SC runs ’voice donation’ drive

By Kim Jae-won

Standard Chartered Bank in Korea (SCBK) this month hosted a “voice donation” event to publish audio books for the visually challenged.

About 50,000 people volunteered to participate in the “Good Voice Festival” at COEX in Seoul on Jan. 14 and 15, from which some 100 narrators were selected.

The festival is part of the “Good Library Project,” a social responsibility activity of the Korean unit of the London-based global banking group, with the goal of providing audio books and specialized galleries especially for the visually challenged.

Richard Hill, the bank’s CEO said in a statement that his organization takes social responsibilities seriously and strives to create new forms of sharing cultures.

Along with Hill, actor Song Joong-ki, a goodwill ambassador for the event, both recorded audio books, which will be donated to libraries in March.

The 100 donors will also narrate story books guided by professional radio actors.

“Touching Art Gallery” gives access to the public as well as the visually-challenged to appreciate artworks through the sense of touch.

A movie for the visually challenged also drew attention.

The “Experience Booth” offered the general public an opportunity to experience being blind by walking around with their eyes blindfolded.

“Hanbit” or big light, an orchestra made up of blind musicians performed classical pieces.

Standard Chartered has run a global social responsibility program titled “Seeing is Believing,” providing medical services for people in developing countries suffering from eye diseases. The bank pledged last September to raise $100 million for the program at a session of the Clinton Foundation in New York.