Bank of Maldives (BML) continued to invest in community initiatives, supporting individuals and organisations in over 100 islands across the Maldives last year.
The Bank’s key CSR activities of 2020 and its work in supporting the community are detailed in its Sustainability Report published yesterday. Despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic, BML continued to implement its CSR projects and initiatives to make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities across the country.
The Aharenge Bank Community Fund, an initiative aimed to empower individuals and local organizations to contribute to their community through sustainable projects, continued into its second year. In 2020, MVR 1 million was invested to support 20 projects across Maldives. These projects include the development of library facilities in various islands, establishment of parks, gyms, nature parks as well as financial support to establish solar powered street lights in islands.
As part of the Bank’s commitment to support organizations working towards community empowerment, it supported the awareness programs run by the Cancer Society of Maldives as well as the Legal Aid program by Family Legal Clinic to provide legal assistance to individuals in need. The Bank also donated MVR 150,000 to the ARC AID Programme by Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC) that assisted vulnerable children during the Covid-19 pandemic. This donation supported 587 children in 300 vulnerable families across 9 atolls in the country.
The Bank has continued its work to expand its banking network and services to support local communities during the past year. In 2020, it opened new self-service banking ATM centres in 9 islands and upgraded ATMs with self-service banking facilities in an additional 5 islands. To provide easy access to basic banking services at islands, the cash withdrawal charge was eliminated in over 170 Cash Agents providing the service across the country. In addition, over 40 Agents were established to offer cash deposit services, credit card and loan repayments services in islands.
As part of the Bank’s support for people with disabilities, it continued our initiative to donate motorised wheelchairs to mobility impaired individuals. In 2020, BML successfully delivered 65 wheelchairs and since 2017, supported over 140 people through this project. The Bank also donated education tools to Special Education Needs (SEN) classes across 10 more schools, providing over 300 children a better learning environment through interactive play-and-learn. The Bank also made a donation to the Maldives Deaf Association to support their work to empower and promote the rights of the deaf community in Maldives.
While 2021 will continue to be challenging as the extent of the pandemic remains unclear, the Bank is ready to continue to support the nation, its people and the economy.
