303,707
Individuals Impacted
83,061
Hours Contributed
17,666
Volunteers
In 2024, OCBC received the Champion of Good award from the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) for our exemplary CSR work for two volunteering initiatives – the year-long “Families100 Programme by OCBC” and “Care Corner ElderConnect supported by OCBC”. These initiatives were developed and organised in partnership with Ministry of Social and Family Development and Care Corner Singapore, respectively.
This marked the first occasion that the nationally recognised Champion of Good criteria were broadened to encompass holistic contributions across five impact areas: People, Society, Governance, Environment, and Economic.
To recap our work over the years, we first firmly took a stand for climate action and the environment in 2017, just as sustainability was coming to the forefront as a theme.
Then, we launched our habitat enhancement initiative at Coney Island. This was followed by 2019's opening of the OCBC Arboretum in the Singapore Botanic Gardens which conserves around 2,000 ecologically important dipterocarp trees.
In 2022, we launched the OCBC Mangrove Park at Pulau Ubin, Singapore and a mangrove planting project in Tebuk Mendeleng, Malaysia.
Importantly, 2024 also saw the birth of the OCBC Seagrass Restoration Project in Singapore and another mangrove planting project in Indonesia. In the background, other smaller-scale tree-planting projects remain popular amongst staff as they take the initiative to collectively look for ways to continue to contribute meaningfully to our carbon sequestration efforts.
Helping Where It Matters
Singapore
In 2024, volunteering became more convenient for OCBC volunteers; they have been able to use their lunch breaks to do good and contribute to the community.
Each month, we invited beneficiaries from different charity organisations to participate in volunteer-led craft workshops. Activities could include crafting lanterns for the Mid-Autumn Festival and creating ornaments for Christmas.
Each workshop is specially designed to hone beneficiaries' skills, such as dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Beneficiaries received one-on-one guidance from OCBC volunteers.
China
2024's Little Green Summer Camp saw OCBC volunteers bringing underprivileged children to the Shanghai Youth Health Management Center. The children engaged in immersive activities such as trampoline gymnastics and skiing, which ignited their enthusiasm for sports. They also took part in eco-friendly craft workshops, courses on green finance, and environment-themed painting classes and science experiments.
Hong Kong
OCBC volunteers visited the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society to bring joy and companionship to the elderly residents. They formed bonds with these seniors, by engaging in heartfelt conversations and exchanging meaningful gifts. This initiative not only brightened the day for the seniors but also helped combat social isolation. Additionally, it provided OCBC volunteers with a deeper appreciation for the wisdom and resilience of the senior community.
Malaysia
Working alongside the Asli Juara Academic Rewards Society, OCBC volunteers from the Cheras branch facilitated the installation of 100 solar flood lights and 10 solar street lamps, valued at RM40,000, in two indigenous villages. This initiative provided sustainable lighting for 875 residents, significantly enhancing their safety and security at night while improving their overall quality of life. With improved access to light, residents can better participate in education, economic, healthcare, and social activities, keeping the community connected in both day and night.