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Deloitte Southeast Asia COVID-19 response and relief efforts
“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the communities in the region that are less privileged and unable to cope in such exceptional times. Community responsibility is embedded in our purpose and a business imperative for Deloitte. As a business with a presence in every Southeast Asia country, we know that we have a critical role to play – and an opportunity to give back – by helping the people of the countries in this region navigate this challenging time through raising funds, volunteering our time and offering our skills to those most in need. Together, we can fight COVID-19 and emerge stronger as a region,” says Philip Yuen, Deloitte Southeast Asia CEO.
In response to the spread of COVID-19, Deloitte has activated the power of its global footprint and adopted a multi-pronged approach to address the significant and growing needs of impacted communities around the world. To date, we have committed more than US$12.5 million in investments in the form of direct monetary donations, medical equipment, and pro bono project work.
Deloitte’s multi-pronged, global approach to its COVID-19 response focuses on making an everyday impact through three key areas:
- Helping those on the frontlines of the COVID-19 fight: Deloitte is supporting the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, as well as other global and local organisations, to provide critical support and supplies to frontline workers risking their lives to help others.
- Supporting students and communities through WorldClass: Deloitte is providing critical educational and financial support through its WorldClass initiative. With more than 1.5 billion learners¬ affected by lockdowns and school closures, Deloitte is providing financial, pro bono, and volunteer support to educational organisations, helping them shift to virtual programming and new learning technologies.
- Providing support and relief to local communities: Understanding the toll of the pandemic on communities across the globe, Deloitte is deploying its employees and resources to provide millions of people with food, housing support, and access to other basic needs.
Let’s take a closer look at our response efforts around Southeast Asia:
In Singapore, our professionals helped distribute hand sanitisers to residents in the various housing estates island-wide, an exercise supported by the Temasek Emergency Preparedness Fund. Additionally, through Engineering Good, Deloitte raised US$72,903 to provide every child in need with a laptop for their home-based learning during this period, bridging the digital divide among children and youth.
In Vietnam, we have donated US$29,666 in cash and essential items that went towards providing 15,000 medical masks and 500 soap bars to the Northern Border Miliary Post, and directly to hospitals and underprivileged women with children.
In Indonesia, we are raising funds through the Dana Kemanusiaan Kompas foundation to provide the necessary supplies for the frontline healthcare workers who are faced with shortage of personal protective equipment and inadequate medical supplies. The fundraising is still ongoing and we have raised about US$10,919 so far.
In the Philippines, through Deloitte Philippines Outreach Inc, we have donated US$1,966 to two COVID-19 referral hospitals that are facing a shortage of personal protective equipment for their healthcare workers. Also, a donation drive called the Pakig-ambit Movement was organised in Cebu to provide urgent medical necessities and healthy food items to frontline professionals and people in vulnerable communities. Funds raised went towards manufacturing face shields and protective suits for COVID-19 hospitals in Metro Manila and Cebu, and distributing food packs to Calabanga municipality and Sitio San Roque, communities mostly populated by low-wage workers.
In Brunei, our professionals collectively donated close to US$7,000 to the COVID-19 relief fund to assist the Brunei Government, particularly the Ministry of Health, in containing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
To learn more about Deloitte’s commitment to support its global communities through and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.
