Latest news with #volunteering
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
AbbVie's 10th 'Week of Possibilities' Unites Employees Across Asia for Community Impact
- 880 AbbVie employees across 7 markets volunteered over 3,000 hours to support vulnerable groups.- Over 650 individuals benefited from 24 volunteer initiatives, delivered in partnership with 17 community organisations across the region. SINGAPORE, July 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie employees in Asia participated in the tenth Week of Possibilities (WOP), the AbbVie Foundation's annual global volunteering programme, held in June and July. This unites our employees around the world with a single purpose to serve our local communities. 880 employees across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, India, Taiwan region, and South Korea came together to engage in services tailored to the needs of their local communities through volunteer initiatives. Projects focused on supporting vulnerable groups, children, seniors, and individuals with health and social vulnerabilities. "Our people power the change we want to see in the world. Through Week of Possibilities, we're proud to stand alongside our partners across Asia to support the communities we live and work in, especially those who are often overlooked. Whether it's helping children, seniors, people with disabilities, or protecting our environment, every action brings us closer to a more equitable, healthier future," said Peggy Wu, Vice President, Asia, AbbVie. In Thailand, employees focused on supporting students in a rural community with limited resources by rebuilding unsafe classrooms, providing lunches, and donating essentials. In the Philippines, volunteers contributed to food rescue efforts, preparing meals for communities with unmet needs and hosting a special Kasama Ka programme to raise awareness around food security and sustainability. The India team led a month-long series of engagements: organising a sports day for children experiencing homelessness in Mumbai, visiting a senior home for musical games and companionship, conducting art-based environmental workshops with children from low-income communities in Bangalore, and running a personal hygiene session at a children's home in Delhi. In Taiwan region and Malaysia, inclusive events such as stage performances, craft-making, and cycling activities empowered individuals with disabilities through confidence-building experiences. In Korea, employees supported people with disabilities through community outings, pop art portraits, and eco-friendly installations at care facilities. In Singapore, employees fostered social connections with seniors and vulnerable individuals through creative activities and heritage tours, while also supporting environmental sustainability through waterways clean-ups. "We are deeply impressed by the passion and dedication of AbbVie volunteers, who actively participated and joyfully accompanied the disabled. This companionship brings not only encouragement but also respect and acceptance. Every time the volunteers cheer for the disabled, they help our foundation in promoting a more friendly treatment for people with disabilities," said Li Shu Yu, staff member of the Eden Social Welfare Foundation, Taiwan. Together, the WOP initiatives in Asia spanned healthcare, education, elderly support, environmental protection, and disability inclusion, reflecting the diverse needs of communities and the breadth of AbbVie's commitment. At the heart of every activity was a shared belief that health equity starts with local action and that everyone has equal access to the opportunity to thrive. Claire Chin, Area Head, Regulatory Affairs, AbbVie, shared, "June has always been my favourite month of the year at AbbVie. This year's theme for AbbVie's week of possibilities is advancing health equity. A lot of people might think of health equity as hospital visits and other charitable events. But in developed countries like Singapore, we tend to take our clean environment for granted. Before we consider advanced technologies and treatment options to support health, we have to first fulfil the basic human needs of hygiene, good health, and a good environment. To me, that's where we can start to work towards creating a healthy living environment for each of us." Launched in 2014, AbbVie's Week of Possibilities has grown into a cornerstone of the company's global culture, engaging employees in voluntary actions and an annual celebration of giving back. Powered in part by the AbbVie Foundation, the initiative rallies employees worldwide to volunteer and make a meaningful impact in the communities where they live and work. You can view images of AbbVie's Week of Possibilities volunteer initiatives in Asia here. Learn more about AbbVie's Week of Possibilities at and AbbVie's ongoing commitment to local communities in its 2024 ESG Action Report. About AbbVieAbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology, neuroscience and eye care – and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.. About the AbbVie Foundation The AbbVie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to drive transformative change in communities worldwide so that everyone can live their healthiest life. We are committed to advancing health equity through innovative, community-led partnerships and through our employee impact programs around the world. For more information, please visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE AbbVie Sign in to access your portfolio
The Guardian
3 days ago
- The Guardian
The moment I knew: we hiked into the wilderness on Friday and emerged as a couple on Sunday
At the end of 2019 I was 15 months into a contract working in Fiji. The project was coming to an end and I was ready to head back to the UK when Stef showed up and changed everything. Working in international development, especially in more remote locations, means those in the sector tend to gravitate towards each other. Whenever a new crop of personnel show up, everyone gets together. It was Stef's third night on the island when we all descended on a local curry house in Suva to welcome her and the other volunteers. I arrived straight from work in a rather fetching sulu (Fijian sarong) and sandals. I was seated next to Stef and sparks flew instantly. She was clearly super bright, very funny and matched me in stacking away large quantities of chicken tikka butter masala (it's a thing and it's very good). We made plans to meet the following day and quickly began spending a lot of time together. We discovered we both loved hiking – which is excellent in Fiji – and not long after I met Stef, a group hike was planned. First though, I was off to a remote island for a week. After seven days out of phone range on a far-flung island, I arrived at the designated meeting point by plane, with a bucket of fresh lobster I'd been gifted, only to discover that everyone but Stef had pulled out. Knowing I was uncontactable she'd decided to take a five-hour bus odyssey across the main island, navigating two breakdowns and four transfers just to make sure I wasn't left in the lurch. She even showed up with leftover chicken palau. Being British I'm not always able to pick up on the subtle cues of romance, but being an Australian Stef isn't backwards in coming forward. The effort she'd made to come and meet me, when everyone else had not, was a sign of affection even I could read. Everything about the trek flowed easily and we hardly stopped chatting the whole weekend. While watching the stars together that first night I had the distinct impression this was it. That time together made it clear our connection was much more than just an aid-world fling. We'd hiked into the wilderness on Friday and emerged as a couple on Sunday. By New Year's Eve I'd told her how I felt. As Covid shuttered borders and nixed contracts, a few weeks later we were both sent back to our home countries. We were separated for nearly nine months. Our pandemic experiences were wildly different; Stef was working three jobs in outbreak response in New South Wales, while in the UK my main responsibility became drinking my way through the wine purchased for my sister's Covid-cancelled wedding. We spent hours on the phone, and as borders reopened, it was a no-brainer that we would find a way to be together again. By the end of the year we were reunited in Papua New Guinea and spent the next two and half years in Port Moresby. Last year we got married in the UK and thought we'd try our hand at a 'settled' life in Melbourne, but it wasn't long before our feet were itching. We've recently relocated to the Republic of the Congo where, if everything goes to plan, we'll spend the next couple of years continuing to affirm our love for each other, Test-match cricket and local curries. Do you have a romantic realisation you'd like to share? From quiet domestic scenes to dramatic revelations, Guardian Australia wants to hear about the moment you knew you were in love. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Mum's fitness charity recieves King's award
A mum who started a fitness group to make new friends has been presented with a King's award in recognition of the charity she in 2009 by Sam Barlow, from Cottingham, Fitmums & Friends now has over 250 volunteers who organise fitness events across Barlow said the award was a "remarkable achievement" and accepted it on behalf of "every single volunteer across our charity".The King's award for voluntary service was presented by the Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire at a ceremony at the Guildhall in Hull on Saturday. Ms Barlow said: "I was a lonely mum and I just really wanted to meet people to be more active with, but also to make friends in the playground when my little boy started school, and it's grown considerably."Over 100 volunteers attended the event in Lieutenant, Jim Dick, who presented the award on behalf of the King, said: "This is an award from the King, and it's not given lightly. "There is a real nomination process, a vetting process, so that only those most worthy of getting this receive the award."We should be recognizing as many as people as we can in the East Riding of Yorkshire, including Hull. We have fantastic organizations, fantastic people, fantastic businesses."Fitmums & Friends is one of 281 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups in the UK to receive the award in 2024, which is the highest accolade given to local volunteer Barlow said the award was a "remarkable achievement"."This is for every single volunteer across our charity, without them we wouldn't be able to provide the incredible things we do," she to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
News24
4 days ago
- General
- News24
67 Minutes that remind us what it means to be South African
Mandela Day continues to inspire active citizenship across generations. Simple acts like cleaning, donating and volunteering still make a difference. The 67-minute tradition reflects the value of giving back with intention. Each year on 18 July, South Africans pause for 67 minutes to honour Nelson Mandela's 67 years of service to the country. But as the years pass since Madiba's death in 2013, a question comes up: Is Mandela Day still relevant? If you ask those taking part on the ground, the answer is a resounding yes. From city pavements to rural community halls, people continue to come together in the spirit of service – not for the photo op, but because work still needs to be done. Cleaning, refurbishing, painting, feeding schemes and school drives remain central to the day's activities. For some, Mandela Day is one of the few moments in the year when communities feel seen and supported. Others see the day as deeply symbolic, a quiet rallying cry for unity and shared purpose. It's the idea that one person's hour of time can ripple out into something meaningful – a spruced-up school wall; a warm blanket for a winter night; a cleaned-up street that makes people feel proud of where they live. This is not performative goodwill, it's the lived legacy of someone who believed in forgiveness, dignity and nation-building. Of course, Mandela Day has its critics. Some argue it has become more symbolic than substantial, and that 67 minutes is not enough. Whether you are painting classrooms, packing parcels or planting a seedling, those 67 minutes are not just about tribute, they are about continuity, about showing up for each other and about reminding ourselves of the country we are still trying to build.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- The Guardian
The moment I knew: we hiked into the wilderness on Friday and emerged as a couple on Sunday
At the end of 2019 I was 15 months into a contract working in Fiji. The project was coming to an end and I was ready to head back to the UK when Stef showed up and changed everything. Working in international development, especially in more remote locations, means those in the sector tend to gravitate towards each other. Whenever a new crop of personnel show up, everyone gets together. It was Stef's third night on the island when we all descended on a local curry house in Suva to welcome her and the other volunteers. I arrived straight from work in a rather fetching sulu (Fijian sarong) and sandals. I was seated next to Stef and sparks flew instantly. She was clearly super bright, very funny and matched me in stacking away large quantities of chicken tikka butter masala (it's a thing and it's very good). We made plans to meet the following day and quickly began spending a lot of time together. We discovered we both loved hiking – which is excellent in Fiji – and not long after I met Stef, a group hike was planned. First though, I was off to a remote island for a week. After seven days out of phone range on a far-flung island, I arrived at the designated meeting point by plane, with a bucket of fresh lobster I'd been gifted, only to discover that everyone but Stef had pulled out. Knowing I was uncontactable she'd decided to take a five-hour bus odyssey across the main island, navigating two breakdowns and four transfers just to make sure I wasn't left in the lurch. She even showed up with leftover chicken palau. Being British I'm not always able to pick up on the subtle cues of romance, but being an Australian Stef isn't backwards in coming forward. The effort she'd made to come and meet me, when everyone else had not, was a sign of affection even I could read. Everything about the trek flowed easily and we hardly stopped chatting the whole weekend. While watching the stars together that first night I had the distinct impression this was it. That time together made it clear our connection was much more than just an aid-world fling. We'd hiked into the wilderness on Friday and emerged as a couple on Sunday. By New Year's Eve I'd told her how I felt. As Covid shuttered borders and nixed contracts, a few weeks later we were both sent back to our home countries. We were separated for nearly nine months. Our pandemic experiences were wildly different; Stef was working three jobs in outbreak response in New South Wales, while in the UK my main responsibility became drinking my way through the wine purchased for my sister's Covid-cancelled wedding. We spent hours on the phone, and as borders reopened, it was a no-brainer that we would find a way to be together again. By the end of the year we were reunited in Papua New Guinea and spent the next two and half years in Port Moresby. Last year we got married in the UK and thought we'd try our hand at a 'settled' life in Melbourne, but it wasn't long before our feet were itching. We've recently relocated to the Republic of the Congo where, if everything goes to plan, we'll spend the next couple of years continuing to affirm our love for each other, Test-match cricket and local curries. Do you have a romantic realisation you'd like to share? From quiet domestic scenes to dramatic revelations, Guardian Australia wants to hear about the moment you knew you were in love. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian.
