On 3/7, AIA Group held the third AIA Healthiest Schools Awards ceremony. This initiative, part of the AIA Healthiest Schools (AHS) program, aims to equip students aged 5 to 16 with the knowledge and skills for healthy living.

This year's competition saw a record number of entries, marking the widespread participation of teachers, students, and parents from eight markets across the Asia-Pacific region. The projects focused on four key areas: nutrition, physical activity, mental well-being, and sustainability.

Stuart Woollford, AIA Group Chief Brand Officer, introduces the finalists. Photo: Nguyen Dong

Stuart Woollford, AIA Group Chief Brand Officer, introduces the finalists. Photo: Nguyen Dong

UPTD SD Negeri Papela (Indonesia) won the Regional Excellence Award for their project "Ecolitera: Stories from Waste". On Rote Ndao island, the school transformed waste into learning materials, an ecological garden, and fertilizer for local farmers. The project improved students' literacy rate by 70% and promoted environmental awareness.

Category awards were presented to Tessaban 1 Kittikachorn School (Thailand) for health and sustainability, SMP Negeri 43 Bandung (Indonesia) for mental well-being, Jaffna Hindu College (Sri Lanka) for active lifestyle, and Happy Hollow National High School (Philippines) for healthy eating.

Two Vietnamese schools reached the finals. UK Academy Da Nang's "Green Heart - Bright Future" project focused on building a happy school environment through tree planting, recycling art, and mental wellness activities. The project engaged nearly 450 students, teachers, and parents, planted over 300 trees, and raised over 100 million VND. Meanwhile, Times School Khai Son Junior High School (Hanoi) implemented over 30 student-led initiatives such as "Chill Room" and "Chairless Classroom". Their project reduced the percentage of students at high emotional risk from 42% to 18%, and 98% of students reported feeling happier at school.

Stuart A. Spencer, AIA Group Chief Marketing Officer, noted that nearly 8,000 schools have participated in the competition over the years, demonstrating the program's strong impact. The initiatives have transcended the competition to become a sustainable social movement.

Stuart A. Spencer, AIA Group Chief Marketing Officer (right) and Andrew Loh, CEO of AIA Vietnam, at the press conference on 3/7. Photo: AIA

Stuart A. Spencer, AIA Group Chief Marketing Officer (right) and Andrew Loh, CEO of AIA Vietnam, at the press conference on 3/7. Photo: AIA

The program aims to improve the lifestyles of tens of millions of people across Asia by building healthy habits from a young age. With 80% of non-communicable diseases in Vietnam stemming from lifestyle choices, educating students about health is how AIA hopes to achieve long-term behavioral change within the community.

Spencer emphasized that children are the most effective agents of change. An AIA survey revealed that 94% of participating students understood the importance of healthy living, and 85% committed to changing their behavior after the program. "A child telling their father to quit smoking because they don't want him to die early can create real change," he said. "This is the right thing to do. Investing in communities to help people live healthier, longer, better lives is our mission."

Following the pandemic, which impacted the physical and mental well-being of students and teachers, the program holds even greater significance. “Healthiest Schools” has run for three seasons in Vietnam. In the 2022-2023 school year, Vietnam won the regional award with innovative initiatives like promoting health through painting and art. Schools like Na Sang in Dien Bien, despite being in a remote area, fostered community spirit through practical actions.

Andrew Loh, CEO of AIA Vietnam, called the health of the younger generation "the nation's most valuable asset," and stated that the program is expanding into a nationwide movement. The goal is to bring the program to every province and city, extending its reach beyond schools to the wider community, parents, and young children.

Stuart Woollford, AIA Group Chief Brand Officer, shared the strategy of scaling the program from schools to the community through awards to motivate schools. AIA is also collaborating with non-governmental organizations and strengthening its communications. Student initiatives like renting bicycles to reduce pollution in Thailand or building a library for the community in Dien Bien demonstrate the program's real-world impact.

Lee Yuan Siong, AIA Group President and CEO, presents the award to UPTD SD Negeri Papela, Indonesia. Photo: AIA

Lee Yuan Siong, AIA Group President and CEO, presents the award to UPTD SD Negeri Papela, Indonesia. Photo: AIA

This program directly contributes to the AIA One Billion initiative, which aims to inspire one billion people to live healthier, longer, better lives by 2030. In Vietnam alone, hundreds of schools have participated, and the program maintains long-term connections with winning schools to further develop their initiatives.

In the future, AIA Group will expand the program to 10 markets in the region, collaborating with the Ministry of Education and Training and local organizations to promote health education in more schools. AIA believes the program will become a positive social phenomenon, fostering a healthier generation – from students to families.

Nguyen Dong