HSBC announces COVID-19 charity projects

KUWAIT: HSBC will immediately begin making contributions to a range of projects in Kuwait, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE to help an estimated 80,000 underprivileged individuals and families impacted by COVID-19. The disbursements, organized in close cooperation with HSBC’s partner charities around the region, will also help hospital workers in the frontline fight against the virus.

Sabrin Rahman, HSBC’s Head of Sustainability in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT) said: “Our efforts in MENAT as part of the Group’s $25 million COVID-19 charitable fund will be vitally important to our local communities. We have acted quickly to the urgent call for support by putting our resources to work where they have the biggest impact and donating to specific projects so that we are able to ensure accountability and track the real impact our funding has had on people’s lives.

“We carefully selected local charity partners that have track records of being able to identify and help vulnerable communities by getting them food, medicine and education resources,” Rahman added.

In Kuwait, $45,000 has been allocated to support families in need and to provide food supplies and hygiene kits to blue collar workers. Up to 3,600 people will be reached. Roger Winfield, CEO of HSBC Kuwait, said: “We will continue to support our communities in these challenging times and trust that the donations will not only provide immediate relief but will also make a difference in the future.”

HSBC’s disbursements in MENAT will account for $1.2 million of the $25 million global fund and underpin the bank’s existing long-term community programs. HSBC MENAT’s student-focused future skills program will pivot to be delivered remotely, using e-learning channels, while our entrepreneur-targeted programs, such as the Social Impact Accelerator (C3) and the TiE Mentorship Program, will also adopt virtual and online sessions. This regional news follows HSBC Group’s recent announcement of a $25m COVID-19 charitable fund to support the international medical response, protect vulnerable people and ensure food security. $5m has already been earmarked and donated to relief efforts in mainland China, Hong Kong, UK and India, as well as supporting international/global appeals for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent and the World Health Organization (WHO), powered by the United Nations Foundation and Swiss Philanthropy Foundation.