SUN Life, a global financial services company, has donated P40 million to promote healthier lives among marginalized youth across Asia through revitalized basketball courts and basketball training programs.
The donation will benefit various communities in the Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam.
Sun Life partnered with Beyond Sport, a global sport-for-social-change foundation, to mount the philanthropic program.
The initiative aims to address the high levels of physical inactivity and sedentary behavior among children and adolescents across Asia, which contribute to high rates of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, mental health challenges, and other damaging health outcomes.
The 2022 Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance report, sponsored by Sun Life, further showed that Hong Kong and Malaysia attained a grade of D in terms of overall physical activity, while Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam received an F.
Carla Gonzalez-Chong, chief client experience and marketing officer at Sun Life, said, “Promoting movement is an important aspect of Sun Life’s health and wellness advocacy.
We constantly explore fun and engaging ways to promote it among Filipinos, especially the youth.”
Young people all over the world often struggle to access sports and the many benefits they offer. Fred Turner, executive director at Beyond Sport, recently highlighted this issue, explaining that the only barrier that some face is simply having a safe space to move and play.
He expressed his enthusiasm for partnering with Sun Life to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of marginalized youth. This initiative was designed with sustainability and community in mind, with the goal of promoting lifelong habits that will help young people thrive.
The initiative is part of Sun Life’s #MovementMatters campaign, which aims to promote physical activity as an important aspect of living healthier lives.
