Shaping Social Inclusion
At Jardines we are proud of our
longstanding programmes for promoting
wellbeing and social
inclusion, with special emphasis on mental health. By working collaboratively to unite
the Group behind
our shared purpose, we believe we can make an even greater positive contribution in the
communities we
serve.
In many Asian cities, increasing levels of inequality,
if not
addressed, could widen opportunity gaps, undermine economic growth and increase
social discontent.
Effective policy interventions in the areas of health, education and livelihoods
are essential for
addressing deep divides and helping to achieve the UNSDGs.
Data from the World Health Organisation indicates that Asia is experiencing rising
levels of mental
illness associated with modern pressures of an urban lifestyle and this situation
has only been
exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19.
Jardines is an organisation deeply embedded in our communities. We are developing and
implementing
initiatives at Group-level to leverage opportunities for increasing positive impact
through our
network. Our commitment to making a positive contribution through community
investment focusses on
three issues: health (especially mental health), education and livelihoods.
In many Asian cities, increasing levels of inequality, if not addressed, could widen opportunity gaps, undermine economic growth and increase social discontent. Effective policy interventions in the areas of health, education and livelihoods are essential for addressing deep divides and helping to achieve the UNSDGs.
Data from the World Health Organisation indicates that Asia is experiencing rising levels of mental illness associated with modern pressures of an urban lifestyle and this situation has only been exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19.
Jardines is an organisation deeply embedded in our communities. We are developing and implementing initiatives at Group-level to leverage opportunities for increasing positive impact through our network. Our commitment to making a positive contribution through community investment focusses on three issues: health (especially mental health), education and livelihoods.
Key considerations for Jardines’ social inclusion strategy
Creating the change we want to see in the world
Building coalitions to improve mental health
Empowering our colleagues to make a difference
Investing in Health
Our health agenda aims to improve the physical and mental health and wellbeing of our communities.
The Group has been involved in alleviating the impacts associated with mental illness in Asia through MINDSET, a registered charity founded by Jardine Matheson in Hong Kong in 2002. With operations in Hong Kong and Singapore, its mission is to challenge stigma around mental health issues through education and empowerment in collaboration with mental health organisations, advocacy groups, charities, corporations and other strategic partners.
MINDSET Hong Kong in 2021
13,700+
beneficiaries
40+
corporate partners
30+
NGO & school partners
300+
volunteers
MINDSET Singapore (2011 – present)
S$9m
raised and contributed
47,000+
volunteer hours
Organisation of Good - Large Enterprise Category
President’s Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards 2021
(organised by the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth)
Initiatives across the Group
Investing in Education
The Group is committed to improving youth inclusion and supporting access to education across its markets in Asia.
Jardine Foundation
Jardine Foundation was established in 1982 to enhance access to higher education for bright young people in our core markets. The Foundation provides full scholarships (covering tuition fees and living expenses) for students to undertake undergraduate or postgraduate studies at top universities in the United Kingdom, including Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
The Foundation strives to understand and address complex situations faced by young people in Asia in order to support outstanding individuals in developing into healthy and productive members of society. In 2021, we introduced a new programme in partnership with a local Hong Kong not-for-profit organisation to enable our Scholars to become involved in addressing a range of social issues. Jardines also provides support to Scholars in acquiring work skills and preparing for their future careers. Each summer, Jardine Scholars participate in summer placements within the Group’s businesses to gain valuable work experience.
US$4.5m
in awards made in 2021
US$34m
awarded since establishment
95
current undergraduate and postgraduate scholars being supported in 2021
379
scholarships awarded since establishment
ACLEDA-Jardines Educational Foundation
In 2017, the Group launched the ACLEDA-Jardines Educational Foundation using proceeds from the sale of Jardines’ interest in ACLEDA Bank. The foundation supports learning opportunities for Cambodian children by building schools in remote areas. By end of 2021, it had funded the construction of six schools in rural and border districts.
Colleague Volunteering Programme (‘CVP’)
Volunteering is an important and visible way for our colleagues to actively contribute to our communities under all three pillars of the Group’s sustainability strategy.
Our management approach builds on the Group’s well-established corporate culture of giving back to the communities we serve in order to further strengthen emotional engagement among our colleagues and other stakeholders.
In 2021, the Social Inclusion Working Group has focussed on creating a platform to enhance collaboration among the BUs through our new Group-wide CVP, which was officially launched in December.
To pilot the CVP approach, we organised our Volunteering Summer programme between July and September 2021. Colleagues from the Group Head Office and 14 BUs participated in a range of Health & Wellbeing, Food Security and Educational support volunteering activities organised by the Group and several of our BUs, in collaboration with MINDSET and other NGO partners.
The positive response of our colleagues and programme beneficiaries demonstrates the high level of enthusiasm across our business for a structured volunteering framework.
Volunteering Summer 2021
447
volunteers
14
NGO partners
1,600+
volunteer hours contributed
11,600+
beneficiaries
Health & wellbeing
Bowling Fun Day
Food security
Back to School
Education
Tell me a Tale
