Forty families from Brunei-Muara joined the final instalment of the eighth edition of Baiduri Bank’s ‘Let’s Give Back This Ramadhan’ initiative today.

The families, who were identified by the Bank’s strategic partner, the Council for the Welfare of Persons with Different Abilities (MKOKU), enjoyed an afternoon of shopping at Hua Ho Manggis and Hua Ho Yayasan, and iftar in the evening.

Malai Didi @ Sharifah Adila Surya binti Malai Haji Abdullah, President of the MKOKU, said: “Not only does Let’s Give Back This Ramadhan ensure the families under the council have a happier Hari Raya, but it also increases the awareness on OKUs (persons with different abilities) as this is the first time many of the public will have seen them present in the community.”

“Empathy, compassion, kindness, and acceptance – these are all traits which the volunteers have showcased throughout all the events, leading by example on how to be more inclusive. This year’s initiative started on World Down Syndrome Day and ended with World Autism Awareness Day which made it even more special. On behalf of the council, we would like to thank Baiduri Bank and all the volunteers on the impact you have made on these family’s lives’ and making this Raya a most memorable and enjoyable one.”

Speaking at Hua Ho Manggis, Ti Eng Hui, Chief Executive Officer at Baiduri Bank, said: “We’re thankful for the work MKOKU is doing. It’s not just about the initiative we’ve embarked on together, but also their everyday commitment to supporting these communities and spreading awareness.”

“It is important to us that everyone feels valued and understood. Awareness is the first step towards empathy, and once we start understanding each other better, we can collaborate more effectively to build a safer, more inclusive society.”

Also present from Baiduri Bank’s management committee for the event at Hua Ho Yayasan was Veronica Chong, Head of Group Human Resources and Administration Division.

In the spirit of collaboration, the Bank continued its partnership with Setia Motors, with Indera Motors joining as an additional logistics partner for the initiative, assisting in transporting families from their homes to the respective venues and back.

More than 90 families from all four districts joined this year’s initiative. As in previous years, it was supported by over 150 volunteers from ‘Baiduri Cares’, an internal programme where employees from Baiduri Bank and its sister companies – Baiduri Finance and Baiduri Capital – can volunteer their time and energy to various activities.

For more information on Baiduri Bank’s CSR efforts, visit the Bank’s website www.baiduri.com or follow Baiduri Bank’s social media accounts.