Banyan Tree Global Foundation (BTGF) has launched the Greater Good Grants that aims to support innovative and impactful projects focused on the betterment of the environment and communities.
Founded with the core value of driving sustainable development, Banyan Tree is opening up its grant-giving foundation to external projects further afield from its immediate operating communities this year.
“Our usual approach has been to award project grants mainly through our operating properties and support the environment and community stakeholders in that specific vicinity. While projects should be in the same countries as where we operate, our new approach is to invite NGOs and academics to apply so we can support more impactful projects benefitting people and the planet,” explained Steve Newman, assistant vice president, group sustainability director and coordinating director of BTGF.
The Greater Good Grants for Year 2021 is now open for submission through December 31, 2020, and will invite projects across six areas as specified. Project grants are up to US$10,000, open to all individuals over the age of 18, who have an organisational affiliation. Submissions will be reviewed by the board of directors of BTGF and an internal panel of stakeholders. Successful project grantees will be notified by 1Q2021.
Projects will be assessed in their contribution to one or more of the following six areas: biodiversity and conservation, resource use and waste management, climate change and resilience, education and empowerment, health and protection; as well as culture and livelihood.
Claire Chiang, co-founder & senior vice president of Banyan Tree Holdings and chairperson of BTGF, said: “We have given project grants to over 150 partners in our operating locales since inception to now. This is our ecosystem of greater good, centred on our belief that our business is a vehicle for societal betterment and transformation. In this time where hope and optimism are needed more than ever, we hope to catalyse positive ripple effects and extend our support to more partners seeking to create positive, sustainable change.”
Singapore will lift border restrictions for visitors from mainland China and the state of Victoria in Australia, from November 6.
They will have to undergo a Covid-19 test upon arrival at the airport and will not need to serve a quarantine order if the result is negative.
The same applies to Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders returning from these two areas from November 6.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said on Thursday that both mainland China and Victoria were added to the list of countries that Singapore has unilaterally opened its borders to as they have comprehensive public health surveillance systems and had displayed successful control over the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
The risk of importation from these places is low, it added, noting that mainland China has a virus local incidence rate of 0.00009 cases per 100,000 people, while Victoria has a rate of 0.099 cases per 100,000 people.
Visitors travelling from both places can now apply for an Air Travel Pass (ATP) for entry into Singapore from November 6.
Applicants must have remained in either mainland China or Australia in the last 14 consecutive days prior to their entry. All visitors must also travel to Singapore on direct flights without transit.
During their stay, they will be required to use the TraceTogether app for contact tracing purposes, and must also bear any medical costs related to Covid-19.
CAAS said that it will also update the travel advisory to allow travel to mainland China and all of Australia.
This latest initiative follows the earlier lifting of border restrictions for visitors from Australia, excluding Victoria state; Brunei Darussalam; New Zealand and Vietnam.
As of October 29, CAAS has approved 1,375 applications from these places, and received 602 visitors, none of whom have tested positive for Covid-19 upon arrival, according to the aviation authority.