Pernod Ricard and GOVT’s fundraising initiative develops Brightboxes for underprivileged communities living without electricity in Malaysia
Since the idea was mooted in a boardroom in 2014 between leading spirit distributor brand, Pernod Ricard Malaysia and GOVT Kuala Lumpur, the Bottled Hope CSR campaign has brought more than light to the darkest rural corners of Malaysia. It has also brought hope that has inspired thousands to join its Bottled Hope Run event in 2015.
This year, the run is back will be held on Saturday, 23rd April 2016 at Padang Merbok Kuala Lumpur. The Run is part of the Bottled Hope campaign which focuses on environmental impact and community development through the up-cycling of used glass bottles into Brightboxes, known as Bottled Hope, which are then given to underprivileged communities living without electricity throughout Malaysia.
Several side events complementing the run include interactive environmental activities, sustainable living and waste recycling sessions by Eco Warriors Malaysia, engaging fitness demonstrations by wellness health guru Wong Yu Jin, local traders selling sustainable goods and a life-size mock-up of the Brightbox – to create understanding on the components that goes into making Bottled Hope.
There will be a booth for the public to adopt a Brightbox too. Constructed on a rubberwood frame, each unit is fixed with an energy efficient LED light that shines for 12 hours between charges. The solar-powered Brightbox, developed by Biji-Biji, costs RM350 per unit and adoption will help to offset production costs.
Pernod Ricard Malaysia, together with their partner Yayasan Nanyang Press, is thankful for the support of the inaugural Bottled Hope campaign last year and we want to create a greater impact this year. We managed to deliver over 140 Brightboxes to rural communities in the Ranau region of Sabah last year, and another 50 units to the victims of the Nepal earthquake. The numbers might not seem much, but it has already made an impact for about 200 families. We cannot change the whole world at one go, but we can make a difference one step, one person and for one family at a time.
This year’s Bottled Hope campaign direction is meant to empower the community at large to become an Agent of Hope. Most urban folks might not be aware that there are over 200,000 families living without basic necessities like electricity throughout Malaysia. These Brightboxes, literally Bottled Hope, will enable families to carry out household activities at night both indoors and outdoors and the light source will enable children to study at night. By empowering the communities from an early stage we believe that it will help in their economic development for the future,” said Terence Ong, Managing Director of Pernod Ricard Malaysia.
Pernod Ricard Malaysia and GOVT is looking into bringing this campaign to greater heights through collaborations with various partners and brands. GOVT continues to help build the campaign strategically on digital and social media, on a Pro Bono capacity.