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Global Newsletter October 2019
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Dear Friends and Supporters,
October was a month for elevating the importance of child safety and youth engagement on the global road safety agenda.
For International Walk to School Month, we promoted the global vision of creating pedestrian-safe communities and marched with nearly 900 students and teachers at Minh Dao Primary School in Ho Chi Minh City. As a part of the
Walk This Way program, our walking parade promoted student and community awareness of safe pedestrian environments and the importance of incorporating physical activity for a healthier life.
In our continued commitment to working with children and youth in the realm of road safety, AIP Foundation also partnered with students from RMIT University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to create a multi-language, animated PSA that targets speeding behaviors among their peers. The university students crafted a slogan for the video-game inspired PSA, warning, “In reality, you only get ONE life. Don’t risk it.” The video PSA has since reached over 146,000 people on our Cambodia Facebook page, with over 46,000 views and 1,110 reactions.
In Vietnam, where we have been working on safe school zones for children since 2005, we celebrated the recent removal of fixed speed limits in the country through Circular 31/2019. The law now requires that the "installation of speed signs must be based on the actual situation of the road sections and routes on traffic infrastructure, on the flow, types of vehicles and the time of day,” in Clause 1, Article 10. This shift towards a dynamic speed limit marks an important milestone of change with respect to speed limit regulation in Vietnam.
We continued to promote youth mobility and participation at the Asia Pacific Road Safety Seminar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where we presented on our approach to empowering young motorcycle drivers in Cambodia and Vietnam. With other road safety stakeholders, we will continue to work towards a future landscape for global mobility which empowers youth to take charge of future road safety programs.
We are excited for what the upcoming months hold and look forward to your continued engagement and support.
For more information on our activities, achievements, and related road crash intervention news, please read on.
Kind regards,
Mirjam Sidik
CEO, AIP Foundation
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Photo of the Month: International Walk to School Month brings together students and road safety leaders to celebrate road improvements
22 October, 2019 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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AIP Foundation CEO, Mirjam Sidik (left) with Safe Kids Worldwide Program Director Shushanna Mignott and FIA Foundation Programs Manager Aggie Krasnolucka.
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Nearly 900 students and teachers celebrated International Walk to School Month with a pedestrian safety walk and parade at Minh Dao Primary School in Ho Chi Minh City, as part of the
Walk This Way program, which aims to teach children safe pedestrian habits and increase their knowledge of road hazards.
International Walk to School Month is an annual celebration which empowers students to walk to school and which encourages healthier lifestyles and physical activity, while also reducing traffic jams and reducing gas emissions.
To celebrate this special ceremony, a rite of commitment was led by Mr. Nguyễn Ngọc Tường, Deputy Director of Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Safety Committee; Ms. Bùi Thị Diễm Thu, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training; Mr. Đào Toàn Thắng, Senior Manager, Operations, FedEx Vietnam; Shushanna Mignott, Program Director of Safe Kids Worldwide; Agnieszka Krasnolucka, Programs Manager at FIA Foundation; Mirjam Sidik, CEO of AIP Foundation, and other representatives.
The event culminated in a walking parade, in which leaders guided the students on a walk around the school to help educate them on safe road user habits.
The
Walk This Way program is supported by FedEx Express and Safe Kids Vietnam, in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Safety Committee and Department of Education and Training. In the past year, FedEx, Safe Kids Vietnam, and AIP Foundation have collaborated with the Traffic Safety Department and the Department of Transport to enhance the transport infrastructure and improve road safety in the surrounding areas for four schools. The program will continue to apply the learnings and make the necessary safety enhancements for a further 33 schools.
To learn more about the event, please see the Press Release here.
Photos from the event.
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Blurring the line between reality and games, RMIT University students create engaging PSA on speeding
July 2019 - October 2019 - Global
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English-Vietnamese language poster created for the "Don't Risk It" PSA, produced in partnership with RMIT University design students in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
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Students in the Bachelor of Design Studies program at the RMIT University School of Communication & Design (SCD) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, partnered with AIP Foundation to create a multi-language, animated PSA that targets youth on an important topic: speeding.
In Vietnam, speeding is a cause of 25% of road crashes. The students took an innovative, modern approach to raise awareness of the fatal consequences of speeding by incorporating elements of video game design to create an effective public service announcement in the form of an animation. The animation showcased two contrasting scenes, one of a driver speeding in a video game simulation, versus a scene in which a driver speeds in real life, blurring the lines between reality and games.
In video games, the students explained, you can crash many times without facing any real consequences. In reality, the students explained, "You only get ONE life." The PSA is meant to encourage young people to think about the potential dangers of speeding and the very real consequences of a road crash.
In Cambodia, the video PSA post reached over 146,000 people on Facebook, with over 46,000 views and 35,528 engagements. The video also received 1,110 reactions and has been shared more than 140 times.
AIP Foundation will continue to partner with RMIT University's School of Communication and Design for the Fall 2019 semester.
Watch the PSA here.
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Challenges and Impact in Southeast Asia, discussion at the Global Interactive Forum on Traffic & Safety (GIFTS)
25 October, 2019 - Tokyo, Japan
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Panelists chosen to present on the socio-economic development and traffic safety related to international cooperation in Asia.
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On 25 October 2019, the International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences (IATSS) hosted the 5th Global Interactive Forum on Traffic and Safety (GIFTS), an international discussion platform oriented towards the sustainable "co-creation" of knowledge across different countries and regions. Opening remarks were delivered by Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President of IATSS. In his keynote speech, Yasuyuki Sawada, Chief Economist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) talked about fostering growth and inclusion in Asia’s cities.
AIP Foundation CEO, Mirjam Sidik, discussed the impact of the socioeconomic development of Southeast Asian countries on the current road crash crisis, and AIP Foundation's work in Vietnam to close gaps in helmet legislation. Audience members were very interested in learning about how AIP Foundation adapts its communications and advocacy campaigns to different social contexts in order to target road safety behavior across countries and cultures.
In looking towards the future, Ms. Sidik called for the necessity of increased political leadership, greater integration and collaboration across sectors, and greater financial investments in order to reach SDG target 3.6 by 2030, which aims to halve the global deaths by road crashes.
Other speakers from the conference included Yukihiro Koizumi, Deputy Director General and Group Director for Transportation and ICT Group, Infrastructure and Peacebuilding Department, JICA, and Alejandro Schwedhelm, Urban Mobility Associate, The World Resources Institute (WRI) Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, who presented on urban design and transportation.
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Youth mobility across Asia Pacific, GRSP brings together leaders for panel discussion
29-30 October, 2019 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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AIP Foundation CEO, Mirjam Sidik (right) with H.E. Min Meanvy, Secretary of State, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Cambodia
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AIP Foundation CEO, Mirjam Sidik, presented on "Youth Mobility and Participation: Empowering Young Motorcycle Drivers in Cambodia and Vietnam," during the Asia Pacific Road Safety Seminar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, organized by the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), on October 29-30.
Ms. Sidik shared examples of AIP Foundation's work with young, inexperienced motorcycle drivers, including social media campaigns and peer-to-peer education.
At the seminar, we were joined by representatives from ADB, FIA Foundation, GRSP, and IFRC for the workshop, who also shared their experiences from various perspectives, aiming to discuss the current state-of-play for youth mobility in the Asia Pacific. Other key themes from the workshop included merits and rationale for engaging youth, mapping the future landscape for global mobility, and what investments will be required to ensure the sustainable inclusion of youth in future road safety programs.
The two-day seminar focused on Road Safety Leadership in Asia, proposing interventions from governments, international and local institutions, experts, and private sector organizations active in the region.
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AmCham awards AIP Foundation for CSR contributions
30 October, 2019 - Hanoi, Vietnam
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United States Ambassador, Daniel J. Kritenbrink, presents AIP Foundation with the AmCham CSR Award.
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The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Hanoi recognized AIP Foundation for outstanding corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs at a ceremony presided over by United States Ambassador Daniel J. Kritenbrink on October 30, 2019, at the InterContinental Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam. Greig Craft, President of AIP Foundation, and Na Huong Hoang, Deputy CEO of AIP Foundation, attended the ceremony to receive the award.
Thirty-four member firms received the CSR Recognition Award for understanding the linkages between business operations and society, and conducting business in a way that creates both long-term economic and social value. To qualify for AmCham’s CSR Recognition Award, a member company’s CSR program must receive high marks in four separate categories: (1) Attention to business objectives and societal needs; (2) Creation of long-term economic and social gains; (3) Communication and sharing of best practices; (4) Program sustainability. The award ceremony was also broadcasted on People TV, and is available for viewing here.
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Approaching the Decade of Action, UN Road Safety Collaboration meets at WHO Headquarters in Geneva
October 29-30, 2019 - Geneva, Switzerland
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AIP Foundation joins stakeholders for the UN Road Safety Collaboration meeting at WHO Headquarters.
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AIP Foundation joined over 40 groups representing governments, international organizations, and NGOs at the UN Road Safety Collaboration (UNRSC) from October 29-30, 2019, at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Ms. Ratanwadee Winther, Chairperson of AIP Foundation Thailand and AIP Foundation Denmark, represented AIP Foundation and supported the evaluation of the Decade of Action for Road Safety and the 5 Pillars. The meeting aimed to bring together stakeholders, advocates, and leaders to learn more about the preparations for the 3rd Global Ministerial Conference on road safety, including pre- and post-meeting events. The meeting concluded with updates of road safety activities implemented by several attending organizations.
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Nearly 1,000 students and Abbott volunteers participate in road safety festival in Vietnam
3 October, 2019 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Abbott volunteer helps students adjust their helmet chin strap, displaying proper helmet wearing technique.
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Nearly 1,000 children and teachers attended the “Children Have Fun with Road Safety” festival through the
Helmets for Families program, organized by AIP Foundation and supported by the global healthcare company Abbott, in coordination with the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Safety Committee and Department of Education and Training. More than 30 Abbott volunteers joined students of Le Loi Primary School, in Nha Be district, for the festival which coincided with Annual Traffic Safety Month in Vietnam.
At the festival, students and volunteers participated in road safety games, paintings, and helmet-wearing demonstrations to reinforce previous road safety education delivered by AIP Foundation at program schools.
“We are very pleased with all of the support from the Abbott volunteers at this event. The children are always excited to attend and learn about safe helmet use from volunteers, and these festivals are a great opportunity for students to learn outside of the classroom, especially to know more about traffic safety and to raise awareness of themselves about road safety to protect their lives and others,” said Mr. Le Thanh Hai, Deputy of Education and Training Department of Nha Be District.
Read more about the event in the Press Release here.
See more photos from the event.
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Three exciting extracurricular days kick off the
Helmets for Kids program’s expansion to 20 schools
30 September, 2019 - 4 October, 2019 - Gia Lai, Thai Nguyen, and Yen Bai, Vietnam
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Students raising their brand new helmets in the air to celebrate a successful kick-off ceremony.
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With the support of the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC), AIP Foundation and Johnson & Johnson organized three kick-off ceremonies during the month of September and October to celebrate the expansion of the
Helmets for Kids program into 16 new program schools across Thai Nguyen, Yen Bai, and Gia Lai provinces in Vietnam. All program schools are located on provincial or national highways, such as 1B and QL37, which are exposed to heavy traffic volume, and have student populations which lack standard helmets and often have lower helmet-wearing rates. Combined with the 4 ongoing program schools in Thai Nguyen,
Helmets for Kids will distribute 5,900 helmets across a total of 20 program schools.
Read more about the events in the Press Release here.
See more photos from the Gia Lai Ceremony, Thai Nguyen Ceremony, and Yen Bai Ceremony.
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Milestone of change occurs in Vietnam with removal of fixed speed limits
15 October, 2019 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Since 2005, AIP Foundation has been working on safe school zones for children, promoting infrastructural modifications including speed reduction.
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Circular 31/2019 officially took effect in Vietnam on October 15, requiring that the "installation of speed signs must be based on the actual situation of the road sections and routes on traffic infrastructure, on the flow, types of vehicles and the time of day" (In Clause 1, Article 10).
Between 2014-2016, the Transport Development And Strategy Institute (TDSI) conducted a ministry-level study, researching the scientific basis for application of a “dynamic speed limit” to improve the efficiency of Vietnam’s national highway network usage. This research determined that the use of fixed speed limits in Vietnam has many shortcomings.
In April 2018, AIP Foundation, in collaboration with the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC), Gia Lai Traffic Safety Committee, and the Gia Lai Department of Transportation, supported by the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), implemented
Slow Zones, Safe Zones, a two-year project that focuses on speed reduction and school zone safety in Pleiku. This project involved the installation of speed limit signs in school zones, adjusted according to time of day.
Mid-term speed results showed that the average speed of motorcycles around the pilot schools was reduced by 5 km/h; the average speed of cars was reduced by 11km/h; and large vehicles, such as buses, showed reductions of almost 20 km/h around the schools, further proving the effectiveness of dynamic speed limits. These results are likely to have influenced the government’s adoption of Circular 31/2019.
Slow Zones, Safe Zones, is one of three projects currently funded by Fondation Botnar, managed by GRSP, to improve road safety for children in Vietnam between 2018-2020.
Although Vietnam has not yet fully applied the concept of a "dynamic speed limit,” Circular 31/2019 is an initial step in moving away from a fixed speed limit, and an important milestone of change with respect to speed limit regulation in Vietnam.
To read more about the Circular 31/2019, please read the memo here.
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Destination Thailand Press Release on Panthera Group's distribution of 1,000 helmets to students through
Helmets for Kids program
8 October, 2019 - Bangkok, Thailand
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Panthera Group representatives joined students and local stakeholders for a helmet handover ceremony earlier in September in Bangkok, Thailand.
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Panthera Group co-founders, Mr. Michael T. Doherty and Mr. Paul Hayward, joined students at Chumchon Mooban Pattana School in Klong Toey District, Bangkok, to donate a total of 1,000 high-quality helmets. The event marks the first helmet distribution by Panthera Group through the
Helmets for Kids program, which aims to increase helmet use among children, teachers, and parents to reduce their risk of head injury.
Read the full Press Release shared covering our helmet distribution ceremony with Panthera Group last month here.
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