Martin Nyirenda
22 August 2008
Gaborone — Stanbic Bank Botswana has engaged its staff and customers to roll out one of its corporate social investment project dubbed 'Collections for the Needy'.
The project is geared to benefit the Maun community and in line with the bank's vision to be relevant to the communities it operates in.
The project kicked off last Wednesday with the collection of boxes to be used to store for donated clothing, toys and books. The boxes will be set-up at all Stanbic Bank branches in Botswana.
The bank has joined hands on this project with the government department of environmental affairs. The two organisations intend to identify HIV/AIDS infected and affected persons in Maun to give the donations.
District environment coordinator for Maun, Sekgowa Motsumi announced that though their mandate is different, they saw it fit to extend their footprints to the health sector. "And what a better way to help our Maun community with a financial partner like Stanbic Bank," he pointed out.
Stanbic Bank Wellness Coordinator, Aone Mokaila disclosed that when the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Environment approached them with the idea, they did not hesitate to offer support. "We feel that this project will help us live our brand and contribute to the communities we operate in as well as inspiring, motivating and involving our staff, customers and stakeholders. Stanbic Bank recently won the Global Business Coalition Award for the HIV/AIDS Workplace Programme. This initiative is the bank's way of extending the dedication displayed by the group, towards HIV/AIDS projects, to our bases in Botswana," she said.
The collections project aims at encouraging all Batswana to illustrate the "botho le bopelo-tlhomogi," one of the Vision 2016 pillars. Stanbic appeals to the public to donate clothes, toys and books to aid in the initiative.
Stanbic says that the project will run until November 14, in time for the roll out of donations on this year's World AIDS Day on December 1. Government's deputy director of environment, Portia Segomelo said that efforts to address issues of HIV/AIDS in Botswana demand a multi-pronged approach. She added that the government has already demonstrated its commitment through different strategies and interventions across all sectors and levels of society.
"The Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism is no exception in responding to this imposing call. A ministry Wellness Policy has been adopted to guide and focus activities which relate to dealing and coping with the HIV/AIDS pandemic from the perspective of the environment sector. A sector which is primarily field based (wildlife officers, foresters, scientists, district planners), among others.
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