30 Jul 2020

As part of their continuing efforts and commitment to help government in relieving the public from the impact of the coronavirus, Stanbic Bank Botswana donated implements to Mahupu Unified Secondary School.

Handing over 1 850 face masks for students and teachers, 150 basic toiletry hampers and 100 sanitisers at a ceremony held in Takatokwane on Tuesday, bank’s communications manager, Ms Ruth Sibanda said they were passionate about contributing towards sustainable success and growth for Botswana and Batswana.

“Botswana is our home and we must and will therefore drive her growth.” Ms Sibanda said, adding that  their journey with Mahupu began in May 2019 when Stanbic Bank Botswana donated over 700 sanitary towels, 100 scientific calculators, financial literacy books and P20 000 towards educational and recreational games.

The communications manager further said in March 2020 they hosted 60 Business Studies students from the school for an educational trip in Gaborone where presentation on money, banking and financing were made in an effort to help them improve their academic performance.

She said the students were also taken on sightseeing tour of key landmarks in Gaborone such as the National Assembly and the Three Chiefs Monument, an initiative valued at P33 210.

“As Stanbic Bank, we are constantly gravitating towards making dreams possible and improving the lives of Batswana.”

Ms Sibanda added that the bank commends President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and his entire team for working tirelessly towards fighting the virus in Botswana.

In his welcome remarks, Mahupu  school head, Mr William Mbinda said they were happy to meet under joyous celebration, with the bank donating to the school.

He said Stanbic Bank was now their friend and always there whenever there was a need. 

Mr Mbinda said there was nothing as beautiful as receiving a gift from someone who loved and cared about you, adding that it was what the bank was doing for them.

He said they would forever be grateful for the donation as it would assist the student community and teachers.

Deputy school head, Mr Mpaphi Kuswani, who has been manning their relationship with the bank, said they were happy for the healthy relationship they had with the bank.

He said the bank came at the right time when they were experiencing poor academic performance and that the students needed some form of exposure to understand certain things to which the bank assisted them with.

Mr Kuswani said the school performance improved after their intervention and they promised to even up it in the coming examinations.

Kuswani said they would not disappoint as they intend to add value by 15 per cent in the coming academic results on top of the 31.37 per cent they got in the 2019 BGCSE results.

For his part, Kweneng Education Regional Operations director Mr Steve Bothasitse expressed gratitude towards the good gesture from Stanbic Bank.

He said the donation would come handy as government needed support from the private sector.

Mr Bothasitse commended the bank for the donation and requested the community not to disappoint. He asked both parties to sign an academic contract to set target of academic success as the bank’s desire was to see the school excel academically.

The director thanked the school management and staff in maintaining the relationship with the bank adding that their efforts would not go unnoticed. ENDS