KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 (Bernama) -- The Sompo Welfare Foundation (The Foundation) presented a cheque amounting to RM22,500 to the Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) Malaysia. This is the eleventh time Malaysia has received international grant support from the Sompo Welfare Foundation.
 
Berjaya Sompo Insurance (Berjaya Sompo), the Malaysian operating entity and part of Sompo Holdings (Asia) Pte. Ltd, recommended WAO to be one of the grant recipients for their continuous advocacy for women's rights, specifically against violence against women. WAO provides shelter to an average of 100 women and children each year who flee from abusive homes. WAO also advocates to end violence against women and to shift the public's mindset and behaviour towards recognising women's rights.
 
The grant will primarily support WAO's initiatives, providing essential provisions, psychosocial support, recreational activities, and skills enhancement programmes to help survivors overcome trauma and rebuild their lives. With a specific focus on healthy eating, the funds will also ensure access to nutritious meals, indirectly improving the quality of life and educational prospects for survivors and their children.
 
Access to regular meals and essential items, such as toiletries and personal hygiene products, is vital for creating stability and security for shelter residents, many of whom have fled abusive households seeking refuge. By addressing immediate needs and providing emotional support, WAO aims to empower survivors, helping them regain self-belief and awareness of their rights for a sustainable life free from violence and discrimination.
 
Mr. Tan Sek Kee, Chief Executive Officer of Berjaya Sompo, said, "At Berjaya Sompo, we aspire to create a diverse and inclusive society. We are honoured to collaborate with WAO in their mission to support survivors of domestic violence."
 
“Through this partnership, we look forward to providing more than financial assistance. We would like to also play an active role in contributing to survivors' holistic well-being and empowerment, enabling them to rebuild their lives with dignity and strength", he added.
 
Puan Jun Ishak, Chief Human Resources Officer and ESG Social Pillar Lead for Berjaya Sompo, together with Mr Masaru Watanabe, representing Sompo Welfare Foundation, presented the RM22,500 mock cheque to Ms Amnani Abdul Kadir, Partnership Director for WAO.

In her acceptance speech, Ms Amnani said, “We are grateful for the generous support from the Sompo Welfare Foundation. The Grant will enhance our ability to provide comprehensive support to survivors of domestic violence. This partnership underscores our shared commitment to creating a society where every individual is free from violence and discrimination and where survivors are empowered to live with dignity.”

About Women's Aid Organisation (WAO)
Since 1982, the Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) has been providing shelter, access to counselling, and free crisis support to women and children experiencing abuse. We help rebuild the lives of survivors of domestic violence, rape, human trafficking, and other abuses. Through learning from women's experiences, WAO engages in advocacy to improve public policy and change societal mindsets. WAO is one of the drivers of the Gender Responsive Budgeting Group, as well as the Sexual Harassment Act 2022 and amendments to the Domestic Violence Act 1994.

About Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad
 
Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad (Berjaya Sompo), is a Malaysian operating entity and part of Sompo Group. Bolstered by the Sompo Group’s 80 years of trusted presence in Asia, spreading across 13 markets in the region, Berjaya Sompo is a leading name in general insurance in Malaysia, with an ever-expanding network that presently comprises 15 offices and 2,614 agents nationwide. Berjaya Sompo provides a comprehensive range of general insurance solutions for individuals and corporations.
 
For more information, go to www.berjayasompo.com.my. 

About Sompo Welfare Foundation

Sompo Welfare Foundation is a public service entity created and funded by Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. to promote social welfare activities as part of the company's contribution to society. In addition to its core mission of awarding the above grants, the Foundation offers research grants. It holds seminars and lectures on social welfare, non-life insurance, and gerontology. The Foundation also presents the Sompo Japan Welfare Foundation Awards for outstanding academic research in social welfare in Japan, subsidises lectures and symposiums presented by the award recipients, and offers scholarships to individuals training to be care workers.

The Foundation launched the international grant programme for social welfare organisations in 2010 as an extension of its financial support programme for social welfare organisations in Japan. The Foundation offers grants to support non-profit organisations engaging in social welfare activities in developing countries and regions. The grants are awarded based on recommendations solicited from local representatives of Japanese companies working in India, South Africa, or the ASEAN member states—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

SOURCE : Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Samantha Onn, Manager
PR and Communications
Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad
Tel: +6018 – 272 7221 / +603 - 2170 7000
Email: hmonn@bsompo.com.my 

--BERNAMA