Aceh, 25 January 2006 - Classes recommence today for 70 children at a primary school in Tibang, Aceh, which was previously destroyed by the Tsunami in December 2004. Employees from Allianz, the leading international insurer, funded the restoration of a school in Tibang, Aceh, which aims to provide top notch facilities to local children who have been waiting to resume their education.
More than 120 schools in the Banda Aceh area were destroyed by the Tsunami. A year later, very few of those schools have been restored. In line with Allianz’s corporate social responsibility strategy to provide long-term, sustainable support to communities in the region, Allianz employees from Germany donated funds to build a new school on a plot previously occupied by the state primary school called “SDN 81”.
The Tibang School reopening ceremony was presided over by Dr Werner Zedelius, Member of the Board of Management of Allianz responsible for Growth Markets, and was attended by 70 students and their parents and teachers.
Dr Zedelius said: “One year on, we are still seeing the devastating impact of the Tsunami on the lives of thousands of people, especially those living in Aceh. I believe the opening of this school is a vital step in helping people to start rebuilding their lives.”
Built by workers from Aceh, the school is based on a construction model that is unique amongst other buildings in the area. The design makes it less vulnerable to the effects of natural catastrophes. Despite extreme weather conditions in Aceh, this ‘model’ school will be able to withstand heavy flooding and earthquakes because of its strong foundations.
Morning classes will be held for primary school pupils, with older junior high students attending classes in the afternoon. The school has capacity for 250 students, so by splitting the classes in this way, 500 children in total will be able to attend.
Employees of Allianz Indonesia have volunteered to sponsor the students’ school fees and equipment such as textbooks and uniforms, and the teachers and educational programs will be provided by the Indonesian Ministry of Education, in association with the local government.
With six classrooms, a library, a prayer house (Musholla), a ritual cleaning place and a school guardian house, the school provides basic community support. Two of the classrooms are linked and can be used as a community assembly room, and in the event of extreme weather conditions, the second storey can be used as a shelter for up to 900 people.
Mr. Jens Reisch, representing the Board of Management of Allianz Indonesia, said: “I am delighted to see that in the barren area of Tibang, former residents have come back to rebuild their homes around the school building. This school has become the starting point of a new beginning and of future achievements.”
The school cost 210,000 euros to built, and was paid for from funds raised by staff of the Allianz Group, mainly in Germany. It is part of a long-term aid program put in place to support the reconstruction of Tsunami hit places. In the wake of the disaster, Allianz also provided initial relief for victims via the Indonesian National Commission for Child Protection, and initiated a water purifying project in partnership with some local and international NGOs.
“By providing a much needed school building and equipment, Allianz is underlining its commitment to Indonesia and demonstrating that as members of a global society, our staff around the world and in Indonesia have united in their efforts to help the victims of the tsunami”, said Dr Zedelius.
For further details :
Siti Thajeb
Public Relations
PT Asuransi Allianz Life Indonesia
Phone: 252-8759
Fax: 252-6965, 3000-3400
Email: Siti.Thajeb@allianz.co.id
Agung Priambadha
PR & Communications Manager
PT Asuransi Allianz Utama Indonesia
Phone: 252-2470
Fax: 252-3246
Email: Agung.Priambadha@allianz.co.id
About Allianz
The Allianz Group is a leading global provider of insurance and financial services with operations in more than 70 countries, and employing over 173,000 staff. The Group serves more than 60 million customers worldwide, including close to half of all Fortune 500 companies.
Through its insurance business, Allianz employs more than 20,000 staff in 14 countries across the Asia Pacific region. In 2004, the Group recorded total revenues of Euros 1.672 billion from its property and casualty insurance operations, and Euros 2.551 billion from its life and health insurance operations in the Asia Pacific region*.
PT Asuransi Allianz Life Indonesia was established in 1996, and offers life and health insurance solutions, unit link products and the pension plans (DPLK) for individuals as well as the corporate. Today, PT Asuransi Allianz Life Indonesia operates a wide network of more than 60 agency offices throughout Indonesia in more than 42 locations, supported by 6000 financial consultants dedicated to serving some 280,000 policyholders. PT Asuransi Allianz Life has already grown substantially over the past twelve months, having increased its premium income in 2005 by 40% when compared to the same period last year.
Since its establishment in 1989, Allianz Utama Indonesia has grown into one of the largest non-life insurers in Indonesia and now operates a distribution network of 7 branch offices and 17 Point of Sales in Jakarta and other important cities nationwide. For its outstanding performance, Allianz Utama Indonesia was honored Excellent / Very Good grade from Infobank Insurance rating 2002 & 2003, The Best General Insurance Company from Bisnis Indonesia Award 2003 and also Best General Insurance Company from Investor Magazine Insurance Rating 2004.
*Total revenues comprise property-casualty segment’s gross written premiums, life and health segment’s statutory premiums.