Asian Philanthropy Forum

Clinton, Jet Li, and Philanthropy Events in Asia

Upcoming events

As part of the international movement Global Entrepreneurship Week, one of the upcoming events for the Singapore chapter will see the NUS Business School’s Center for Social Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy and the NUS Business School Alumni Association brings us a forum on social entrepreneurship.  The event takes place on November 20, 2008 in Singapore.

The Clinton Global Initiatice Asia Meeting will be held in Hong Kong on December 2 - 3, 2008.  It will be the first CGI meeting held outside the U.S.  This new membership opportunity will engage business, government, civil society, and philanthropic leaders across Asia.  It is a chance for Asia's most influential leaders to come together and take action to solve the region's most pressing issues.  The meeting will focus on three primary areas of discussion: education, energy & climate change, and public health. 

Past events

Jet Li spoke at the China Global Philanthropy Forum, jointly hosted by the Boao Forum for Asia and the Red Cross Sociey of China Jet Li One Foundation.  Philanthropy Through Global Partnerships was the main theme at the November 1, 2008, Beijing event.  Mr. Li shared his own story with the participants and called on every individual to do something for philanthropy, the "cumulative effect of many small efforts being to make an enormous difference."  He is interested in "creating a 21st century philanthropic business model centered on professionalism, transparancey, impact and sustainability."  Besides donating money, Mr. Li stressed that government should continuously improve laws and regulations to guarantee a sound legal environment; enterprises, besides donating money, can also provide intellectual and information resources for philanthropic organizations; and every world citizen has the duty to put something back into society in a spirit of gratitude and love, for the sake of humanity.  In addition, Mr. Li added that "globalization requires the integration of philanthropic information, and One Foundation is willing to exert all necessary effort on this task."

In the third annual New Ventures India Investor Forum in Mumbai, sustainable entrepreneurs connected with investors to network, build partnerships and find opportunities for growth. Participants in the two-day forum found that sustainable businesses can still flourish, even in today’s uncertain economic times.  New Ventures India helps sustainable business entrepreneurs overcome business challenges and spark economic development–as well as environmental improvement–in India.

Photo courtesy of China.org.cn

Baluchistan earthquake

On October 29th, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit western Pakistan in the province of Baluchistan.  The tremor triggered landslides that instantly buried hundreds of homes.  The initial earthquake has been followed by as many as 1,000 aftershocks, causing more damage.

Ziarat and Pishin were the two worst-hit areas in Baluchistan. A total of eight villages were badly affected in the Ziarat area while in Pishin four or five villages were moderately affected. 700 families in Ziarat and 100 in Pishin were affected in the quakes.   A total of 6,000 people were displaced in these two areas, and the government has confirmed that 165 people were killed and 297 were injured in Ziarat. Two were dead and 17 others injured in Pishin.

After the Burma cyclone and the China earthquake this year in Asia, are we disaster fatigued?  Or because this earthquake didn't do THAT much damage that it doesn't get covered in the news and thus there is not an outpouring of funds?  Or maybe there are few business ties to Pakistan so corporations are not giving?  Where are the donors to Pakistan? 

See article: Quetta residents fearful of further tremors

Photo courtesy of Associated Press

Innovative competition focuses on human rights

 

I have written several times about the International Bridges to Justice project, JusticeMakers, but I finally signed up myself and read through some of the proposals.  You can vote for your favorite project and that project could win a $5,000 prize to further their work.  Remember the deadline is November 11th!

Kudos to the IBJ team for building such a user-friendly site.  You don't need to be a program officer to understand some of the work these justicemakers are doing.  What will you find on the site?

You will find some amazing information...

Development of Juvenile Career Project:  In 2007 there were approximately 4500 children in prisons. At any given time, more than 3000 inmates have not been convicted of any offences; their trial have yet to start or have not been completed. Almost 50% of the children are in jail for three or more months and their figure remain around 2000 to 2100. The majority of the children are charged with petty thefts, drug trafficking, mobile phone snatching, one wheeling, kite flying, kidnapping, rape and murder etc."

Jet Li, Philanthropist & Martial Arts Star

Jet Li, star of martial arts films such as Hero, Unleashed, Lethal Weapon 4 and Romeo Must Die, is now dedicating his life to philanthropy.  As part of his efforts to develop philanthropy and the growth of NGOs in China and beyond, the Red Cross Society Jet Li One Foundation, will partner with the Boao Forum Asia to hold the Global Philanthropy Forum on November 1-2 in Beijing. 

The One Foundation has raised more than 93 million yuan (about US$12 million), of which 82 yuan has been earmarked for the Sichuan earthquake relief efforts.

Jet Li is taking philanthropy to new heights in Asia.  His very public promotion of giving has increased and encouraged many new interest in the field.  However, will this translate to more individuals participating in formalized philanthropy and will his efforts increase giving in Asia?

The following is an excerpt from the article, Treasuring the gift of life, from China Daily, 10/31/08:

Li built the One Foundation after studying carefully how philanthropic foundations in other countries were managed and after taking advice from a host of professionals, including medical workers, lawyers and bankers. He said he was committed to not only building a sustainable, professional and trustworthy foundation but also to bringing Chinese NGOs up to international standards.

The One Foundation's name comes from Li's belief that even one individual, giving as little as one yuan or donating one hour of their time every month, is part of a family of others doing the same elsewhere in the world. Or, as he puts it, "One plus one plus one equals one family. The whole world is actually one big family."

Philanthropy advisory services growing in Asia

 

Philanthropic services at wealth management firms are growing in Asia.  RBS Coutts launched their philanthropic services in Asia this week in Singapore.   Mark Evans, head of Family Business and Philanthropy at Coutts & Co., says that philanthropy, seen as long term structured giving, will not be affected by the credit crunch.  

As part of its philanthropy advisory services, RBS Coutts will create networking opportunities for clients with potential beneficiaries and experts, and provide research and advice.  They have also created a panel of experts that will be available to offer clients pro-bono advice on philanthropic strategies.

For more information, please visit Altruism still very much alive and kicking

Photo courtesy of El Fotopakismo

Cornell receives $50 million from the Tata Education and Development Trust

Many Asians have given to their alma mater in the past so it is not surprising to learn of another Asian making a large gift to a Harvard, Yale, Stanford or Berkeley.  What is surprising though is how this particular gift to Cornell University is structured.  The $50 million will also greatly benefit the country where the donor is from.

Cornell University has received an endowment of $50 million from the Tata Education and Development Trust.  Ratan Tata, an alum of Cornell is chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group.  He was named as one of the 30 most respected CEOs in the world by Barron magazine. $25 million of the $50 million will be used to establish the Tata-Cornell Initiative in Agriculture and Nutrition.  The Initiative will increase collaboration among Indian and Cornell scientists and student to improve the livelihoods and nutritional status of the rural poor in India.  The remaining $25 million is for the Tata Scholarship Fund for Student from India.  You can read more about the gift here.

Photo courtesy of Robert Barker/University Photography

Vote for your local JusticeMaker in Asia

In partnership with International Bridges to Justice and the 2008 JusticeMakers Competition, we would like to invite you to participate in the JusticeMakers People's Choice Awards. 

We had previously shared with Asian Philanthropy Forum readers about this competition.  The result is that 55 innovators from around the world have provided detailed and concrete project ideas for curbing torture and legal abuse on a local level. Whether it’s the public exhibition of incidents of abuse to encourage pro-bono legal support, or a text message service to aid in the provision of counsel... the ideas are contemporary, cost-effective and critical.

Seven of the $5,000 awards will be granted by JusticeMakers' Judges.  The eight cash prize - the People's Choice Award -- will be granted by the registered members of the JusticeMakers community.  This is where you can participate in this competition.  JusticeMakers' is relying on you to tell them which of these remarkable projects should be supported. 

Global handwashing day - Oct 15th

October 15th is global handwashing day.  It is the first-ever event launched by the Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing with Soap (PPPHW) and is designed to introduce the idea of an annual event that raises awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap. 

According to the campaign website, poor hygiene and lack of access to sanitation contribute to about 88% of deaths from diarrhoeal disases and account for 1.5 million diarrhoea-related under-five deaths each year.  The World Health Organization stated that, of the 161,000 children that died in Indonesia in 2006, 19% died from diarrhoea and 14% from pneumonia.  Handwashing with soap is the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent diarrheal and acute respiratory infections.  Yet, despite its life-saving potential, handwashing with soap is seldom practiced and difficult to promote.

One success story is the Safeguard School Program in Pakistan that promotes handwashing awareness and brings about the habit of change by using cartoons to communicate messages that are relevant, memorable and engaging for school children.  In the past four years, the program has empowered more than 5 million school children between the ages of 6 and 11 years with hygiene education.

See article: Handwashing with soap saves lives (Indonesia); Handwashing saves children's lives (Bangladesh)