August 15, 2025: Support for a major lead battery industry charitable fund-raising initiative will be on back on the agenda at next month’s 21st Asian Battery Conference in Malaysia with the return of the ONE Minute Giveback.
The campaign continues the tradition of the international battery industry demonstrating its support for good causes in local communities — with this year’s initiative focused on creating a meaningful impact for children in need in Kota Kinabalu.
The ABC organizing team said its target is to provide scholarships for two full-day and one half-day places for a full year along with a small donation to support operations at the Seri Mengasih Centre.
The center is a charity non-government organization relying mainly on fundraising projects, and public donations for its operating costs.
It operates as a special developmental day training centre providing specialized training for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities from as young as three years-old up to adulthood.
The center said: “Every child deserves to have access to education especially children with special needs. “Unfortunately, some students are unable to continue even the most affordable education programs due to financial hardship.
“Raising and caring for an autistic child is a full-time commitment and many parents sacrifice their own aspirations in the process.”
The center is seeking support to fund educational opportunities for those parents, so they too can grow, learn, and thrive alongside their children.
The school, which currently has 66 students, charges parents a very low placement fee, but with many families on income at the poverty level they find it impossible to pay.
Seri Mengasih Centre said its primary mission is to enable and empower students towards a life of hope and dignity within the community.
The ONE Minute Giveback target is:
US$2,900 to fund one place at the Seri Mengasih School, for a full day for a full year;
US$1,700 to fund one place at Seri Mengasih School for a half day for a full year;
US$8,500.
Conference delegates in Kota Kinabalu can support the initiative on site or by making online donations. If you would like to get involved, contact Scott Fink (msfink@sorfin-yoshimura.us) from Sorfin Yoshimura or Mark Richardson (mmark@conferenceworks.com.au) from the 21ABC organizing team.
Visit https://asianbatteryconference.com/ for full conference program details.
The Batteries International team including editor Shona Sibary and publisher Mike Halls will be at the conference and producing a special 21ABC edition of The Battery Street Journal.
