Issue 2 2008 > Charity in Motion
Charity in Motion
HIV & AIDS: It’s Everybody’s Business
Crown Joins Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited’s “Living with HIV programme”
Crown is proud to announce that it has volunteered to be one of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited’s partners in the “Living with HIV programme.” The programme entails identifying employees who will serve as “champions and ambassadors” of the cause, taking the message out internally as well as through community activities and volunteering.
Crown group vice president of Records Management Philip Britton, regional manager of HRD and strategy for Asia Pacific Debbie Mannas, and executive assistant Veronica Chan are leading this initiative. Mima Grayson, based in London, has also been identified as one of Crown’s champions, coordinating efforts throughout the UK.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic is a global challenge, particularly in regions such as Africa, India and China. Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited has a presence in these markets and many other developing countries of the world, where there are increasing HIV infection rates.
Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited has responded to this challenge through their “Living with HIV programme.” The bank, at the group level, has pledged to the Clinton Global initiative to educate one million people on HIV/AIDS by 2010. They have developed a workplace education model that has been rolled out to their employees, customers and suppliers. The programme aims to help eradicate the stigma of HIV/AIDS which prevents people from getting tested and thus contributes to its spread, by:
- Raising awareness with employees through training.
- Driving participation in sponsored community events to educate local people about the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
- Sharing knowledge with families, the community and other service partners.
The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic
- Young adults between 15 and 24 years old, those making up the future workforce, account for the greatest number of new infections (Global Business Coalition)
- It is estimated that an average of 15 years of working life will be lost for each employee affected by AIDS (International Labour Organisation)
- The global labor force has lost more than 28 million people as a result of AIDS. Without further intervention this number could grow to 74 million by 2015 (UNAIDS & WHO)
- By 2010, per capita GDP in some of the hardest-hit countries may drop by 8% and per capita consumption may fall even further (United Nations Special Session on HIV/AIDS)
- In countries with high infection rates, nearly two thirds of private sector organisations expect future business impacts to be serious (World Economic Forum)
Living with HIV Workshop: Hong Kong
Welcome guests at a recent Standard Chartered
Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd. HIV/AIDS Awareness
Champions and Ambassadors programme
Jim Thomspon with Vivian Wong ang Rhoda Chan
Joined by HIV champions from Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, Vivian Wong and Rhoda Chan, Crown held its first workshop at Crown Wine Cellars in Hong Kong. The workshop was co-organized and attended by members of AIDS Concern, a registered charity and nongovernmental volunteer organization that offers AIDS support and prevention programs to the Hong Kong community. Following an introduction by Crown Worldwide’s CFO, Ken Madrid, Jim Thompson, chairman of Crown Worldwide, talked about his recent trip to Cambodia where he visited with HIV-infected children.
Loretta Wong, chief executive of AIDS Concern, introduced the work of AIDS Concern and demonstrated the organization’s advertising effort in raising HIV/AIDS awareness, highlighting the positive outcomes for this sensitive topic.
Throughout 2008, Crown’s country managers will identify local staff to be trained as AIDS awareness “champions.” Additional HIV/AIDS awareness workshops are scheduled in Hong Kong, London and throughout Crown’s worldwide network.
Jim Thompson supports this cause, “we have all known about the AIDS epidemic for years but many of us are not aware of just how devastating it has been to the people of the underdeveloped countries of the world. However, we also know that the work that has been done through educating people about the prevention of the spread of AIDS has had a positive effect. The situation is no longer hopeless. If we can help people to understand what AIDS/HIV is and how it can be prevented, we can reverse the spread and one day we can overcome this terrible disease.”
To learn more about Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited’s
“Living with HIV programme,” please contact:
Vanessa Green
Group Sustainability
Standard Chartered Bank
Tel: 44 (0) 20 7280 6162
Mob: 44 (0) 7712 897 796
Fax: 44 (0) 20 7280 7156
Email: Vanessa.Green@uk.standardchartered.com
1 Aldermanbury Square, Floor 2, London, EC2V 7SB