12 Mar 2024
Prudence Foundation and Malaysian Red Crescent collaborate to empower students with health and safety skills
‘Safe Schools, Safe Kids’ programme will be introduced to over 3,000 schools in Malaysia to impart
life-saving skills and knowledge
Hong Kong, 12 March 2024 – Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm of Prudential plc, and Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) are partnering to introduce the Safe Schools, Safe Kids programme to students across Malaysia. The programme aims to equip children and youths aged 10-15 years old with life-saving skills and knowledge so that they can proactively anticipate and respond to safety crises such as road hazards and natural disasters.
Safe Schools, Safe Kids also aims to support education authorities, schools, teachers and parents to develop an understanding and adoption of comprehensive school safety measures to ensure health, safety and well-being of children in schools.
The programme will be rolled out to the extensive network of Malaysian Red Crescent Clubs in more than 3,000 schools that have a reach of over 150,000 students. MRC will leverage the SAFE STEPS Kids programme materials developed by Prudence Foundation, Cartoon Network and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies into its learning modules. The SAFE STEPS Kids series consist of entertaining videos and education materials covering topics such as road safety, first aid, disasters and climate change.
Children in Malaysia face various risks and hazards. More than 500,000 road accidents were reported in 2022 with a total of 6,080 fatalities1. Floods which are a common occurrence, often damages schools and disrupts learning opportunities. Being trained in first aid can make a significant difference in the outcome of an emergency situation. Trained members of the public can provide basic medical care to treat minor injuries and preserve life until professional medical help arrives2. Recognising the importance and significant need of ensuring preparedness, first aid knowledge and road safety, MRC has a mandate to equip children and youths with necessary knowledge to navigate emergency situations and empowers them in making critical life-saving decisions.
Diana Guzman, Chief Sustainability Officer, Prudential plc and Chair of Prudence Foundation said, “Children have the right to feel safe when at school and to keep learning even when there are disruptions. Safe Schools has been one of our core focus areas to build resilience against natural disasters by providing vital knowledge and life skills to students and teachers. Prudential has been in Malaysia for 100 years and we are committed to provide focused and practical support to local communities in need. We are pleased to partner with MRC who has an extensive presence in the country, allowing us to reach out to more children with our programme.”
Tuan Haji Hakim Haji Hamzah, Secretary General of MRC added, "The MRC is dedicated to nurturing the well-being of children by imparting essential health and safety skills. This partnership with Prudence Foundation reflects our shared commitment to empowering the next generation, ensuring they possess the knowledge and confidence to thrive in any situation."
For more information, please visit https://www.prudentialplc.com/en/prudence-foundation
1 Malaysia recorded one road accident per minute in 2022, The Rakyat Post, 15 June 2023
2 International Federation of Red Cross
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Media enquiries:
Kho Hui-Yi | Email: kho.hui.yi@prudential.com.hk
About SAFE STEPS Kids
SAFE STEPS Kids is a multi-platform public-service programme created by Prudence Foundation, in partnership with International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Cartoon Network.
The programme focuses on providing life-saving information to children via a series of entertaining videos and education materials featuring beloved Cartoon Network characters. SAFE STEPS Kids aims to save millions of lives by educating children from a young age, helping to create a future generation that is well-prepared and resilient to life-threatening situations.
For more information please visit: https://www.safestepskids.com/
About Prudence Foundation
Prudence Foundation is the community investment arm of Prudential plc in Asia and Africa. Its mission is to create a better future for communities by making them safer and more resilient to life’s risks. The Foundation runs regional programmes as well as local programmes in partnership with NGOs, governments and the private sector in order to maximise the impact of its efforts. Prudence Foundation leverages Prudential’s long-term mindset and geographical scale to make communities safer, more secure and more resilient. The Foundation is a Hong Kong registered charitable entity.
For more information please visit: www.prudencefoundation.com
About Malaysian Red Crescent
The Malaysian Red Crescent Society, also known as the Malaysian Red Crescent, is a humanitarian organisation and auxiliary to the humanitarian services of the Government under Malaysian Parliament Act 540, providing vital assistance during times of natural disasters, crisis and promoting community, health and welfare services within local communities. The Malaysian Red Crescent has 16 Chapters and over 150 Branches in Malaysia with over 300,000 members in schools, tertiary education institutions as well as adult members. As a member of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) alongside 191 other National Societies, Malaysian Red Crescent is part of the world’s largest voluntary humanitarian organisation of over 15 million volunteers.