Tan Sri Saw Choo Boon, Spark Foundation chairman. (Photography by SooPhye)
For Tan Sri Saw Choo Boon, river rehabilitation is an initiative close to his heart. “I grew up near a river — the Perak river, one of the longest in the country. It was a playground for my friends and me. We used to jump in to play or swim around!
“It was a very good experience for my childhood. I hope rivers can be kept clean so that children today and of the future can enjoy the same fun, recreation and comradeship,” explains the chairman of Spark Foundation when asked why the corporate social responsibility arm’s work resonates with him.
Established in 2007, Spark Foundation’s aim is to grow with the local communities and spark change in environmental conservation and education, all for a better tomorrow. Previously known as the GAB Foundation, the institution’s new identity was unveiled earlier this year. The rebranding was partly due to the name change at Guinness Anchor Bhd (GAB) to Heineken Malaysia Bhd in 2014. This was after Dutch brewer Heineken NV fully acquired GAPL Pte Ltd, which held a 51% stake in GAB.
With Earth Day falling on April 22, we talk about one of Spark Foundation’s two focus areas — river rehabilitation. The WATER (Working Actively Through Education and Rehabilitation) Project is a collaboration between the foundation and the Global Environment Centre — an international non-profit organisation with a regional presence that aims to raise awareness of the importance of river and water conservation through community-based programmes. The WATER Project not only hopes to achieve cleaner rivers but also to change mindsets and empower Malaysians to take greater ownership of rivers, which is its long-term goal.
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