Day: October 11, 2021

LUXEMBOURG, Oct. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Blue like an Orange is pleased to announce that AXA has acquired a 20% stake in its capital. AXA has supported its development from the outset by being one of the first investors to commit to “Latin America Fund I”, the first sub-fund of Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital Fund SICAV-SIF SCS. AXA wishes to confirm, with this equity investment, a long-term and strategic commitment. Thanks to this support, Blue like an Orange will be able to continue and accelerate its development as set out four years ago when the company was incorporated: to become a reference in sustainable and impact investment in emerging and developing countries.

Bertrand Badré, Managing Partner and founder of Blue like an Orange commented, “With my partners Rashad Kaldany and Emmanuelle Yannakis, and the entire Blue like an Orange team, we are delighted to continue the pioneering work we started in 2017 with AXA’s support. By building on our expertise in structured debt, our knowledge of emerging and developing markets and our ability to work with public development institutions, we intend to contribute to putting sustainable investment at the heart of investment strategies in the future. This is an important step and a strong signal to our impact partners and beyond.”

Pascal Christory, Chief Investment Officer of the AXA Group, commented: “We are pleased to invest alongside the experienced and successful team of Blue like an Orange. Their approach to put finance at the service of more inclusive and sustainable growth fits perfectly with AXA’s ambition to have a positive social and environmental impact through its investment policies.”

In addition, AXA has confirmed an investment in the second sub-fund (“Latin America Fund II”) and is therefore an anchor investor.

About Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital

Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital finances companies and projects that offer both strong risk-adjusted returns and positive social impact in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital focuses primarily on financing sustainable infrastructure, technology services, social infrastructure, agriculture, and financial inclusion. The Company strives to foster inclusive and sustainable growth while providing market-based financial returns. The Managing Partners of Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital are Bertrand Badré, Rashad Kaldany and Emmanuelle Yannakis.

For more information: http://www.bluelikeanorangecapital.com.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1175564/Blue_like_an_Orange_Sustainable_Capital_Logo.jpg

Change starts at home – Clé de Peau Beauté believes that everyone has a role to play in improving access to quality education, especially in the face of today’s global challenges.

TOKYO, Oct. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The past year and a half has brought on considerable change and uncertainty in the world – school-age children have been especially impacted with global lockdowns affecting their education and ability to attend school. Clé de Peau Beauté, the global luxury skincare and makeup brand, is reaffirming their commitment to advocating for education by launching a STEM-focused game to help reignite excitement for learning amongst young children. Based on the belief that the key to a more radiant future lies in unlocking the power of girls through education, in 2019 Clé de Peau Beauté began its partnership with UNICEF and launched its philanthropic initiative, ‘The Power of Radiance’, as a vehicle to recognize the efforts of individuals who have taken action to drive positive change in their communities through education, skills development and empowerment. This year, Clé de Peau Beauté’s ‘Power of Radiance’ program will take the brand’s global vision to a local level to galvanize change in communities around the world.

During the pandemic, more than 180 countries faced temporary school closures. According to a study conducted by UNICEF, UNESCO, and the World Bank, pandemic related school closures and the lack of education continuity could lead to a loss of $10 trillion in labor earnings over current students’ working lives ^[1]. When it comes to more near-term effects, students have faced increased anxiety about school – especially young girls. A study by UNICEF shows that COVID-19 increases psychosocial stress and mental health issues of girls, affecting their ability to learn^[2]. This year, Clé de Peau Beauté has taken inspiration from the 2021 ‘Power of Radiance’ Award Recipient, Alyona Tkachenko, and her track record of achieving results in furthering STEM education. Tapping into Ms. Tkachenko’s hands on experience with kids and what keeps them engaged with learning, Clé de Peau Beauté has created an educational tool that can be accessed in and out of the classroom to get girls excited and comfortable with STEM subjects again.

Alyona Tkachenko is recognized as the initiator of Hour of Code in Kazakhstan – bringing the program to her country to inspire students, especially girls to learn programming. “I am a firm believer that when children are having fun or enjoying themselves, they are able to learn better. STEM is often stigmatized as a subject, so I am thrilled to see that Clé de Peau Beauté is harnessing creativity and technology to help bridge that gap to excite young students,” said Alyona Tkachenko. “I’m honored to have been this year’s recipient of the ‘Power of Radiance’ award and humbled that my own experience has served as inspiration for this year’s program.”

“With education continuity in crisis, we are delighted to take the spirit of ‘The Power of Radiance’ program and create tangible, meaningful change through inspiring young girls to explore STEM subjects through play. We have seen the power of teaching STEM subjects in a fun and engaging way through Alyona’s experience and success in her own community. We hope to inspire others to play their part and join us in paving a way for a more radiant and equal society,” said Ms. Yukari Suzuki, Chief Brand Officer of Clé de Peau Beauté.

Events will be held by Clé de Peau Beauté’s regional markets where educators, parents, and children will be invited to learn more about the importance of STEM education and explore the STEM game. This year’s ‘Power of Radiance’ program seeks to galvanize change in local communities and inspire individual students to explore STEM subjects in a language they are familiar with: play.

The ‘Power of Radiance Awards’ program grant will be funded from global sales Clé de Peau Beauté’s The Serum.

For more details, please visit: https://www.cledepeau-beaute.com/int/powerofradiance-2021.html.

About Clé de Peau Beauté
Clé de Peau Beauté, the global luxury brand from Shiseido Co., Ltd., was founded in 1982 as the ultimate expression of elegance and science. Clé de Peau Beauté means the key to skin’s beauty. The philosophy of the brand is to unlock the power of a woman’s radiance by harnessing makeup technologies and advanced skincare from around the world. Forever guided by an exquisite aesthetic sensibility and intelligence, Clé de Peau Beauté has instilled its products with modernity, enchantment, and dynamism to emerge as an industry leader in delivering radiance so remarkable, it emanates from within. Available in 22 countries and regions worldwide.

Clé de Peau Beauté Official Website: www.cledepeau-beaute.com
Clé de Peau Beauté Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cledepeaubeaute/

About Alyona Tkachenko
Ms. Tkachenko became interested in STEM through studying physics and math, as well as working with tech companies early in her career. She wanted to spread awareness and expand access to STEM education in her home country so she co-founded, Love to Code, a programming training center for children. While advocating for Love to Code’s mission to give every kid in Almaty and eventually in all of Kazakhstan an opportunity to learn coding, Alyona launched a social initiative called Kazakhstan’s Hour of Code to bring more attention to the subject of coding and Computer Science. Since it first launched, Kazakhstan’s Hour of Code program grew from 60,000 students to 350,000 by 2019. The Hour of Code program has quickly become the largest STEM initiative in Kazakhstan –introducing over 500,000 Kazakhstani girls to STEM and training more than 200 female teachers on STEM curriculum. Alyona also co-founded Nommi, a Kazakhstan-run secure connectivity startup, that provides fast LTE data for remote workers across the globe. Nommi has expanded and signed corporate agreements with some Fortune 500 Companies. She is the first female tech-founder from Central Asia to make the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List (2019).

[1] https://blogs.worldbank.org/education/how-could-covid-19-hinder-progress-learning-poverty-some-initial-simulations

[2] https://www.unicef.org/eap/media/7146/file/Issue_Brief%3A_Issue_Brief%3A_COVID-19_and_Girls%E2%80%99_Education_in_East_Asia_and_Pacific.pdf

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1634764/image.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1283638/Logo_Logo.jpg

BEIJING, Oct. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — One hundred and ten years ago, Chinese revolutionaries led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen launched the 1911 Revolution, marking a milestone in the long and arduous journey to realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Speaking at a commemorative meeting on Saturday to mark the 110th anniversary of the Revolution, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for drawing lessons from the past when achieving China’s complete reunification and driving the great cause of national rejuvenation forward.

“For all Chinese people, achieving national rejuvenation is not only a shared honor but also a shared mission,” said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

‘China must be, will be reunified’

Xi reiterated commitments to strive for national reunification by peaceful means, saying it is in the best interests of compatriots across the Taiwan Straits as well as the Chinese nation while warning that “Taiwan independence” goes against the trend of history and will lead to a dead end.

“The Taiwan question arose out of the weakness and chaos of our nation, and it will be resolved as national rejuvenation becomes a reality,” Xi said in his speech at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, adding that cross-Strait reunification is the common will of all Chinese people.

Xi recalled that the mainland adheres to the basic policies of peaceful reunification and One Country, Two Systems, upholds the one-China policy and the 1992 Consensus and works for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

Noting that the Chinese nation has an honorable tradition of opposing division and safeguarding unity, he added that “secession aimed at ‘Taiwan independence’ is the greatest obstacle to national reunification and a grave danger to national rejuvenation.”

Underlining that the Taiwan question is China’s internal affairs and brooks no external interference, Xi expressed the confidence that “the complete reunification of our country will be and can be realized.”

A historical inevitability

Longing for a bright future for the Chinese nation, Sun once wrote: “If I believe something to be feasible, even if it may be as difficult as moving a mountain or draining the sea, I will one day bring it to pass.”

Recalling these words, Xi on Saturday said that after years of hard work, China’s national rejuvenation has become a historical inevitability, with stronger institutions, firmer material foundations and a more proactive mindset.

“The past 110 years have shown us that to realize national rejuvenation, the Chinese people must have a strong force to lead us forward, and that force is the Communist Party of China,” Xi added.

On the road to national rejuvenation, “socialism with Chinese characteristics has proven to be the only correct path,” he noted.

He also urged the Chinese people to rely on their own heroic efforts. “Through courage and skill, we will overcome all major risks and challenges that may impede our path to national rejuvenation and resolutely safeguard our national sovereignty, security, and development interests,” he said.

Xi urged the Chinese people and nation to learn the patriotic lessons from the 1911 Revolution, stick together through good times and bad and rely on strong unity to overcome risks and challenges on the road ahead.

Realizing national rejuvenation needs not only a stable and united domestic environment but also a peaceful and stable international environment, Xi said.

“Aggression and hegemony are not in the blood of the Chinese people,” he pointed out, adding that China will remain a champion of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order, and we will do our very best to make even greater contributions to humanity.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-10-09/Xi-delivers-speech-at-event-marking-1911-Revolution-anniversary-14ddra598o8/index.html

Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvTiX5QwYcc