UOB has announced a significant initiative to mark its 90th anniversary by pledging $30 million to support educational programs for disadvantaged students across Southeast Asia. This investment aims to improve the lives of over 120,000 children and students from less privileged backgrounds through education.
The bank will collaborate with an education technology platform in Indonesia to provide quality educational resources in areas like coding and digital literacy to 90,000 children across 60 cities in Southeast Asia. Additionally, under the UOB My Digital Space Programme, around 20,000 disadvantaged children will receive digital learning tools this year. Launched in 2020, this program seeks to bridge the digital gap for these students.
In Singapore, approximately 11,000 students from low-income families will benefit from The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. These students will receive pocket money for school-related expenses. Furthermore, UOB plans to offer pre-tertiary scholarships for 90 regional students to study in Singapore.
Mr Wee Ee Cheong, Deputy Chairman and CEO of UOB stated: "UOB has always been steadfast in our commitment to doing right by our communities. As we celebrate and reflect on the past 90 years...we believe strongly in supporting education as this is an investment in our collective future across the ASEAN region."
Alongside these educational initiatives, UOB opened a gallery titled "Right By You: The UOB Story" at its Main Branch in Raffles Place. The gallery showcases the bank's history since its founding in 1935 and highlights its contributions across Culture, Commerce, and Community within ASEAN.
This year-long celebration will feature various initiatives as part of the UOB90 programs aimed at giving back to the communities where they operate.