Photos: UM employees participate in 'Impact Day'

More than 80 UM offices worldwide closed their doors Thursday (July 25) for Global Impact Day, which saw employees volunteering at philanthropic organisations.

Over 36 hours and six continents, the event included the participation of 5000 UM staffers, 2000 of them in APAC. 

"The collective force and sheer power of goodwill that is felt from our UM teams across the Asia-Pacific region when they unite to focus on helping create a better world each Impact Day never ceases to blow me away,” Kasper Aakerlund, president of UM APAC said in a release. 

Here's a look at activities in APAC:

• Australia: Worked with the Wesley Mission to deliver ‘Christmas in July’ to Wesley Mission clients in aged care, disability and homelessness.
• China: Worked with the Rendu Ocean NPO Development Centre and Ocean Conservancy Program to organize an ‘International Coastal Cleanup’.
• Hong Kong: Worked with Food Angel, a food rescue and food assistance program that rescues edible surplus food for redistribution to underprivileged communities.
• India: Focused efforts on educating underprivileged men and women cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene, visiting 28 government-run and independent women shelters across Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. In Mumbai, worked with NGO Salaam Mumbai, visiting 21 schools to talk to students about advertising and marketing.
• Indonesia: Brought 10 finalists from KDI (Kontes Dangdut Indonesia, a popular dangdut talent search program in MNCTV) to perform and entertain the residents of a home for elderly.
• Japan: Planned and delivered an afterschool club with organised activities and cleaned up a rugby field stadium.
• Philippines: Organized an art workship for young people at Headstart Learning Center, which is near the garbage dump-site of Payatas Quezon City. Then held a fundraising exhibition with the children’s artwork at Centuria Medical in Makati City.
• Malaysia: Worked with Global Environment Centre on The River of Life (ROL) Public Outreach Programme, a seven-year project to transform the Klang River into a vibrant and liveable waterfront with high economic value.
• Singapore: Worked at the Ang Mo Kio Community Centre sourcing and packaging food ration hampers for the underprivileged elderly. Held a lunch buffet followed by an afternoon of interaction, games and activities.
• South Korea: Visited the Chongeum Rehabilitation Center for hearing impared/disabled people, where they undertook volunteer education to best understand how to communicate and provide help, followed by a program of providing assistance and support.
• Taiwan: Worked with an NGO to host a “Give Your Love to Africa” initiative, collecting and donating shoes, school bags, and clothes to children in need in Africa.
• Thailand: Planned a ‘Go-Green’ Mangrove planting activity at Bang Krachao, a man-made island formed by a bend in the Chao Phraya River.