Kuala Lumpur, 26 March 2018 – In line with the aims to create positive change, responding to people’s needs around the world, and enriching their lives with its innovation and global network, Samsung Malaysia Electronics announced its participation as an official corporate sponsor for WWF-Malaysia’s Earth Hour initiative this year.

Last Saturday, on the 24^th March 2018, 170 employees of Samsung Malaysia Electronics took part in WWF-Malaysia’s annual Earth Hour Night Walk, representing Samsung’s vision for a sustainable future and lifestyle for the environment. Held in Petaling Jaya, participants walked a 2.5 km route that started and ended at Sunway Giza Mall, Kota Damansara, in support of WWF’s annual global initiative.

“During Earth Hour each year, we see the whole world unite in conveying their support for the planet’s conservation. As Samsung promotes sustainable social development and support communities to create a better world, we are pleased to be a part of WWF’s mission in raising awareness on the importance of conserving our planet,” said Mr Yoonsoo Kim, President of Samsung Malaysia Electronics.

Earth Hour 2018, organised and led by WWF, is a movement which aims to spark conversation and raise environmental awareness on climate change and staggering biodiversity loss. By switching off all lights for just one hour a year, this movement is also a sign of support for environmentally sustainable actions.

Samsung has always recognised the importance of conservation and has been a supporting party of WWF over the years. Adding on to that, WWF’s conservation efforts are also largely aligned to the tech company’s sustainability strategy in driving greater energy efficiency and savings across its business environment.

“As a leading corporation in the technology industry, Samsung’s on-going vision is to create a positive change and help its surrounding communities exist in a harmonious and ecological environment. Hence, by sending our employees to participate in this Earth Hour event, this will continue to build momentum towards a renewable future and sustainable lifestyle. We hope that our actions and partnership with WWF will set an example for all of our fans, consumers, and peers to take accountability for their ecological footprint and protect the planet,” added Mr Kim.

For more information about WWF-Malaysia and its Earth Hour campaign, visit http://www.pandashop.my/earthhour2018/

Fun English learning with Samsung tablets

It all began in 2015 when Samsung Malaysia Electronics first set foot in Kampung Ulu Tual in Kuala Lipis, located in the eastern state of Pahang, for its community outreach initiative. Kampung Ulu Tual, a 3-hour drive from Malaysia’s bustling capital, is a village adopted by Samsung under its corporate citizenship banner. Samsung volunteers were reminded of the true meaning of friendship and teamwork after spending some time with the locals working to improve the infrastructure of the village, teaching them the learning tools of Samsung tablets, and immersing themselves in the village culture.

At that time, the initiative was known as the Nanum Village effort under the brand’s Hope for Tomorrow community building campaign. ‘Nanum’ means sharing in the Korean language and this fits perfectly with Samsung’s unwavering commitment to continue sharing meaningful innovations to sustain social development and support underserved communities all over the globe.

The first local mission took place two years ago where the indigenous community of Kampung Ulu Tual greeted all 56 Samsung volunteers with generous hospitality, warm smiles and captivating traditional performances. Their faces were beaming with excitement and villagers ‘crowned’ some volunteers with beautiful headgears decorated with colourful flowers and made of palm tree leaves as welcome gifts. Prior to this, the village had no access to a proper source of electricity since it is located in a secluded area. Samsung looked beyond the usual food and household supplies donation and decided to install solar panels to improve their electricity supply and Samsung refrigerators at their Pusat Didikan Komuniti (PDK) for the villagers so they can enjoy the facilities like a common household would. Samsung volunteers also helped the locals to repair their huts, ensuring that the villagers have decent everyday shelters from the rain or sun.

Kampung Ulu Tual’s Community Learning Center or Pusat Didikan Komuniti (PDK) has two full-time teachers stationed there to provide education to the children, and the hall would sometimes be used for other community-related activities. The presence of good electricity supply in the village paved way for the children to learn in a much more fun and engaging way. Samsung donated Smart TV, Galaxy Tab pre-loaded with fun educational contents and books for the children to turn the dream of education into reality. Samsung volunteers eagerly tutored the children on how to use the tablets and the pre-loaded apps during educational activities. A signage for the PDK was also raised as part of its community service.

The memories made in 2015 were so heartening that Samsung returned to improve the village and doubled their investment for the same mission the following year. Samsung volunteers participated and worked closely with the locals to improve the village by installing additional solar panels and lights, therefore improving the village’s electricity supply. To ensure that the villagers continue to have access to decent basic living necessities, Samsung donated food, homecare, sports and educational supplies. In addition to that, Samsung targets to prepare young villagers for their future academic achievements by teaching them the English language, therefore giving them the opportunity to master an additional language before they embark on the next step of their educational journey.

Samsung is set to return to Kampung Ulu Tual once more under the Samsung Love & Care Programme, a re-brand of Samsung Nanum Village initiative, to bring more improvements to its growing community. Samsung hopes that the Samsung Love & Care Programme will be a source of inspiration for more corporations to step up and help those communities in need and improve livelihoods to create a brighter and more sustainable future.