21 Sep 2016

Managing director of Barclays Bank Botswana has on behalf of the bank donated P60 000 to Kalahari Conservation Society (KCS) in an effort to raise awareness and contribute financially to the conservation of rhinos in Botswana.

Speaking at the funds handover, Ms Reinette Van Der Merwe said rhinos were an endangered species and it was the duty of Batswana to protect them, so that future generations could see them instead of just reading about them.

She said the bank introduced the rhino debit card to ensure the sustainability of the conservation efforts and they in turn donate 0.2 per cent of the income made from the card to the Rhino Conservation Fund that has been set up at Barclays Bank of Botswana.

“We came up with a Youth Development and Rhino Conservation Project, which we launched in partnership with the KCS in 2014,” she said, adding that to date KCS has provided environmental conservation education to over 1 000 youth, money skills training to 145 anti-poaching agents and 17 had graduated from the Botswana Wildlife Training Institute.

“We are expecting to send 60 more young people for professional guiding courses this year,” she said.

Ms Van Der Merwe further said in 2015 the bank successfully distributed 6 000 Rhino Debit Cards to its customers and there would be more cards distributed in the following months.

“Barclays Bank of Botswana will continue working with Kalahari Conservation Society to effectively manage funds received from the Rhino Debit Card and I would also like to urge all our clients to register for the Rhino Debit Card. The card is available for all retail customers,” she said.

“As Barclays Bank of Botswana we trust that our efforts and contributions will make a significant impact in the conservation of rhinos and help bring ideas on how of protect them,” she added.

She further said the Rhino Debit Card won the citizenship award from the Barclays Africa Group Limited as it demonstrated the bank’s innovative and solution oriented approach towards communities it operates within.
KCS chief executive officer, Leonard Dikobe expressed his gratitude to the funds received from the bank.

“We are truly grateful to Barclays Bank of Botswana as they continue to support rhino conservation. I am certain that these funds will go a long way in assisting our efforts,” he said.

He indicated that over the years rhinos have been under severe threat of poachers and such contributions would help in keeping rhinos safe. Ends