Ford Motor Company Conservation and Environmental Grants 2003
Ford Malaysia has announced the 2003 edition of the Ford Motor Company Conservation and Environmental Grants. A total amount of RM190,000 in grants will be awarded to deserving projects in Malaysia within the areas of conservation and preservation of the environment, culture and heritage.
“We are very pleased that the Ford Motor Company Conservation and Environmental Grants has been gaining momentum since it was first introduced in 2000. For the past three years, the programme has been extremely successful in supporting organizations and individuals committed to the conservation and protection of the environment, natural resource, culture and heritage, for future generations to appreciate. Last year, there were 82 applicants for projects in Malaysia, double the number we received in 2001,” said Deborah Aronson, Managing Director of Ford Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
Additionally, this year marks Ford’s 100th year anniversary which is a momentous milestone that celebrates the company’s remarkable legacy of innovation, entrepreneurship and customers-first approach, while abiding by a strong code of ethics and social responsibility to the local communities in which it operates, she said.
“Henry Ford was not only an industrialist, who put the world on wheels, but also a conservationist who believed that industry and nature should coexist and serve humanity together. His early efforts in recycling and using agricultural products to manufacture automotive components led to Ford’s commitment to global environment. His vision and philosophy have passed on to our current chairman and CEO, Bill Ford, himself a passionate advocate for environmental stewardship,” added Ms Aronson.
The Ford Grants were first introduced to Southeast Asia in 2000 in four markets – Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam – and now include Indonesia and Cambodia. Last year, the Grants garnered an impressive response from applicants, both individuals and community groups, with as many as 540 applications received from six participating countries. Total grants of US$320,000 were awarded to 72 of the most deserving projects, which include :
Elephant Appeal – a project in Malaysia that aims to improve the conditions for the elephants at Kuala Gandah, improve the educational capacity, and facilitate the transition of Kuala Gandah into a center for environmental conservation education;
Mangrove Friendly, Solar Powered Mudcrab Culturing – a project in the Philippines that aims to address the issues of environmental protection and poverty alleviation by promoting the culturing of mudcrabs using solar panels in intact mangrove areas without cutting or damaging of the mangrove;
Restoration of Mural Paintings at Wat-U-Mong, Chiang Mai – a project in Thailand that aims to copy the existing mural paintings and use computer graphics to create restorations of the murals;
Restoration & Preservation of Vietnamese Traditional Medicine – a project that aims to restore the works of Tue Tinh, an important medical practitioner from the 14th century;
Archaeological Excavation of Buddhist Sites at Batujaya – a heritage project in Indonesia that aims at rediscovering the ancient temple sites in Batujaya area of Krawang; and
Banteay Meanchey Archaeological Project – a research project on the excavation of Phum Snay in Cambodia which represents an important archaeological site for Cambodia from the Iron Age (circa 500BC – AD500).
These few projects from the region best represent the core objectives of the grants, which is to provide financial support to on-going projects at the grassroots level. The grants programme was uniquely designed to empower individuals or small non-profit groups to maintain and develop viable projects within their local communities, in the areas of environmental protection and education, conservation and preservation of historical and cultural heritage, conservation engineering and child and youth projects.
According to Ms Aronson, “At Ford, we believe that the responsibility to care for the planet is a shared one, and small efforts can go a long way in making a difference. Generating awareness is key. Last year, we awarded grants to 17 projects in Malaysia. Through the grants, we hope to bring to light individuals or groups doing admirable work for conservation and environmental causes, in order to encourage them, to say a big ‘thank you, well done’ for their efforts, and to point them out to their communities as role models for their peers. Ultimately we hope that the grants will prove inspirational to many potential champions of other projects, and that it will have a multiplication effect, especially among the younger generation.”
Interested individuals or groups are invited to submit a standard application form, providing detailed information about the project, including how much funding they require, and how the funds will be utilized. The types of projects eligible for the Ford Motor Company Conservation and Environmental Grants fall within the following four areas:
– Natural Environment – projects to conserve flora, fauna and/or their respective habitats;
– Heritage – projects to conserve man-made aspects of national or Asian heritage, and cultural art forms;
– Conservation Engineering – projects to reduce the rate of consumption of natural resources and/or pollution; and
– Child and Youth Projects – any conservation project involving young people aged 18 or under.
A jury panel, independent from Ford, will consider each application based on its merits for usefulness and practicality, dedication and commitment of its participants, financial need, originality, and replicability.
The Ford Motor Company Conservation and Environmental Grants is one of the largest programmes of its kind in the world. The programme evolved from the Henry Ford European Conservation Awards established in Britain in 1983. Since its inception, more than 15,000 groups and individuals, across 34 European countries, have participated in Ford’s programme. In 1997, a sister initiative was launched in Brazil and because of its success; Ford began to expand the programme worldwide in 2000.
The deadline for submissions is 5 pm on Monday, 15 September 2003. To obtain the official entry form or to inquire further regarding the programme, call the Ford Motor Company Conservation & Environmental Grants hotline at Tel : 03 – 2718 8261 between 9 am. and 5 pm. during weekdays, or check out the website at www.ecoford.com.
