AIA insurer launches AIA Healthiest Schools programme

AIA Life Insurance Company Limited (AIA Vietnam) on Monday launched the AIA Healthiest Schools program to help young people "live healthier, longer, better lives".

The program aims to contribute to AIA’s purpose to help millions of people live healthier, longer, better lives and make a wider positive impact on communities across Asia, the company stated in a release.

The AIA Healthiest Schools program is aligned with AIA’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy and will encourage healthy living habits among students aged five to 16 by promoting healthy eating, active lifestyles, mental wellbeing, as well as health and sustainability in schools.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), children today face a host of new threats linked to unhealthy lifestyles and diets, climate change, pollution, injury, violence and inequality. WHO research shows that investing in children’s health, education and wellbeing brings substantial returns for societies.

In February this year, AIA set an ambition to engage a billion people to live healthier, longer, better lives by 2030 through the AIA One Billion initiative. The AIA Healthiest Schools program will contribute to this goal as it engages, inspires and educates communities to lead healthier lifestyles.

Wayne Besant, AIA Vietnam CEO said, “Helping people live healthier, longer, better lives guides everything that we do. Through the power of education, the AIA Healthiest Schools programme will instil healthy behaviours in young people at an early age and bring lasting change to improve the health and wellness of our next generation.”

AIA has partnered with education specialist, EVERFI, to design the AIA Healthiest Schools programme. In May this year, EVERFI conducted research amongst 800 teachers across Australia, Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam.

It found that 89% of teachers agree that there is a need for more resources and education that take a holistic health approach encompassing physical, mental and environmental wellness. A total 87% of teachers also indicated that the pandemic has had a negative impact on students’ mental health.

The programme will comprise a competition to motivate participating schools to showcase their impact and success in driving better health outcomes amongst students. The competition will also serve as a platform for schools to build communities that share best practices and spark innovative ideas around promoting health and wellness.

Winning schools across the region will be rewarded with world-class equipment, resources and access to expert advice that will address the most pressing challenges identified by individual schools and communities. These prizes will accelerate their health initiatives and instil a strong foundation for sustainable healthy living.

The AIA Healthiest Schools program will provide teachers with free, engaging curriculum-linked resources that can be easily adapted into existing teaching plans. Developed by educators, these resources will enable teachers to effectively engage their students in efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of the whole school community.

AIA is the Global Principal Partner of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, which along with AIA’s ambassadors across the region will share personal wellbeing advice and practical healthy living content to inspire students and schools into action.

The AIA Healthiest Schools program will be available in primary and secondary schools during the 2022/2023 academic year in Australia, Hong Kong (primary schools only), Thailand and Vietnam, with the aim to expand its reach across AIA’s other markets in Asia.