30 May 2016

First National Bank of Botswana (FNBB) Foundation recently donated 48 pairs of shoes to Manaledi Primary School pupils in Manaledi.

Handing over the shoes, FNB Palapye branch manager Mr Ratsela Segwati said that FNBB Foundation was working with communities to ensure that children were appropriately taken care of.

He said the wellbeing and security of the children was one of the priorities for the trustees of the FNBB foundation.

He said winters in the country could be harsh and that it was not every parent who could afford to buy a pair of school shoes for their child.

“We want to ensure that this winter all pupils of Manaledi primary are not denied the right to education,” he said.

He encouraged parents to play a leading role in ensuring that their children went to school, did their homework as well as participating in extracurricular activities.

He noted that last year FNBB Foundation made a pledge to donate school shoes to students annually across the country while in 2015, about 3 500 pairs of shoes were given away. He said this year the intention was to donate 3 724 pairs of shoes.

He said FNB Foundation was the bank’s corporate social responsibility trust fund established in 2001 for the purpose of aiding beneficiaries who were in need and deserving assistance.

Mr Segwati said the bank contributed up to 1 per cent of its after tax profits to the foundation annually and FNBB Foundation was one of the biggest corporate donors and a leader in corporate social responsibility in the financial services sector.

Since its establishment in 2001, he said, the foundation has invested more than P40 million in various projects.

Among them he cited educational endeavors, arts and culture, sports and recreation and social welfare.

Earlier on Palapye sub-region chief education officer Mr Otukile Kedikilwe said the gesture by FNBB Foundation was a true demonstration of the Vision 2016 pillar of a compassionate, just and caring nation.

He however appealed to companies to adopt Manaledi Primary School. He said companies were free to choose whether they can adopt a school, a class or a student. Ends