OCBC Bank is partnering with Eco-Business to support five sustainability projects through youth-mentorship programme The Sustainability Exchange.
The programme, organised by EB Impact, the non-profit sister organisation of Eco-Business, will see youths matched with experienced professionals to work on solving sustainability challenges faced in Singapore.
Participants will work on a defined set of problem statements to address the five pillars of the Singapore Green Plan. Shortlisted youths will work with their mentors from January to April 2022 to develop proposals to address these challenges.
The winning solutions will be selected for funding and implementation at the end of the mentorship period. OCBC, through its #OCBCCares Environment fund, has committed $100,000 to support the implementation of the winning projects.
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Besides providing financial support, OCBC Bank will also conduct workshops on budgeting and presentation skills for all participants.
OCBC previously partnered with Eco-Business to launch the inaugural OCBC Climate Index in August. The index - which measures current levels of environmental sustainability awareness and climate action among Singaporeans - found that while Singaporeans are aware of climate change issues, many have not adopted green practices.
To that end, the bank says the objective of the Sustainability Exchange is aligned with the #OCBCCares Environment fund’s focus on supporting projects that truly mitigate climate change issues.
“The Sustainability Exchange programme fits the bill for our fund as it takes an actionable approach towards getting people like you and me not to just talk green but also do green,” says Koh Ching Ching, OCBC's head of group brand and communications.
“We are glad we can fill in the funding gap to support the implementation of winning solutions, assessment of tangible outcomes and possibly scaling up of proven solutions,” she adds.
N Sivasothi, then-chairman of the fund’s evaluation committee, believes that encouraging collective action is important in ensuring climate solutions that are lasting and impactful.
As such, Sivathosi, who is also a senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore’s Department of Biological Sciences, says OCBC’s support of the Sustainability Exchange is a step in the right direction. “I look forward to seeing the youth rise to the challenge of mitigating climate change in Singapore,” he says.
Applications for youth and mentor participation are open from now until Nov 30.
As at 4.58pm, OCBC shares are up 6 cents or 0.5% higher at $11.97.
Photo: Bloomberg
