KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Junior Achievement (JA) Malaysia, an education-based not-for-profit organization, launched the “JA Show Your Gratitude” Competition, with the support of MetLife Foundation and AmMetLife Insurance Berhad (AmMetLife), to cultivate creativity among students and encourage them to show gratitude to care givers, and other essential workers in these challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The competition consisted of two categories, the first of which invited students aged 7-9 to create artworks depicting gratitude to their parents or care giver, while the second category invited students aged 10-12 to write a thank you letter and take a photo dressed as the person they are grateful for. All artwork, photos and letters were submitted to JA Malaysia. The top 20 participants in each category were then asked to submit a video based on their artwork or letter.  Finalists received prizes ranging from mobile devices, computer accessories and dining vouchers.

A judging panel was set up comprising of JA Malaysia volunteers and employees of AmMetLife. Employees from MetLife Asia Services Sdn Bhd (MetLife’s Asia-based Centre of Excellence in financial reporting, planning and analysis, and finance technology systems) were also invited to volunteer as judges to select winners from over 377 submissions, received from students across ten Malaysian states.

According to Ramzi Toubassy, Chief Executive Officer, AmMetLife Insurance Berhad, “Through our collaboration with MetLife Foundation, students were able to express their gratitude towards the front-line care workers who are the unsung heroes in this fight against COVID-19. This is one of the many initiatives that AmMetLife, with the support of MetLife Foundation, has in place to help the community during this pandemic.”

According to Stuart Dean, Chairman of JA Malaysia, “We are pleased with the high number of submissions received for this contest. Through this initiative we were able to instil a sense of social responsibility among the students while giving them the opportunity to be creative and appreciative of their parents and care givers.”

Isaac Yuen Ren Xian from SK St Michael, Ipoh, the grand prize winner for Category 2 said “My creativity has certainly improved, especially when making the video as it was a new skill I had to develop. My brothers were very helpful in teaching me how to make the video. A big thank you to them and to my mum for being so encouraging.”  The winner for Category 1, Beh Yun Yi of SJKC Hua Lian 3, Taiping, expressed her gratitude to Dato’ Seri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Malaysia’s Director General of Health and all medical front liners, who have been working around the clock to treat COVID-19 patients.  

Watch the Top 20 submissions of each category here:
Category 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzZuVwbvZSQ&t=5s
Category 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zghxhDsZ5_Q&t=1s 

About MetLife Foundation
At MetLife Foundation, we are committed to expanding opportunities for low- and moderate-income people around the world. We partner with nonprofit organizations and social enterprises to create financial health solutions and build stronger communities, while engaging MetLife employee volunteers to help drive impact. MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to continue MetLife’s long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. From its founding through the end of 2019, MetLife Foundation provided more than $860 million in grants and $85 million in program-related investments to make a positive impact in the communities where MetLife operates. Our financial health work has reached more than 13.4 million low- and moderate-income individuals in 42 countries. To learn more about MetLife Foundation, visit metlife.org.
 
 
Junior Achievement Malaysia Berhad (JA Malaysia)
JA Malaysia, a member of Junior Achievement World Wide (JAWW), is committed to grow and execute JA Programs on financial literacy, work skills and entrepreneurship throughout Malaysia, to provide Malaysian students with a better understanding of business knowledge, while exposing them to skills that will enhance their employability and career success. Students are the business leaders of tomorrow and will be setting the standards of skills, creativity, innovation and integrity in corporations. It is thus imperative that, on the onset, they develop a keen understanding of financials and business.
JA Programs globally reach more than 12 Million students annually in more than 110 countries, with a network of more than 465,000 volunteers. JA Malaysia reached approximately 30,000 students in 2019.
 
 
About AmMetLife Insurance Berhad (AmMetLife)
AmMetLife is a strategic partnership between AMMB Holdings Berhad (AmBank Group) and MetLife International Holdings LLC (MetLife). AmMetLife offers a comprehensive range of life assurance and wealth protection solutions distributed through a combination of over 200 AmBank and AmMetLife branded branch offices, in addition to the strength of its authorised life insurance agents nationwide.
The strategic partnership combines the international expertise and financial strength of MetLife with the local strength and reach of AmBank Group to create a customer-centric and modern life assurance solutions provider in Malaysia.
 
Source: AmBank Group 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
JA Malaysia
Name: Roshini Parama Raj
Email: roshini@jamalaysia.org       

MetLife Foundation and AmMetLife Insurance Berhad
Name: Anusyia Nathan
Email: Anusuyia.sakthinathan@ammetlife.con
Website: www.ammetlife.com

--BERNAMA