As it kicks off events celebrating International Women’s Day, Maybank Cambodia has announced the winners of its Yippie Children Savings Account Colouring Contest.

The competition and its accompanying campaign, which ran from June through until December last year, garnered a great response, with close to 1,000 entries received.

The first-place winner, Marina Furuyama, received a $1,000 cash prize. Second-place winners Yim Sarkun, Try Sreyrath and Yim Thanantarak each received $300, and third-placed Vuthy Sotharoath and Chhoeun Hoin each won $200.

Maybank CEO Lee Tien Poh said the colouring contest was held as part of the bank’s efforts to promote healthy saving habits among Cambodian children. “As a bank with a mission to humanise the financial services, we are constantly looking for ways to help the community secure greater financial independence,” he said.

“Our Yippie Savings Account is unique as it helps children save and at the same time offers fun activities and promotional programs.”

“We recognise that Cambodia has a large young population with a growing number of young families, making introducing the habit of savings to young people all the more important. Maybank’s Yippie Children Savings Account provides fair returns through the multi-tiered interest feature,” he added.

Accountholders received one entry for the colouring contest with every $100 deposited into the Yippie Children Savings Account.

Lee continued that “to be able to play a part in educating Cambodia’s young generation on the importance of savings is truly an exciting experience. It is one way of helping customers benefit in more than just their banking relationship with Maybank.”

“We are also delighted to have incorporated an element to give back to the Cambodian community through this campaign. Schools are a good platform to foster the values and benefits of community service. Through such initiatives, the schools can contribute towards developing young children to be caring, purposeful and responsible global citizens,” Lee added.

In addition, Maybank had also presented a contribution of $1,000 to the school of the first-place winner, HOPE International School, for any community service initiative it wants to implement.

“We believe the contribution of $1,000 to the school will help in engaging its students with the local needy communities, with suitable community service projects.”

Paul Hughes, communications and development officer of HOPE International School, said that Marina is 13 years old and lives in Siem Reap with one older sister and one younger brother. Her Japanese father is an architect and has been in Cambodia for many years and her mother is Cambodian.

“Marian has been attending HOPE International School in Siem Reap where she enjoys all subjects, but has a particular gift for art. Marina enjoys spending time with her friends, watching cartoons and drawing and painting,” Hughes added.