The Asia Foundation and OOCL Renew Partnership to Assist Schools and Libraries in 2013
Collaboration expands to nine countries, including Burma
San Francisco and Hong Kong – The Asia Foundation and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), a leading international shipping and logistics company, today announced the continuation of their partnership to deliver books to thousands of needy educational institutions in nine countries: Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, SriLanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and peninsular and eastern Malaysia.
In 2012, shipping support provided by OOCL enabled the Foundation’s Books for Asia program to deliver more than 330,000 books worth $15 million. This included transportation costs for the program’s Storytime in Asia campaign, which supplied 120,000 crucially needed books to schools and libraries throughout the region, benefitting an estimated 2 million children.
“OOCL has a long tradition in supporting education and giving back to the community. We believe it is essential to contribute to the skills development and capacity building of young people. The Books for Asia program is a rewarding example of our community achievements and how we can continue to turn our words into concrete action,” said Andy Tung, chief executive officer of OOCL.
OOCL has facilitated many educational and community outreach initiatives around the world. Other beneficiaries of charitable donations made by OOCL and its employees include medical-related funds in Hong Kong, Australia, Europe and the USA, children’s homes in Hong Kong and France, as well as food banks in the USA and countless others.
“We are thrilled for OOCL’s generous support again in 2013 and the expansion of the program to Burma. On behalf of thousands of book recipients across Asia, we are grateful for OOCL’s commitment to our mission of improving lives and expanding opportunities across Asia,” said David Arnold, president of The Asia Foundation. Speaking on the common values shared by the shipping company and the international non-profit, Mr. Arnold continued: “This partnership highlights our mutual belief that education helps spark young minds to learn, grow, and positively contribute to their local communities and beyond.”
Books for Asia provides textbooks and educational materials to students, educators, and future leaders in need in 19 developing countries throughout Asia and impacts over 9 million people each year through donations of relevant, high-quality publications from publishers such as McGraw-Hill, Wiley, Pearson Education, W. W. Norton, Macmillan, Abrams, Island Press, and Scholastic.
Storytime at a school in Laguna, Philippines, comes alive with books donated by The Asia Foundation and
shipped by OOCL. Photo by Mario Ignacio IV.
ABOUT THE ASIA FOUNDATION
The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization committed to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just, and open Asia-Pacific region. The Foundation supports Asian initiatives to improve governance and law, economic development, women's empowerment, the environment, and regional cooperation. Drawing on nearly 60 years of experience in Asia, the Foundation collaborates with private and public partners to support leadership and institutional development, exchanges, and policy research.
Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Stock Exchange listed Orient Overseas (International) Ltd. Headquartered in Hong Kong, OOCL is one of the world's largest integrated international container transportation and logistics companies, with more than 270 offices in 60 countries. Linking Asia, Europe, North America, the Mediterranean, the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East and Australia/New Zealand, the company offers transportation services to all major east/west trading economies of the world. OOCL is one of the leading international carriers serving China, providing a full range of logistics and transportation services throughout the country. It is also an industry leader in the use of information technology and e-commerce to manage the entire cargo process. (http://www.oocl.com/)
