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What’s happening in August 2020 |
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Dear Friends and Supporters, For many of us who have grown up with proper infrastructure, we may not know what life is like without it. On the contrary, those who never grew up with school zones, pedestrian crossings, or even just speed limit signs, may not realize how life changing it can be until the infrastructure is put into place. Safety is not a privilege. Safety is a right. We should feel safe moving about where we live, yet, in reality, that’s not always the case. People deserve to have their basic needs met. This month, we’ve had to think about different ways to empower and engage with the communities we serve while also tackling global problems collectively. After the recent devastating port explosion in Beirut, through our social enterprise Protec, a helmet manufacturer that recently expanded its factory to produce medical masks, we rapidly responded with a 10,000 mask donation to aid frontline workers. In Cambodia, we powered forward with a second leadership workshop for commuting safety advocates to promote and articulate a vision of safety policies to protect factory workers on the roads as part of the Commuting Safety for Cambodian Workers program. In China, our Walk Wise program adapted to the ongoing pandemic by taking a hybrid approach of combining virtual education sessions with on-the-ground community outreach. The month-long event was designed to ensure social distancing while also providing life-saving road safety knowledge. In Thailand, we recently launched Hauling Safety, a program supporting communities to improve high-risk student commutes through the provision of quality safety education and equipment for students, parents, and community members. As we continue our work, we are constantly reminding ourselves that safety is not too much to ask for. Small actions can have large impacts. Let’s take a step in the right direction. Kind regards, Mirjam Sidik
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Table of Contents |
Global |
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Cambodia |
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Thailand |
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China |
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Employment Opportunities
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Global |
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Vietnam-based charity donated 10,000 masks and gloves to hospitals in Beirut
AIP Foundation’s social enterprise, Protec, a helmet maker, recently added COVID-19 mask production in its factory for humanitarian assistance thanks to a new partnership to save lives and livelihoods with UK-based charity, FIA Foundation. 10,000 medical masks and gloves were donated to Abou Jaoude Hospital in Beirut after the recent deadly explosion of Ammonium Nitrate. Hard hit hospitals in Beirut are suffering from medical supply shortages, especially basics such as masks, protective gowns, hats, booties, and gloves. The explosion and after-effects of Ammonium Nitrate are extremely dangerous because of the chemical effects on lungs and respiratory systems, seriously affecting infants and children. The latest figures report 6000 injured, many critically, and more than 300,000 homeless, vulnerable to chemical after-affects from living outdoors The chemical that has been circulated in high concentrations in the capital can result in experiencing symptoms such as coughing, difficult breathing, and, in extreme cases, even suffocation and psychological complications. When exposed to water, ammonium nitrate forms into an acid, which can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and skin. The severe exposure created a serious public health crisis for the people and children of Beirut, which masks can help mitigate. AIP Foundation and Protec are appealing for support and contributions of masks and gloves at other hospitals in Beirut. “We are grateful for assistance from the Government of Vietnam, the Embassy of Lebanon, and even private Vietnamese citizens for their support," says AIP Foundation President Greig Craft. “This is no time for politics, religion, nor ethnic issues. Support and assistance are urgently needed,” he continued. Hon. Consul of Lebanon in Vietnam, Adib Kouteili said, "The main port of Beirut has been destroyed. Hospital operations have been partly demolished and operations severely disrupted. We are very happy and thankful to AIP Foundation and Protec for their extraordinary efforts and rapid aid response to support the people of Beirut.” To learn more about Protec’s mask expansion, click here to watch the video. To view pictures from the event, please click here. |
Cambodia |
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Commuting safety advocates powered forward with second trade union leadership workshop to safeguard the well-being of factory workers
The USAID Labor Rights in Cambodia (LRIC) project, implemented by Solidarity Center, supported a series of leadership workshops for 80 trade union representatives to promote more equitable factory working conditions, including safer commutes for employees. Solidarity Center’s partner, the AIP Foundation, conducted the second workshop, which articulated a vision of safety policies to protect factory workers on the roads as part of the Commuting Safety for Cambodian Workers program. This included driver training, access to life-saving helmets for workers who commute via motorcycle, free motorcycle safety trainings for all workers, a transition from trucks to passenger vehicles, and the adoption of road safety policies implemented factory-wide. The workshop generated discussions among union leaders, who planned actions to support these outcomes. To view photos from the event, please click here. |
Thailand |
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AIP Foundation and Toll Group announced launch of
Hauling Safety program to keep children safe on their journeys to and from school in Thailand
AIP Foundation has partnered with Toll to launch Hauling Safety program, a new program in Thailand aimed at supporting communities in tackling high-risk journeys for students traveling to and from school through quality safety education and equipment for students, parents, and community members. In Thailand, where traveling by motorcycle is a common way for parents to take their children to school, unsafe driving behaviors and poor infrastructure in school zones results in high-risk journeys for students to and from school. Traffic data collected by law enforcement and the Public Health Ministry of Thailand found that an average of over 17,000 children and teenagers in Thailand die each year from road crashes. The Hauling Safety program seeks to promote safer journeys to and from school to protect young children from preventable injury or death while traveling on the roads. The program leverages school-based education campaigns to increase student and teacher knowledge of safe road behaviors, public awareness campaigns to promote community knowledge of road safety, and private sector volunteer engagement to encourage responsible investment in vulnerable communities. In line with our mission to decrease road crash casualties by providing safety interventions to road users, the new Hauling Safety program has been specially designed to support over 50 teachers and 1,000 students across two schools in Samutprakarn Province, Thailand over the coming year. The two schools selected for the 2020-2021 program year are Anubankhehabangplee School and Wat Sao Thong Nok School. The selection was guided by the local government and based on risk assessment surveys, which demonstrated the school and communities’ need for a comprehensive safety intervention. Both target schools are located in high-traffic areas with poor road infrastructure, attributing to a higher road safety risk for their students and teachers. The tailored road safety education campaign includes quality road safety education, road modifications, and safety equipment to students, and creating awareness in the public via billboard ads and other media, to deliver better outcomes for the community. Mr. Dean Jones, Regional General Manager, Toll Global Logistics - South East Asia, said, “Toll is proud to be supporting the AIP Foundation in launching this new road safety program. As a leading provider of supply chain solutions in the Asia Pacific, Toll is committed to helping everyone get home safely. Our employees are passionate about safety and sharing knowledge and tools that will keep Thai children safe on their way to and from school safely. We are excited to launch the Hauling Safety program and to help protect Thai children on their way to and from school.” Ms. Ratana Winther, Chairperson, AIP Foundation Thailand, described, “Each year, the World Health Organization estimates that over 22,000 people in Thailand lose their lives on the roads. Young children who are transported to and from school by their parents and guardians are at great risk of road crash injury and fatality due to low public knowledge of the consequences of high-risk road behaviors, such as speeding or distracted driving. These risk factors place young children at harm during their journeys to and from school. With the Hauling Safety program, we are working to encourage safer behaviors through education and awareness and look forward to building partnerships with schools and the government to promote informed decisions for the safety of children and communities.” View pictures from the event here. |
China |
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Chevron launchesd month-long virtual community outreach in China
The Walk Wise program, supported by Chevron and implemented by AIP Foundation, delivered education through virtual education sessions designed to ensure social distancing while also providing life-saving road safety knowledge. The events involved a series of interactive activities to encourage feedback and suggestions from community members on safer actions as road users, which generated over 12,000 views and nearly 100 comments. Those with the most likes from the community received motorbike helmets supplied by AIP Foundation’s social enterprise, Protec. In addition to the online platform, the Walk Wise program also engaged with road users on the ground by interviewing car and truck drivers, motorbike drivers, pedestrians, and passengers asking the same questions. The video was then published and distributed on social media with over 15,000 likes and comments amongst the general public. Watch the video interview in Chinese here. To learn more about the Walk Wise program, please click here. |
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