SCG: a corporate citizen role-model

SCG’s corporate social responsibility campaigns aim to enhance youth development

SCG president and CEO Kan Trakulhoon said, “SCG is fully committed to being a good corporate citizen, constantly striving to improve the better living of communities and the progress of countries in which it operates, while respecting their cultural diversity, towards ensuring a sustainable future.”

He said that while focusing on human development, SCG held community outreach programmes that aim to nurture children and young peoples’ potential.

“The programmes not only contribute to the Vietnamese society, but also develop a healthy working relationship between our company and communities in which we operate,” Trakulhoon explained.

In Vietnam, the company has paid increasing attention to its corporate social responsibility activities, strengthening the commitment of the group in the well-being and development of Vietnamese young people in many other programmes.

SCG’s Sharing the Dream scholarship programme, started in 2007 and partnered with Tuoi Tre newspaper, provides tuition fees and basic subsidies for 350 outstanding high school students in seven south-eastern provinces who boast excellent academic records, gratefulness and commitment to their families, and have a strong ambition to pursue a higher education. In 2011, the programme was extended to Hanoi, with 50 scholarships provided.

It is SCG’s firm conviction that education is a key factor for anyone seeking a better future. Over the years, SCG’s scholarship programmes have evolved commensurate with changes.

The SCG Sharing the Dream scholarship project targets talented and ethical students who would otherwise be deprived of a normal education and has been expanded to the ASEAN region with models and criteria suitable to each country. Around 5,000 scholarships are awarded annually throughout ASEAN namely in Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand.

SCG also built a $97,000 Sharing the Dream playground in Ho Chi Minh City’s Hoang Van Thu Park in 2011 aiming to provide safety space for children to enhance their development and to provide the opportunity to spend quality time with their parents.

In 2012, the group held International Children’s Day activities at the playground for more than 500 youths from all districts of Ho Chi Minh City and repeated the activity in 2013.

SCG also initiated a project in 2009 to renovate the Disabled Children’s Training School in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Since 2011, the company has annually held International Children’s Day activities at the school and provided scholarships and activities for the students.

SCG also joined hand with Muc Tim newspaper to initiate the Green Dream programme to raise awareness of environmental conservation among Vietnamese youth. With Habitat for Humanity Vietnam, SCG has also held a housing design competition to embed environmentally friendly design concept among a new generation of architects.

To help young people enhance their skills and prepare for the Asean Economic Community (AEC), SCG initiated the International Internship Programme giving a chance for university students to intern at SCG in Thailand for four weeks.

Children are the future of any country. They have the potential to learn and to build marvellous things if they receive enough attention and care. In Vietnam, with such a young population, “SCG believes that empowering people is essential in creating positive forces to shape the future,” said Trakulhoon.