The summit is jointly organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) and the Ministry of Economy (KE) and led by the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) and Pusat SDG Negara. The summit attracted top management and C-suite leaders from government bodies, think tanks, corporations, SMEs, civil society organisations, and academia.

In his opening address, YB Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani highlighted that the summit has been crafted as a broader architecture to support regional resilience and global relevance. The insights, innovations and institutional partnerships that emerge over the two days must be translated into action across the ASEAN community and beyond.

High-Level Policy Addresses Reinforcing Malaysia’s Commitment to Sustainability

The summit featured high-level policy addresses that reinforce the government’s commitment to sustainable, inclusive, and resilient national growth.

• YB Dato’ Hajjah Hanifah Hajar Taib, Deputy Minister of Economy, emphasised the government’s commitment to embedding sustainable development across national policies for long-term resilience and inclusivity.
• YBhg. Datuk Dr. Ching Thoo a/l Kim, Secretary General of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, spoke on the importance of empowering local communities and strengthening collaboration between public and private sectors to build a climate-resilient future.

• YBhg. Dato’ Ts. V. Valluvan Veloo, Deputy Secretary General (Macro), Ministry of Economy, delivered the policy focus “Building Malaysia’s Next Economy Towards 2030 and Beyond,” outlining the government’s strategy to future-proof Malaysia’s economy through green innovation, digital integration, and equitable growth.

Day One Highlights: Global Collaboration and Homegrown Innovation

Day one of KLSS 2025 brought together leading voices shaping the global sustainability agenda. H.E. Selwin Charles Hart, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action and Just Transition, underscored the importance of regional collaboration and shared responsibility in achieving climate resilience and just transition goals.

From Malaysia, Ms. Izlyn Ramli, Chief Executive Officer of Maybank Foundation, highlighted how partnerships between financial institutions and communities are driving innovation and inclusive green growth. Together, these perspectives set the tone for the summit’s focus on collective innovation and actionable pathways towards a more sustainable ASEAN.

Day Two Highlights: Translating Ambition into Action

Day two opened with a session led by Eric Kane, Global Head of ESG Research, Bloomberg Intelligence, setting the stage for practical discussions on driving sustainability through cross-sector collaboration and innovation.

This was followed by the MGTC x Bloomberg Series Fireside Dialogue, “Engineering Sustainability: Delivering Impact at Scale,” featuring Mr. Saiful Adib Abdul Munaff, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of MGTC. He underscored the importance of translating corporate sustainability ambitions into measurable and scalable impact for Malaysia’s green economy.

The day continued with a series of thought-provoking discussions that explored the nation’s green transition across industries – from corporate climate action and digital transformation to decarbonising Malaysia’s maritime sector. The Local Spotlight on Circular Economy showcased how homegrown innovation and circular solutions are reshaping sustainable resource management.

Day two of the summit concluded with Prof. Jeffrey D. Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), delivering his message: “This Decade Decides.” His remarks underscored the urgency of immediate climate action and the unprecedented opportunity before Malaysia to lead regional decarbonisation efforts.

Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Climate Resilience: A National Call to Action

A key highlight was the formal unveiling of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Climate Resilience, which signifies the regional commitment in Malaysia’s national context, uniting government, business, and communities in a shared effort to strengthen climate adaptation, enhance resilience, and accelerate practical action on the ground. It invites all sectors to align with this vision, reaffirming that Malaysia’s path to sustainability must be collective, inclusive, and enduring.

Hashtag: #KLSS

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The increase in spend is driven by affluent travellers and nighttime economy

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 October 2025 – Visa, a global leader in digital payments, today released new insights from VisaNet data that underscore the substantial tourism and commercial uplift during the recent F1™ Singapore Night Race. The event, renowned for attracting a global audience, has proven to be a pivotal catalyst for Singapore’s economy, with marked increases in visitor arrivals, nighttime spending, and digital payment adoption.

According to VisaNet data, overall travel-related spending in Singapore during the F1™ race period rose significantly compared to the same period last year. International arrivals surged, with the majority of visitors originating from key markets such as China, Australia, the United States, and Malaysia. The event generated a double-digit percentage increase in both transaction volumes and overall spend across hospitality, retail, and entertainment sectors.

Affluent Travellers^[2] are Driving High-Value Commerce

Visa’s data showed that while affluent travellers made up about 30 per cent of all travellers to Singapore during the race week, they accounted for an outsized 40 per cent of spending. Compared to an average week, affluent travel into Singapore was about 30 per cent higher but their spending surged by nearly 45 per cent during the week of the race, reflecting the sophisticated allure of the Singapore Night Race. Travel spending from Mainland China, Australia, the United States, and Indonesia accounted for over 40 per cent of spending done by all travellers during the week of the race, showing how Singapore is a major attraction for tourists not only in Asia, but around the world.

Affluent travellers are also highly diverse spenders. While the bulk of affluent spending was on retail and dining, such as for apparel (~15%) and at restaurants (~15%), affluent travellers were also keen to spend on a wide range of local retailers and services, especially on categories such as Discount Stores (~450% uplift) and Electronics (~100% uplift).

Another key finding was the growth in travel by corporate travellers^[1] in the race week, which coincided with various conferences and exhibitions. Compared to an average week, around 80 per cent more business cardholders visited Singapore during the race week with their spending nearly tripling by surging approximately 170 per cent.

Nighttime Economy: Late-Night Spending Trends

The unique timing of the Singapore Night Race fuelled a significant increase in nighttime commerce. In the week of the Singapore Night Race, late-night spending (11pm – 5am) surged by over 90 per cent, reflecting the demand for 24/7 consumption by tourists. Visa found that travellers are looking for food and fun after dark, with Restaurants, Fast Food, and Entertainment seeing the most traveller spending. Wide availability of these options in the Marina Bay region hosting the circuit, and in areas like Clarke Quay and Tanjong Pagar just a short walk away from the race, likely contributed to the surge in spending.

Small and medium-sized businesses across Singapore benefitted significantly from the influx of visitors. In the week of the race, SMBs in the city saw traveller spending rise by about 65 per cent, especially in retail and dining as racegoers explored the city including its heartlands. Restaurants (~80% uplift) like local eateries and cafes, as well as SMBs in retail such as Electronics (~80% uplift) and Groceries (~120% uplift) saw some of the most notable lifts in traveller spending.

“The F1™ Singapore Night Race is a showcase of Singapore’s vibrancy and global appeal. Our data shows that the event not only attracts a diverse group of affluent travellers but also drives significant uplift for local businesses, especially small and medium enterprises. By enabling seamless and secure digital payments, Visa helps merchants and consumers make the most of these world-class experiences.

Importantly, Visa’s data-driven insights empower issuers and merchants to identify spending patterns among tourists and pinpoint opportunities in high-growth districts. This enables our partners to tailor their offerings and marketing strategies, driving greater engagement and spend where it matters most. We remain committed to supporting Singapore’s growth as a premier destination for international events and to fostering innovation that benefits everyone in our community,” said Adeline Kim, Visa Country Manager for Singapore & Brunei.

Hashtag: #Visa

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About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

It’s the first in Europe to offer full-series low-temperature protection and Bluetooth as standard, ensuring performance in all conditions. To reduce environmental impact, Sentorise also uses eco-friendly molded pulp packaging, proving that reliable energy doesn’t have to come at the planet’s expense.

Advanced Protection and Long Life

The Group31 is built with Grade A+ Cells and an advanced Battery Management System (BMS) that protects against overcharge, over-discharge, overcurrent, short circuits, and temperature risks. These built-in safeguards keep the battery safe to use and help extend its lifespan.

The Group31 offers an impressive cycle life under rated test conditions: over 4,000 cycles at 100% depth of discharge, 6,000 at 80%, and up to 15,000 at 60%. This makes it far more durable than conventional batteries. With an IP65 waterproof and dustproof rating, it is built for harsh environments, including humid coastlines, damp storage areas, and rugged outdoor conditions.

Supporting Sustainability in the Energy Transition

The Group31 is designed to last significantly longer than traditional lead-acid batteries, meaning fewer replacements and less waste in landfills.

Unlike lead-acid units, it is lighter, offers a much higher usable depth of discharge, and delivers lower lifetime cost. By providing consistent power output over time, it reduces both environmental impact and total ownership costs. For households and travelers who care about sustainability, this balance of performance and responsibility makes the Group31 a practical choice.

Confidence in Every Situation

The launch of the Group31 highlights Sentorise’s commitment to Europe’s energy transition with storage solutions built for safety, durability, and sustainability. From road trips and yacht excursions to everyday home backup, the Group31 provides reliable energy wherever it is needed, keeping users connected and secure in any setting.

Stay Powered. Stay Free.

Hashtag: #Sentorise

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About Sentorise

Sentorise delivers advanced battery solutions for life beyond the grid. Focused on safety, durability, and sustainability, the brand empowers RV owners, campers, and off-grid families with dependable energy wherever they go.

For more information, please visit our official website: https://www.sentorise.com.

Bringing Extensive European Experience to Lead Advanced Orthopaedic Surgeries and Elevate Pet Surgical Care

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 October 2025 – Veterinary Emergency Centre, Hong Kong (VEC) today announces the enhancement of its advanced orthopaedic services to further meet the local demand for advanced surgical care for pets. The centre’s orthopaedic surgeries will be led by Dr. Hannah Holmes, a senior veterinarian with over 20 years of international experience. Combining her expertise with VEC’s advanced diagnostic equipment and 24-hour critical care team, the service is dedicated to providing more precise and comprehensive treatment plans for pets suffering from bone and joint issues, helping them overcome pain and regain their vitality.

As a leading veterinary institution in Hong Kong, VEC has long provided 24-hour emergency, critical care, surgical, general practice, and hospitalization services. The centre is equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities, including operating theatres, an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a CT scanner, X-ray, and various ultrasound capabilities, ensuring the most accurate diagnoses in critical situations. Its 24-hour emergency service operates with a professional triage system to ensure that urgent cases, such as accidental fractures, are treated immediately to secure the golden hour of treatment. This round-the-clock critical care and monitoring capability provides the safest and most solid foundation for performing complex orthopaedic surgeries.

Advanced Equipment and Inter-Team Collaboration Enhance Surgical Outcomes

VEC’s orthopaedic service is built on a foundation of advanced medical technology and close team collaboration. The centre utilizes the internationally recognized Securos™ orthopaedic supplies, providing a wide range of high-quality plating systems, pins, and external fixation options for various fracture repairs and joint stabilization procedures. Before surgery, the veterinary team can use the on-site CT scanner to obtain detailed three-dimensional images, providing crucial information for creating precise surgical plans.

VEC performs well over a hundred orthopaedic and soft tissue surgeries each year, with common cases including fracture repairs and patellar luxation corrections in small-breed dogs. Dr. Hannah notes, “At VEC, orthopaedic patients benefit from the support of our ICU and hospital team. The team stabilizes critical animals before their procedures and provides intensive post-operative monitoring and care, ensuring that even our most complex cases are managed safely throughout the entire process.”

“One of the memorable cases I worked on was a young cat, Tun Tun, who arrived at our ER in critical condition after a high-rise fall, suffering from internal bleeding and multiple fractures. Thanks to the intensive care from our ICU team, against all odds, Tun Tun was stabilized and successfully underwent fracture repair surgery. The seamless collaboration of the VEC team was key to his remarkable recovery, transforming him back into a playful, mischievous cat,” shares Dr. Hannah.VEC also has a house call team that can follow up on a patient’s recovery in the comfort of their own home.

Internationally Experienced Veterinarian Joins, Infusing Professionalism and Compassion

Dr. Hannah Holmes’ arrival brings even greater professional strength to VEC’s orthopaedic services. Growing up in Scotland, Dr. Hannah graduated from the world-renowned Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh in 2004. Her career has taken her across the UK and Australia, .and she has also volunteered in countries with limited veterinary resources—including trips to the Cook Islands, Botswana, and Indonesia—to contribute to animal welfare, accumulating extensive experience in handling a wide variety of complex cases.

“I was drawn to the challenge of repairing what was broken and restoring function in surgery, but what truly inspires me is the transformation I see in my patients — from arriving in pain and distress to walking, running, and showing joy again after surgery,” says Dr. Hannah. She has chosen to remain a general practitioner with a surgical bias rather than a specialist, allowing her to not only perform the surgeries she loves but also to provide continuous care for her patients, building trust and relationships with pet owners. Outside of work, she is a passionate ice and rock climber. She believes the focus, precision, and problem-solving under pressure required for climbing mirror the demands of surgery, which deepens her appreciation for mobility and strength—the very things she strives to restore for her patients.

Addressing common misconceptions among pet owners, Dr. Hannah advises, “Limping is almost always a sign of pain. Animals are very good at hiding it, and even a minor limp can reflect an underlying problem that should be checked. Similarly, stiffness in older pets is not just an accepted sign of ageing. Through supplements, medication, and sometimes surgery, there is a lot we can do to significantly improve their quality of life.”

Dr. Hannah also addresses a common myth regarding brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds like Pugs and French Bulldogs. ‘Many owners believe their dog’s noisy breathing is ‘normal for the breed.’ In fact, this noise is a sign of restricted airflow and can have serious long-term consequences. Surgery can make a huge difference—improving breathing, exercise tolerance, and overall quality of life.

Veterinary Emergency Centre (Belcher’s Street)
Address: Shop B2 & C, G/F, Luen Wai Apartments, No. 136-142 Belcher’s Street, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong.
Scope of Services: Provide 24-hour emergency, hospitalization services and veterinary housecall services. Offering professional support for urgent situations at any time.

Veterinary Emergency Centre (Davis Street)
Address: Shop C & H, G/F, Luen Gay Apartments, No. 9A-9C Davis Street, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong.
Scope of Services: Internal Medicine Specialty Service, a full range of surgical and orthopaedic procedures as well as outpatient consultations.
General Enquiries: 2334 2334
Emergency calls open 24/7: 6828 6620
WhatsApp: 5599 1144

Hashtag: #VEC #VeterinaryEmergencyCentre #PetCare #24HourEmergency #InternalMedicine #HomeVetServices #HongKongPets #PetHealth #VeterinaryServices #PetMedicalCare

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Veterinary Emergency Centre (VEC)

Equipped with the latest diagnostic and treatment technologies and staffed by board-certified veterinary specialists, licensed veterinary technicians, and trained support staff, VEC provides the highest quality medical and surgical care in multiple disciplines from cardiology to acupuncture.

Aryaka Partner Program strengthens partner engagement, improves ease of onboarding, and positions company for accelerated channel-led growth

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 October 2025 – Aryaka^®, the leader in and first to deliver Unified SASE as a Service, today announced the launch of a revamped channel program. The new Aryaka Parter Program delivers added simplicity, support, and structure to Aryaka’s growing Distributor and VAR ecosystem, ensuring that partners have the tools and resources to build their businesses around Aryaka solutions. The move is another significant channel milestone for Aryaka: It comes after Aryaka signed more than 30 major partners in the EMEA and APAC regions in 2025. In addition, the company has announced that Micheal McCollough, Mimecast Senior Vice President of Channels and Alliances, has joined Aryaka as a strategic advisor.

“Aryaka has always been a channel-driven company. Now, we’re doubling down on our commitment to building strong partnerships while providing the highest level of service to our joint customers,” said Nick Alagna, Vice President of Global Channels at Aryaka. “In a world transformed by AI and hybrid cloud adoption, enterprises face a growing need for secure networking. With incentives, deal sharing, improved training, simplified onboarding, and additional marketing resources, Aryaka’s partners will help us seize this opportunity.”

The new Aryaka Partner Program is structured to reward productive partners, encouraging proactive and collaborative selling. It introduces advanced programs and resources for onboarding, enablement, and demand generation to drive joint accountability.

Key features include:

• A new tiered model offering incentive driven discounts, joint Go-To-Market planning and lead generation, and formal certification and enablement programs.
• Formalized Market Development Funds and lucrative Sales Performance Incentive Funds to accelerate partner demand generation and incentivize channel sales teams.
• Newly designed onboarding to help partners get to market faster and provide resources and services that deliver more value to our joint customers.

“Aryaka understands that channel success is a two-way street. That’s why we’re working hand-and-hand with our partners across the entire sales cycle, from opportunity sharing to initial discussions with prospects to delivering customers superior value through implementation and ongoing experience,” said Alagna. “The new program equips partners with the support and tools that are critical to succeed. It’s a win-win: Partners will be empowered to build profitable businesses that support Aryaka’s continued growth and rising customer demand.”

Global Channel Efforts Continue to Pay Off

Aryaka has continued to see significant global channel momentum. In the APAC and EMEA regions, the company added more than 30 new partners this year, including NTT Hong Kong, TATA Elxsi, Intensity Global Technologies, Rah Infotech, Insung Digital, IMEI, Concatenate Global Communication (HK), and M.TECH in APAC, and Brookcourt Solutions, TEEC, Hermitage Solutions, and Synax Technologies in EMEA.

“Aryaka’s Unified SASE as‑a‑Service, built on a single‑pass architecture and a Zero Trust WAN over a private backbone, aligns seamlessly with our AI‑first Telco vision,” said Rajagopalan Rajappa, Chief Technology Officer TATA Elxsi. “By combining Aryaka’s platform with Tata Elxsi’s design‑to‑deployment expertise, we will accelerate secure network transformation and deliver measurable business value at speed.”

“We are seeing enterprises across all sectors struggle to effectively manage the convergence of networking and security at scale,” said Eugene Pui, Regional Director at M.Tech. “Our partnership with Aryaka gives us a powerful new tool to help customers eliminate that complexity and accommodate the evolving demands of their businesses. Aryaka’s Unified SASE as-a-Service model makes networking and security a truly seamless, intuitive, and easy experience.”

“Crucially, this partnership is perfectly timed to address the explosive demand for unified networking and security across Southeast Asia. Aryaka Unified SASE is a genuine game-changer, and when coupled with M.Tech’s deep-rooted, reseller network and extensive expertise across the ASEAN region, we can ensure that Aryaka scales its deployment, support capabilities faster and more effectively than with any other partner.”

“We’re thrilled to partner with Aryaka. Their expertise in SD-WAN and Unified SASE complements our commitment to delivering innovative, end-to-end technology solutions that keep organizations connected, secure, and competitive,” said Phil Higgins, CEO, Brookcourt Solutions Ltd.

These new partnerships come just three months after Aryaka announced a major distributor agreement with TD SYNNEX in North America.

New Strategic Advisor Will Help Further Drive Channel Growth

Aryaka has added Mimecast Senior Vice President of Channels and Alliances Micheal McCollough as a strategic advisor. McCollough will draw on decades of channel leadership in the cybersecurity sector to help accelerate the company’s rapid global channel growth across North America, EMEA and APAC. Before joining Mimecast, McCollough led Global Channels at Anomali, Imperva, and Akamai Technologies.

“Aryaka is proving that a robust partner ecosystem is the best path to bringing their unique vision for secure networking to the market,” said McCollough. “This role is a great fit for both of us. I’m excited to leverage my cybersecurity and channel experience to help Aryaka reach more enterprises across the world.”

https://www.aryaka.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/aryaka-networks/
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https://www.aryaka.com/blog/

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About Aryaka

Aryaka is the leader in delivering Unified SASE as a Service, a fully integrated solution combining networking, security, and observability. Built for the demands of Generative AI as well as today’s multi-cloud hybrid world, Aryaka enables enterprises to transform their secure networking to deliver uncompromised performance, agility, simplicity, and security. Aryaka’s flexible delivery options empower businesses to choose their preferred approach for implementation and management. Hundreds of global enterprises, including several in the Fortune 100, depend on Aryaka for their secure networking solutions. For more on Aryaka, please visit www.aryaka.com.

Centered around the theme “Light On, Hope Ahead”, World Vision Day highlighted how partners joined hands with World Vision to bring transformation and new hope to vulnerable children and their communities. The opening ceremony was officiated by Andrew Morley, President and CEO of World Vision International, and Amy Fung, the Chief Executive Officer of World Vision Hong Kong. Long-term sponsor Stephen Chan and artists who have witnessed World Vision’s work — Priscilla Wong, Michelle Wai, director Benny Lau and his family, and music producer Cedric Chan — attended and shared valuable reflections.

Stephen Chan engaged in a heartfelt conversation with Andrew Morley about the tangible impact of the Child Sponsorship Programme, and the passion and motivation behind World Vision’s 75 years of work on global poverty.

Andrew Morley reiterated that urgent humanitarian needs have rocketed almost 10 times from 3 crises annually 15 years ago to 33 crises today, but international humanitarian funding remains critically insufficient, posing immense challenges for frontline relief efforts. He recalled he met an 8-year-old girl, Esther, living between southern Kenya and the border of northern Tanzania, whose parents sold her for marriage to an old man in exchange for six cows because the family was starving. Being abused by her husband, Esther escaped and failed. After a few attempts, she went to World Vision’s local office. Eventually she was adopted by foster parents and enrolled into a local school — an outcome made possible by the support of World Vision’s child sponsorship programme. Andrew Morley said he was impressed by her smile and the thankfulness in her eyes.

As a child sponsor of 6 children, Andrew Morley said every donation had the power to help vulnerable children like Esther transform their lives. “If you think what you are doing isn’t making any difference, just remember Esther,” he added. Andrew Morley also thanked Hong Kong people and partners. “To everyone, corporate partners, schools, hospitals, child sponsors, and to those who raise money for us, and those who pray for us, for all of you I would like to say thank you,” he said.

To honour their long-standing efforts in providing vital assistance and igniting hope of vulnerable communities, certificates of appreciation and plagues were presented to partners from nearly 300 organisations and units, and commemorative pins were awarded to donors showing more than 20 years of support.

Kenny, a child sponsor supporting World Vision for 12 years, recalled visiting his sponsored daughter in Bangladesh during a once‑in‑a‑century cyclone. Despite the devastation and the clean-up at home, she insisted on keeping their meeting, and Kenny felt deeply moved. “We often think donating money for a child’s education is the best option,” he reflected. “But if the community doesn’t have a school, the child still has no way to study even when there is adequate funding. It’s something I only came to understand after becoming a child sponsor.”

During the event, a live band made up of students from Ma On Shan Tsung Tsin Secondary School that participated in World Vision’s “Joint Secondary School Famine”, performed two record hits – “Amani” and “We Are One”. The golden hit “Amani” was written by the well-known local band Beyond after joining World Vision’s trip to Kenya in 1991, while “We Are One” was the theme song created for “30-Hour Famine” by another local band RubberBand, following their visit to Zimbabwe. Both songs conveyed messages of hope for world peace and solidarity. The event was further uplifted when 24 children of Benji’s Choir with speech impairments performed “This Little Light of Mine”, a song World Vision’s founder Dr. Bob Pierce taught children in Xiamen in 1947.

World Vision has been actively promoting the concept of legacy giving, which enables donors to bring long-term change to the fragile communities through early planning of personal assets. A seminar was co-hosted with “ForeverGift.hk” on 3 Instruments of Peace on World Vision Day, where a practicing lawyer explained the importance of making a will and enduring power of attorney, as well as making advance medical directives. Over 100 people attended the seminar.

Moreover, World Vision reaffirmed its commitment to serving the world’s most vulnerable children and communities and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) via five priority areas: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Education, Health and nutrition, Livelihoods, and Child Protection. Workshops at the event introduced educators to these work towards SDGs, and interactive game booths engaged the public on issues such as disaster relief and water resources.

While on a trip to China in 1947, a young American reporter and American Baptist minister, Dr Bob Pierce, met a poor girl named Baiyu (meaning white jade) during a visit in Xiamen, who was expelled by her family as she wanted to go to school. Pierce wanted to help this precious soul, so he gave Ms Tena Hoelkedoer, a female missionary in Xiamen, all that he had, which was just five dollars. Ms Tena used it to buy food and clothes for Baiyu and send her to school. Afterwards, Pierce sent the same amount each month after returning home so that she could continue to look after Baiyu.

This encounter marked the turning point in Pierce’s life. In 1950, he founded World Vision, with the aim of helping poverty-stricken children around the world. That five dollars set the prototype of the Child Sponsorship Programme. The first Child Sponsorship Programme began a few years later in response to the needs of hundreds of thousands of orphans at the end of the Korean War in 1953. It was later extended to other Asian countries, and places such as Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

In 1962, Typhoon Wanda hit Hong Kong severely. World Vision distributed relief supplies in Hong Kong, and later set up its first field office in the territory. With the economic recovery in Hong Kong, World Vision Hong Kong turned itself into a fundraising office in 1982, supporting the relief and development work of World Vision offices worldwide. World Vision Hong Kong also promotes public education, raising public awareness about global issues such as poverty, hunger, health and child rights.

Hashtag: #WorldVision

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