CapitaLand contributes S$40,000 to CapitaLand Zhongxiang Hope School in Hubei, Central China
CapitaLand staff across Asia joins volunteer expedition to improve the learning environment for 282 students
Singapore, 24 October 2018 – CapitaLand, through its philanthropic arm, CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF), has contributed about S$40,000 (RMB200,000) during its 26th International Volunteer Expedition (IVE) to CapitaLand Zhongxiang Hope School. The school is located in Zhongxiang City, Hubei, one of CapitaLand’s core cities for growth in China.
Held from 19-23 October, 44 CapitaLand staff volunteers from Singapore, China, Vietnam and Philippines took part in the IVE to improve the learning environment for 282 students. CapitaLand is a strong advocate of volunteerism and the strong commitment of CapitaLand’s staff volunteers embodies CapitaLand’s mission to care for and contribute to the economic, environmental and social development of our shared communities.
Mr Tan Seng Chai, Group Chief People Officer of CapitaLand Group and Executive Director for CapitaLand Hope Foundation, who joined the expedition, said: “Guided by CapitaLand’s credo ‘Building People. Building Communities.’, we leverage our real estate expertise and engage our staff globally to make sustainable contributions to the communities we operate in. Through our philanthropic arm, CapitaLand Hope Foundation, we seek to help underprivileged children reach their fullest potential to make a difference for themselves and for the community. Since 2007, CapitaLand has rallied more than 30,000 members of the public and staff to volunteer over 100,000 hours collectively in numerous philanthropic activities across China.”
“CapitaLand Zhongxiang Hope School is one of our 25 Hope Schools in China and our third in Hubei, demonstrating our commitment to the market. On this expedition, our volunteers have refurbished the school’s library, music and art rooms, and sparked the students’ interest in design through our ‘CapitaLand Little Architect Programme’. Together, we aim to provide a holistic education to develop the students’ creativity, confidence and collaborative skills,” he added.
The volunteers also had the opportunity to visit the homes of some of the students studying at CapitaLand Zhongxiang Hope School. Eleven-year-old Cao Bing Yan and her brother six-year-old Cao Yan Ming, are in primary six and primary one respectively at CapitaLand Zhongxiang Hope School. Their grandmother, Mdm Wang De Xiu, aged 64, never went through any formal education and she spends her time tending to the family home and farm.
Expressing her wish for her grandchildren, she said: “With CapitaLand Zhongxiang Hope School, my grandchildren are able to receive a better education. The school has improved the quality of education for the surrounding villages. It provides a proper learning environment and enables the teachers to better impart their knowledge. While it may be difficult for my children to attain proper education, my grandchildren can. I hope that one day they will be able to attend University.”
The ‘CapitaLand Little Architect Programme’ is specially designed for students in CapitaLand Zhongxiang Hope School. Leveraging CapitaLand’s real estate expertise, students are taught the basics of architecture and design through the use of building blocks and toys, encouraging their imagination and creativity.
First built in 1966, the original school block was unable to satisfy the demands of a growing student population from the surrounding four villages. Since adopting CapitaLand Zhongxiang Hope School in 2015, CHF has donated to build a three-storey school block and consistently supported the educational needs of the students. CHF has contributed over S$128,000 (RMB643,000) in financial support, donating school supplies, furniture, teaching, arts and sports equipment supplies as well as helping the school with their electrical and water audits and repairs.
There are currently 28 CapitaLand Hope Schools in China and Vietnam. These schools provide education for underprivileged children who are living in rural communities, giving them an opportunity towards a better future.
The IVE is a biannual volunteer activity which furthers CapitaLand’s community development commitment to ‘Building People. Building Communities.’, recognising that the long-term success of the company’s business is closely intertwined with the health and prosperity of the communities in which CapitaLand operates in. In May 2018, during CapitaLand’s IVE to Vietnam, CapitaLand inaugurated its first kindergarten and third Hope School in Vietnam, CapitaLand Le Xa Hope Kindergarten.