SCG provides assistance to 200 Myanmar students
Siam Cement Group (SCG), one of Thailand's leading business conglomerates, has provided educational assistance for 200 high-school students in Myanmar's Yangon Region and Mon State.
One hundred students from the Yangon townships of Hlaing Tharyar, Shwe Pyi Thar, North Dagon, South Dagon, Mingalardone, Hmawbi, Khun Chan Kone, Tun Tay, Seit Gyi Kanaung To and Kawmhu recently received scholarships at a ceremony held at the International Business Centre in Yangon.
The awards are presented to students who have shown gratitude towards their families, proactively contributed to their communities and have good academic records.
A further 100 students from Mawlamyaing, Kyike Mayaw, Mudone, Paung and Chaung Sone townships in Mon State were also honoured. They received their scholarships at an award ceremony held at the Strand Mawlamyaing Hotel on December 1.
Each student receives funding of up to 200,000 kyat (about Bt6,550), which helps cover school fees, as well as supplies, for an academic year.
Providing the assistance is part of SCG’s “Sharing the Dream” programme, which has been presented in Myanmar for the second consecutive year.
“Education is essential to ensuring that children will grow up to form a new generation of Asean citizens who are ethical and knowledgeable. I believe that they [young scholars who received the grants] deserve a bright future and hope that they will pursue higher education and use their talents to support their families and communities,” said Chana Poomee, country director of SCG Myanmar.
“I would like to thank SCG for their commendable corporate social responsibility programme, which not only benefits Myanmar students, but also demonstrates the goodwill of the Thai private sector and the Thai people to our Myanmar friends,” Pisanu Suvanajata, Thailand’s ambassador to Myanmar, said at the awards ceremony.
“I also want to commend its strong determination to serve society and contribute towards sustainable and human-resources development, leading the way towards the Asean Economic Community in 2015,” he added.
This year, SCG expanded the programme in Myanmar to offer 200 scholarships, an increase from the 99 students from Yangon, Mawlamyaing and Kyike Mayaw who were awarded scholarships last year.
In October, applications were invited from high-school students in Yangon Region and Mon State who are studying in Grade 10 or 11.
“SCG also awarded seven students who received scholarships in 2012 and went on to do well in the following academic year with additional grants in recognition of their academic achievements,” said a senior official from the company.
The programme has granted scholarships to more than 5,000 students in Asean countries, including Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Laos.
The company aims to pursue the programme on an annual basis and will develop other programmes that create a better quality of life for Myanmar people, said the company official.
SCG recently announced plans to invest Bt12.4 billion to build its first integrated cement plant in Myanmar.
To be located in Mawlamyaing, the plant is expected to start operating in mid-2016.
