life Journey'' initiative. It is a series of cycling events held at 12 provinces and cities nationwide, starting in Ha Noi and ending in HCMC in 2014. After each cycling event, we donate all the bikes to unprivileged children in that area, hoping to make their long journey to school less arduous.

We believe this contribution will help the continuation of their education for a better future. Till June 2014, we have implemented six legs of this programme successfully in Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Binh and Da Nang. The other six legs will be held monthly at six other locations until December 2014. An important element of this initiative is that the bicycles have been contributed by AIA customers, employees, agents and partners. I am very proud to say that this initiative truly demonstrates our AIA brand value, which is genuinely engaged in people's lives and provides them with suitable solutions for their real issues.

Will there be more aid activities for Vietnamese children from AIA in the near future?

After the initial success of the programme and the positive feedback received from the local communities, the authorities and the media, AIA Vietnam has decided to continue the "Real Life Journey" programme across the country, at least in 2015 and 2016. Besides this meaningful activity, we will continue to cooperate with the National and Provincial Fund for Vietnamese Children to organise other social activities such as providing scholarships, books, lifebuoys, school supplies, clean water filters and donating supplies to people in flood-affected areas. — Source: AIA