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Over 100 islands received BML's support in 2020

Over 100 islands across Maldives received support under Bank of Maldives (BML)’s CSR initiatives in 2020.

The Bank's Aharenge Bank Community Fund is an initiative aimed to empower individuals and local organizations to contribute to their community through sustainable projects.

According to the bank’s Sustainability Report 2020, which details key CSR activities for 2020 and its work in supporting the community, the support extended by BML under its CSR activities to individuals and organizations reached over 100 islands last year. The report noted that BML continued to implement its CSR projects and initiatives to make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities across the country despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this regard, BML invested MVR 1 million in 2020 to support 20 projects across Maldives. These projects include 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 also supported 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 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 200 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 its initiative to donate motorised wheelchairs to mobility impaired individuals. In 2020, the bank 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.

The Bank assured that it is ready to continue to support the nation, its people and the economy although it would continue to be challenging as the extent of the pandemic remains unclear.