Community
AIA is closely interwoven with local communities. Wherever the company operates, staff and agents are involved in the community for the benefit of children, youth, seniors, families and the needy. These areas of support span financial literacy, education, health, sports and a range of community needs.
Australia
The Australian team is committed to caring for the underprivileged and people with a disability, who face challenges in their day-to-day lives. This is done through support of a number of organisations whose aims are to help people achieve a better quality of life or prevent illness through medical research.
These initiatives are driven by the Australian employees fundraising efforts through its CSI (Community Services Initiative) team. The team has supported a number of projects with money raised through CSI events, which include the following:
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Exclusive sponsorship of guide dog puppies in Victoria since 2008 in support of blind and vision impaired people to access a better quality life.
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Donation to the Starlight Children's Foundation Australia in March 2007 in support of the establishment of the Frankston Hospital Fun Centre in the Emergency Ward of the hospital, allowing sick children to play games, watch movies and generally have some fun while they are in hospital.
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The Australian 'Greenies' team was established in early 2007 to create an internal voice for environmental issues. The team is made up of a committed number of employees who are leading the way in promoting more sustainable behaviour amongst all employees through engagement in various activities that encourage support of the environmental cause.
China
Significant support is being provided for victims of the Sichuan earthquake together with poverty relief in rural areas. Community efforts also focus on helping people escape poverty via education and providing treatment for children with heart problems:
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Establishment of the AIA Charity Foundation in November 2008 in cooperation with the Chinese Children and Teenagers Fund, raising RMB6 million for Sichuan earthquake reconstruction efforts and poverty relief for women and children in rural areas
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Sponsoring of students living in poverty to study insurance courses at Beijing University, People's University of China and Central University of Finance and Economics. This has benefited over 100 students in Beijing since 2005.
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Donation of RMB100,000 each year since 2007 to the Child Welfare Society of Guangdong Province to sponsor children with congenital heart disease for treatment and operations
Hong Kong
Millions of dollars have been provided to charities supporting education, medical treatment, community services and sports. Community efforts also focus on grooming young leaders at university for the future and providing medical aid in disaster spots around the world:
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The AIA Foundation, established in 1995, supports worthwhile charitable causes focusing on education, medical, community services and sports events. More than HK$32 million has been raised for more than 60 organisations
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Support for education through the AIA Foundation Scholarship Program since 1995 and the Young Leaders Development Program since 1996, benefiting over 550 university students
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Support and participation in the MSF Orienteering Competition since 2002, raising over HK$2.5 million for Medecins Sans Frontiers Hong Kong
India
An innovative program providing micro insurance for the poor is the focus of efforts:
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Launching of a groundbreaking micro insurance program in 2006, customised for the 'bottom of the pyramid' low-income community with an annual income of less than USD150
Indonesia
An innovative program providing micro insurance to poor villagers, providing donations from each policy sold for the benefit of the environment and assisting the reconstruction of tsunami-wracked Aceh are the main community efforts:
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Providing micro insurance under the AIG Village Program
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Support for green initiatives with contributions made from each policy sold to Conservation International Indonesia to fund tree-planting in forests surrounding Jakarta
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Launch of the Aceh Recovery Project to develop public facilities in Peunayong, Banda Aceh, as part of tsunami recovery efforts
Macau
Community efforts focus on assistance for deserving university students and charity day activities to raise the local community's spirits:
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AIA Foundation Scholarships for undergraduate students since 1995
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Organisation of the AIA Christmas Charity Day in December 2008 to lift the spirits of Macau people
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Mobilisation of 200 staff and agents to participate in the sale of charity flags in support of Caritas Macau in December 2008
Malaysia
The focus of efforts is providing children from low income families with the opportunity to have surgery for heart problems:
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The AIA Have-A-Heart Fund (AIA HAHF) has provided financial assistance to children from low income families with heart problems in need of corrective surgery since 1998
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In support of the AIA HAHF, AIA's agency force contributes RM1/- from commission earned from each policy sold to the Fund; total donations including corporate donation amount to RM1.9 million so far, enabling 127 children to undergo heart operations
New Zealand
Children with life-threatening illnesses benefit from community efforts:
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Official partner of Make-A-Wish Foundation, a global charity that grants wishes to children suffering from life-threatening illness
Singapore
Community efforts are focused on providing financial contributions in aid of cancer research and treatment, and the support of children, families and the elderly from disadvantaged backgrounds:
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Donations made to the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) for cancer research, prevention, education efforts and to assist needy cancer patients in funding their cancer treatments; donations from 2004 to 2006 worth SGD1 million
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The Boys' Brigade Sharity Gift Box has received monetary contributions for the project's operation funds since 2004, helping to fulfill the Christmas wishes of needy children; more than 2,000 wishes have been fulfilled from 2005 to 2008
South Korea
Community efforts are focused on supporting children with cancer, care for patients with burns and providing jobs for workers outside urban areas:
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Launched Share Your Dream Fund for Korea Association of Children with Leukemia and Cancer in 2005, a companywide charity initiative involving employees and channels has contributed about US$200,000 to date
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Set up an AIG call center in September 2007 in a non-metropolitan area to create new job opportunities for 600 telemarketers
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Donation of KRW50 million through the Community Chest of Korea to Hankang Sacred Hospital for the care of patients with burns
Thailand
Community efforts have focused on bringing smiles to underprivileged children with congenital deformities and libraries for schools in rural areas:
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American International Assurance Company, Limited - Thailand (AIA Thailand) dedicated 22 fiberglass water tanks 2,500 liters to 22 needy communities in 10 provinces in Northeast region for them to store the clean water for arid seasons. AIA Thailand launched this project in 2008, up until now; we have supplied 153 water tanks to 153 needy communities across the country.
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American International Assurance Company, Limited - Thailand (AIA Thailand) sponsors a fund donation of THB 1 million to the Prostheses Foundation of H.R.H. The Late Princess Mother for producing and supplying 400 prosthesis legs for the needy handicapped countrywide, a part of "AIA for New Leg, New Life" CSR project.
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The AIA Operation Smile Program, in cooperation with the Operation Smile Foundation, has provide free operations to over 1000 underprivileged children with cleft lips/palates since 2004.
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Donation of 13 libraries to schools in remote areas across the country since 2005 under the AIA School Library Program to promote equal opportunity in education.
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Participation in activities of charities under the AIA Smile Volunteers campaign, launched in 2006 to promote staff volunteerism.
Vietnam
The focus of community efforts has been on providing shelter for underprivileged families and emergency support for victims of natural disaster:
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Donation of houses for the shelter of underprivileged families
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Emergency support to victims of natural disasters and fire
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Establishment of the AIG Charity Fund in aid of underprivileged children from August to November 2008
