CSR MALAYSIA 2024

CSR MALAYSIA Article: MALAYSIAN HOMEGROWN FORWARD-THINKING FOOTWEAR BRAND LEADS SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVE TO FOSTER POSITIVE IMPACTS ON B40 AND ORANG ASLI STUDENTS

ABARO, the dedicated and innovative Malaysian footwear brand recently concluded its Back-To-School campaign, which successfully united its customers to provide essential school shoes for underprivileged students. The power of collective action was part of ABARO’s long-term initiative ‘Shoes For You. Hopes For Them’. ABARO committed to donating RM1 to its school fund for every pair of shoes sold during the three-month-long campaign. 

Kevin Soh, the Chief Operating Officer of ABARO said, “We are pleased that this remarkable effort will positively impact the lives of 1,000 students from the B40 and Orang Asli communities.  The distribution of school shoes to these 1,000 students will be conducted in stages. As ABARO is located in Klang, we aim to start by supporting schools in our local area, beginning with two primary schools in Klang and one serving the Orang Asli community in Jenjarom. This first phase will benefit a total of 300 students which will be conducted in July. However, we also plan to extend our contribution to additional schools in the Klang Valley region this year.”

Expressing his gratitude for the support received from customers which enabled ABARO to address a pressing need of underprivileged students, as well as foster a strong sense of community and social responsibility, Soh added, “We have been wondering how we can connect all our customers to initiate a project that contributes back to the society. This is the first year we have integrated a CSR element into our Back-To-School campaign, and this initiative is a testament that so much can be achieved when we unite with our customers towards a shared objective. This campaign has allowed us to help lighten the burden of B40 and Orang Asli families. On behalf of ABARO, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our loyal customers for their participation in this campaign, which has made this modest contribution meaningful and impactful.” 

The ‘Shoes For You. Hopes For Them’ initiative is at the core of ABARO’s DNA, which is why ABARO does not just run this as a seasonal campaign. This part of ABARO’s DNA is extended to others through strategic partnerships for CSR. “We at Senheng are glad to partner with ABARO for the ‘Shoes For You, Hopes For Them’ CSR initiative in 2023. Our mission, “Together, towards better quality of living,” aligns perfectly with this effort. It’s been heartwarming to see the joy on the faces of these eager students, knowing that we’re encouraging them to keep exploring the world. ABARO’s dedication has been truly impressive, making everything from providing excellent services to running the donation program smoothly and hassle-free. Their commitment has made a real difference, giving these students a sense of hope and determination for a brighter future,” said Ms. Tai Tze Yen, Vice President of Marketing And Communication, Senheng Electric (KL) Sdn Bhd. 

The forward-thinking efforts and dedication of ABARO have earned the brand numerous recognitions, including esteemed awards such as the ‘Jenama Pilihan Pa&Ma 2023,’ Nanyang Superb Brand 2023, and Sin Chew Business Excellence Awards 2023. 

“At ABARO, we believe that school shoes are a basic necessity that protect students’ feet from injuries and getting wet, especially in a tropical country like Malaysia with over 200 rainy days each year. Therefore, we are delighted to provide practical school shoes with features such as ABARO DryTechTM and ABARO NameTechTM to deliver both comfort and protection, so that students can be free to explore their world every day.” 

⁠”As the saying goes, a single hair can easily break but 100 hairs remain strong, we believe that our collective efforts can create a powerful force for positive change. In our enthusiasm to spearhead these initiatives and getting personally involved to deliver the school shoes to underprivileged students, we also realised that much more could be achieved with additional resources. Thus, on behalf of ABARO, I would like to invite more corporations and organisations to join us in this initiative so that together, we can make an even greater impact that is sustainable,” said Soh. 

Like-minded corporations can partner with ABARO in implementing their respective ESG execution, focusing on the social impact to achieve their sustainability goals. For more information about ABARO latest updates and promotion, please follow www.facebook.com/abaroshoe or visit www.abaro.com.my.