Phnom Penh, 14 August 2022 – AIA (Cambodia) Life Insurance Plc (“AIA Cambodia”) and ISF Cambodia’s AIA-ISF Youth League was highlighted this year by a $40,000 contribution from English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur to help underprivileged children under ISF’s education initiative start or continue their studies.

The club is a long-term AIA global principal partner, with both parties promoting health and wellbeing across the Asia-Pacific region. AIA Cambodia and Tottenham’s Global Football

Development coaches have worked for a number of years with ISF participants and volunteer coaches to support the NGO’s grassroots football initiative.

Tottenham Hotspur also focuses on uplifting children via education, specifically, those under ISF’s Catch-Up Education program. The initiative provides an accelerated curriculum and healthcare, nutrition and family support benefits for those who have never been to school or have been forced to drop out due to poverty.

This year’s contribution was part of AIA Cambodia and Tottenham Hotspur’s ongoing support of ISF. In May 2021, the club raised funds for the NGO by auctioning special player-autographed match shirts that used the ISF logo in place of the AIA logo and the words ‘From Cambodia by AIA’ in Khmer during a game telecast worldwide.

The 2022 AIA-ISF Youth League introduced a Grand Championship League final and a five-fixture tournament - a result of AIA Cambodia and ISF’s commitment to increase accessibility and reach out to more children in the Kingdom’s largest grassroots league.

It has been a staple on the local sporting calendar since the two parties partnered five years ago to enable underprivileged youth to play football in a safe, conducive environment and provide them more social inclusion opportunities.

A total of 2,533 children in 205 teams took part in the 2022 AIA-ISF Youth League, which kicked off February and saw Phnom Penh hosting two fixtures and Kampot, Siem Reap and Kampong Speu one each. Winning teams from each province contested the Grand Championship at the ISF Sports Ground today.

Among those who attended the Grand Championship were Mrs. Puth Thyda, member of the Executive Committee & Vice Chairman of the Women’s Football Organizing Committee of the Football Federation of Cambodia, Tottenham Hotspur Global Football Development coach Shannon Moloney, AIA Cambodia Chief Executive Officer Mr. Andrew Loh and AIA Cambodia staff and Life Planners.

A number of children who received their first taste of football from the League play for Cambodian football clubs, with a select few making the national team. 

Andrew Loh, Chief Executive Officer, AIA Cambodia, said: “AIA is proud to be the Global Principal Partner of the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, the partnership is a powerful vehicle to deepen engagement with our customers and communities across the region, including Cambodia. We are thrilled to continue partnering with ISF Cambodia, an organisation that brings tangible benefits to the children of Cambodia. Supporting the education and health of children in Cambodia embodies the AIA One Billion initiative to engage a billion people to live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives by 2030.”

About AIA

AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively “AIA” or the “Group”) comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets – wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR(1), Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei and Macau SAR(2), and a 49 per cent joint venture in India.

The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai more than a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in Asia (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$340 billion as of 31 December 2021.

AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia, AIA serves the holders of more than 39 million individual policies and over 16 million participating members of group insurance schemes.

AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code “1299” with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: “AAGIY”).

Remark:

(1)  Hong Kong SAR refers to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

(2) Macau SAR refers to the Macau Special Administrative Region.