From now to the end of this month, HSBC Vietnam is accepting applications for the bank’s Future First program.
International and local non-governmental organizations, which provide education and life skills for street children, orphans and children in care, as well as vocational training for underprivileged young women in Vietnam are invited to apply.
“What we are looking for is those initiatives that will have a long-term benefit for Vietnamese youths, giving them the chance of a brighter future,” Matthew Martin, Chief Technology and Services Officer and chairman of the Corporate Sustainability Committee of HSBC Vietnam, said in the statement.
The key areas of focus for Future First projects are formal education, basic early childhood, primary and secondary education, informal education, and vocational training to help individuals achieve their goals, as well as offer access to counseling.
Educational projects will benefit children below 18 years, and life skills and vocational training projects will target youths aged from 15 to 24 years.
Tenders for projects should be submitted by February 28. HSBC will announce and release funding to successful applicants by the end of March.
Over the past four years, 22 projects benefiting disadvantaged children in Vietnam have been funded by Future First Global and HSBC Vietnam totaling over VND10 billion. Over 51,000 underprivileged children from shelters and children’s villages nationwide have benefited from the program.
The total budget estimated for 2011 is VND700 million.
One key project for 2011 is an audio book library, originally funded by Future First local scheme, which will have 18,000 copies of audio books produced and available for public through visual impaired association offices nationwide from April 2011.
