The V, RYTHM Foundation, QNET Indonesia donate Inkjet Printers to Jakarta public schools

At the end of V-Indonesia 2012, THE V thought of leaving more than just amazing memories of VCON but also something that will help uplift the quality of educational services provided in public schools in Jakarta. So, in collaboration with RYTHM Foundation and with the help of the staff in QNET Indonesia, a total of 16 public schools were given inkjet printers. There were 23 printers given, all in all.

These printers were purchased by The V for the V-Indonesia 2013 registration and in collaboration with RYTHM Foundation, The V has decided to donate said equipment to said 16 public schools in Jakarta to reaffirm The V’s commitment to promote quality education for today’s youth.

QNET Indonesia has helped identify the schools, which are:

NO	NAME OF SCHOOL	LOCATION
1	MTSN BANJARSARI	BANTEN
2	SMPN 3 BANJARSARI	BANTEN
3	SMAN 2 BANJARSARI	BANTEN
4	SMK AL WATSI	BOGOR
5	MTS AL AZIZAH	BOGOR
6	SMK WIDIA DHARMA	CITEREUP
7	SMPN 2	CITEREUP
8	SEKOLAH MASTER	DEPOK
9	SD BATUTIS DEPOK	BEKASI
10	SDN Karet Kuningan 1 & 2	JAKARTA SELATAN
11	SDN Karet 01	JAKARTA SELATAN
12	SMP Cendrawasih	JAKARTA SELATAN
13	SMP TQT	Depok
14	SDN Senopati	JAKARTA SELATAN
15	PAUD Al Husna Mampang	JAKARTA SELATAN
16	SDN 08 Petang Petukangan	JAKARTA SELATAN

Here are some of the photos of the beneficiaries. THE V is truly happy to have made a difference in the lives of these students. 🙂

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The Pitch project is still on! Pitch a project of your choice for your community and get a chance to win up to US$10,000! Unbelievable! Click on the photo to enlarge!

Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran featured in The Nation newspaper

The world cannot get enough of Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran.

Yesterday, November 4, 2012, our beloved mentor was featured in the newspaper The Nation. In an article titled “Sustainable CSR for foreign direct investors”, Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran was mentioned heavily as a great example of corporate social responsibility and charity work. Quoted below is the part of the article that mentions Dato’ Sri Vijay:

Amongst this handful who have already joined hands with this task, a businessman who is worth a mention is Vijay Eswaran, the Executive chairman of Hong Kong based conglomerate, the QI Group and a significant investor in Sri Lanka. According to the book “Top 25 Indian Luminaries” written by Dr. Anand Raj Giri, his global business enterprise spans 160 countries.

While he has a strong connect to India, Vijay Eswaran is also a Tamil whose roots are planted in the red soil of Jaffna through his grandfather who was a Sri Lankan Tamil. Three generations ago, his family migrated from Jaffna to Malaysia and Eswaran was born in Penang, Malaysia. As a businessman, his beginnings were rather humble, although he gradually became a force to reckon with, evolving into a prominent business leader in Asia. A significant action on his part is the establishment of the RYTHM foundation, the CSR arm of the QI Group.

Through RYTHM, he has made a difference in many parts of the world by initiating sustainable projects for education, community development, promotion of arts and culture and environment protection, which earned him a place in Forbes Asia’s philanthropy list last year. He has also been involved in several projects in Sri Lanka, particularly in Seenigama and some villages in the deep south of the country for Tsunami rehabilitation. It is understood that the foundation has also shown interest in launching development projects in the North in the near future. Eswaran is also known as an advocate of social enterprise as an effective way of giving back to society without it being charity.

Just last year his foundation established a school in Malaysia for children with disabilities and special education needs, and paid the lion share of its students’ fees, since Malaysia has weak laws regarding education for children with disabilities, and the public schools often fall short in this area.

 

You can read the full article here.

The QI Group Sponsors the 4th International Singapore Compact CSR Summit 2012

The QI Group has signed on as one of the sponsors of the 4^th International Singapore Compact CSR Summit 2012, a move which signifies the company’s commitment to advancing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

To be held on September 27 and 28 in Singapore, the Summit expects to converge 400 thought leaders and industry experts from all over the world, to discuss the next phase of CSR and sustainability. It is the biggest event of its kind in Singapore. This year, the Summit will be officiated by Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Acting Minister for Manpower and the Senior Minister of State for National Development in Singapore.

“We are proud to be associated with the Summit and what it stands for, as we have always been committed to CSR. As a Group, we have been carrying out CSR projects through our two corporate foundations – RYTHM Foundation and the Vijayaratnam Foundation – since 1998,” said Zaheer K. Merchant, Resident Director for the Group in Singapore.

The Summit is organised by Singapore Compact for CSR, an organisation co-founded by the National Trades Union Congress of Singapore and the Singapore National Employers Federation, to advance the CSR movement in Singapore. It has more than 400 organisational members including the QI Group which is a Gold Member.

QNET brings Idul Fitri cheer to underprivileged

JAKARTA, 15 August 2012. – QNET today treated 50 children from the Al-Andalusia Foundation, an Islamic orphanage here, to food, fun and games as part of a breaking of fast event, in conjunction with the holy month of Ramadan.

The event, which was carried out under the QNET Pays Forward (QNPF) initiative reflects the company’s strong loyalty and willingness to participate in community efforts in Indonesia.

QNPF is a CSR initiative carried out under the philosophy “Raise Yourself To Help Mankind” (RYTHM) which reflects QNET’s commitment to help all segments of society.

During the event, the children enjoyed themselves with lots of games and took part in a drawing competition as well. A storyteller was also on hand to share with them the message of how to live as morally upright members of society.

“We have previously provided aid to tsunami victims in Aceh and Medan in North Sumatera, and earthquake victims in Yogyakarta, Central Jakarta and Padang in West Sumatera.

“This apart, we have also given scholarships to 200 children of tsunami victims in Aceh and Medan for three consecutive years, and donated computers for schools in Acheh,” she said.

Additionally, Wita said QNET representatives went to Yogyakarta soon after the earthquake in 2006 to provide food, tents and home supplies to the victims there. The company also provided aid to the Yogyakarta Government apart from building a kindergarten in Pandak Village, Pijenan.

Here’s the full set of photos from the event:

Vijayaratnam Foundation, FNHI, and QNET give Raya treat for heart patients

From right: Mr. Stevenson Charles (Managing Director of QNET Malaysia), Datin Umayal Eswaran (Chairperson of Vijayaratnam Foundation), VP Donna Imson (Chairperson of QNET), and Raja Datin Hajah Zuraida (President of Friends of IJN) bringing Hari Raya cheer to a patient at IJN

KUALA LUMPUR, August 15, 2012—Vijayaratnam Foundation, QNET, and Friends of the National Heart Institute (FNHI) today put smiles on the faces of some 200 patients warded at the National Heart Institute (IJN) here.

The patients were pleasantly surprised upon receiving duit Raya packets and hampers from Foundation Chairperson, Datin Umayal Eswaran, and President of FNHI, Raja Datin Hajah Zuraida binti Raja Dato Seri Mansur.

The contribution was part of the Foundation’s efforts to reach out to the community and share the festive occasion with the less fortunate. Vijayaratnam Foundation is the local chapter of RYTHM Foundation, the QI Group’s global Corporate Social Responsibility arm.

Datin Umayal Eswaran presenting a Hari Raya hamper to a smiling patient at IJN

“Presenting gifts and hampers during festive occasions is not new in Malaysia. Nonetheless, it is an important occasion as it brings joy to those in need, such as the 200 beneficiaries of today’s event. For the last couple of years, the Foundation has been giving out goodies to welfare recipients of the National Welfare Foundation.

“This year, along with QNET, which is QI Group’s largest subsidiary, we are happy to collaborate with Friends of the National Heart Institute in this activity. We are confident it will bring cheer and put a smile on the faces of patients here, especially the children” said Datin Umayal.

With Hari Raya celebrations just around the corner, there was an air of festivity when QNET staff and volunteers from University Teknologi Malaysia came together to lend support for the occasion in the spirit of caring and sharing.

Datin Umayal Eswaran presenting the Hari Raya hamper to another patient at IJN

Raja Datin Hajah Zuraida said for every family, festivals are a time for joy, togetherness and celebration. “However, while most families are celebrating, it is just another ordinary day for the patients here. This is why we make a special effort to spread a little cheer to them by giving out these Raya gifts.

“We never get tired of seeing the joy on the faces of the recipients, especially children. We want them to know that they too are remembered during festivities. I am thankful that Vijayaratnam Foundation and QNET have lent their support to this event,” she said.

***

Vijayaratnam Foundation was established in April 2006 by Dato’ Vijay Eswaran, Executive Chairman of the QI Group,  as the  Malaysian Chapter of RYTHM Foundation, the global Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the QI Group of Companies. Vijayaratnam Foundation is a tribute to his father, the late Mr S Vijayaratnam, to continue the legacy of his philanthropic activities started over 60 years ago.

The Foundation focuses on four main areas – education, community development, arts & culture, and the environment. Flagship projects include Footprints, a mentoring program for children in Orphanages who are paired with employees of the QI Group to provide guidance and counselling and Maharani, a series of educational camps for adolescent girls.

The Foundation has also set up Taarana, a centre for children with special educational needs. Additionally, the Foundation facilitates the inception and implementation of various initiatives and projects through its work with the public and private sectors, civil society, and the philanthropic community. Please visit the Foundation’s website at www.vf.org.my to know more details.

 

Friends of National Heart Institute was formed in 1999 and registered in 2006 as a support group for IJN. Its main activity is to render counseling for heart patient visitors. They render their services in the following areas:

1. care for the children at the Children’s Ward
2. special care for needy patients through cash or in kind – basic amenities
3. sharing and offering emotional support for patients
4. involved in physiotherapy
5. providing reading materials through mobile library services