Smart Axiata has announced that approximately $350,000 is still available through its $1 million COVID-19 Relief Fund to support initiatives that will help Cambodians cope with the health, social and economic impacts of the global coronavirus pandemic.

Twelve different organisations and institutions with their initiatives have already received support from the COVID-19 Relief Fund. The latest was the Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap. The funding will be used to aid the children’s malnutrition crisis.

The other initiatives that have received funding are Southeastern Globe Communications, Friends International, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Open Institute, Young Entrepreneurs Association of Cambodia, Bayon Education and Development, Impact Hub Phnom Penh, East Meets West Foundation, Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation, Save the Children and Community Advancement Organization.

Each organisation or institution that has benefitted from the Relief Fund are providing different outreach programs that would help the Cambodians affected by the pandemic.

The Institut Pasteur du Cambodge supplies up to two months’ worth of COVID-19 testing kits and personal protective equipment for the screening and diagnosis of thousands of patients while Young Entrepreneurs Association of Cambodia’s goal is to support the business crisis responses of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

They would serve as a helping hand to the community as people continue to battle the effects of the pandemic.

Thomas Hundt, Smart Axiata’s chief executive officer said that he can see from the recent news that Cambodia’s current success in dealing with the global public health crisis hangs in the balance and they all need to double their efforts to prevent further community transmissions.

“We are proud to have supported many important initiatives that are making communities more resilient to the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that there are still funds available. We are keen to hear from any organisation that is working to support the nation and our communities during these challenging times,” he said.

The $1 million COVID-19 Relief Fund was established to support initiatives in 4 areas: ICT for education, crisis management, social distancing and personal hygiene.

Funding requests are approved by the multi-stakeholder Smart Axiata COVID-19 Relief Fund Evaluation Committee – which consists of Smart Axiata, Axiata Group and independent Cambodian representatives – after being thoroughly reviewed by an internal committee. Applications can be submitted online via https://bit.ly/3aQsrJV.

• Tags: COVID-19 in Cambodia, Smart Axiata