22 Mar 2016

First National Bank of Botswana Foundation has donated a quantum mini bus to Masupe Primary School in Maunatlala to transport learners with intellectual disability from surrounding villages.

Handing over the bus to the school recently, FNBB Foundation board member, Dr Lesedinyana Odiseng said they were indebted to purchase a mini bus for the children in order to ensure they attended school at all times.

Dr Odiseng also noted that education played an integral part in building a secure future for children and that any issues that may affect school attendance needed to be addressed.

He said he was hopeful that with adequate transport for the children there would be no issues of school dropouts and absenteeism.

He was also hopeful that the transport would provide motivation for pupils to excel in their studies.

He explained that children were the backbone of the nation and therefore deserved a conducive environment for every activity they engaged in.

He said the donation was an indication of the caring ethos that characterised the foundation’s response to the many challenges facing communities. 

He added that it was within their corporate social responsibility structure not only to provide funds to needy organisations for short term relief, but to care about children’s well-being and to strive to guarantee them a better future.

Furthermore, he said they placed a lot of importance in contributing to the upliftment of communities. 

He said supporting the wider community formed an integral part of FNBB’s existence and they recognised an opportunity to address an important situation faced by many across the country. 

He explained that the FNBB Foundation was established in 2001 as a trust fund for the purpose of aiding beneficiaries who were in need and deserved assistance. 

He said annually FNBB contributed one per cent of its profits after tax to the foundation which had since its establishment, invested over P34 million in various projects intended to enrich and uplift those in need across the country.

Dr Odiseng also explained that the FNBB Foundation support was offered in areas of education, skills development, arts and culture, community sports and recreation and assisting needy communities especially children and youth.

He said the foundation remained committed to supporting sustainable projects, and that the vision was to see such efforts bear fruit. 

He encouraged members of society to join in the continuous journey of developing communities. 

Masupe Primary School head teacher, Ms Pinkie Lefakae said they had realised that several pupils needed special education classes. 

As such, Ms Lefakae said they saw the need to ask for assistance from different organisations to help them to build a special education class in order to serve the educational needs of all the children.

She said the Japanese Embassy, through the Grant Loan Assistance for Grassroot Human Security Project, assisted her school by building a special education block and thus the need for transport for pupils. 

She said the bus would transport learners with intellectual disability to and from Masupe, Lesenepole, Borakanelo and Seolwane schools. She thanked FNBB Foundation for heeding their plea.

The regional operations director for the central region, Mr Sonny Mooketsi also thanked FNBB for their support. 

He said although FNBB’s primary mandate was to provide banking services, they should also contribute to broader social development in the country. Ends