Every year Standard Bank commits half of its CSI budget towards education in forms of scholarships and bursaries for deserving students and learning, knitting a close relationship with the Ministry of Education.
As such, the Bank has over the years supported the Forum for African Women Educationalists Namibia (FAWENA), an organisation which has committed itself to educating over 1000 Orphans and Vulnerable Children with the sponsorships it receives.
Keeping in line with this commitment, Standard Bank this week handed over a donation of N$806 000 to the organisation.
“Standard Bank is not just about handing over cheques, we want to form lasting partnerships with all our recipients across the regions…It is important for us to help our learners pursue their dreams, our support does not only end when they matriculate but extends to even when they get to tertiary with our various bursary programs of which two of our former FAWENA recipients have now been awarded,” Standard Bank’s Acting Head of Marketing, Sigrid Tjijorokisa, said during the handover on Thursday at Jan Mohr Secondary School.
The event was also attended by the National Chapter Coordinator of FAWENA, Marlene Mungunda and a member of the FAWENA Executive Committee, Gerson Kongoro.
“We are sowing seeds of success through investing in the education of the Namibian child… FAWENA is one of our key CSI initiatives where we have invested millions to benefit a thousand disadvantaged learners in all 14 regions of the country. Programs and activities include the scholarship itself as well as mentoring and empowerment programs which have been implemented in all 14 regions,” she explained.
Since the inception of the partnership the Bank has seen the rewards of the partnership with some of these learners passing with flying colours and even doing exceptionally well at tertiary institutions. The scholarship provides school uniform, school fees, stationaries, toiletries and transportation fees, allowing these children to stay and complete their schooling.
Mungunda commended Standard Bank for its unwavering commitment, stressing that they were sowing seeds of success in very fertile soil as the youngsters have demonstrated with their stellar performances over the years.
“We are one family of the Namibian house and no one should be left out. Therefore, as a united family let us embrace this wonderful opportunity to reach and build Namibia. And you my dear learners are the rightful decision makers of the future. Therefore work hard and reach the top. Education is a golden opportunity,” she said.
The learners themselves were elated at the sponsorship, with most of them expressing what a difference it has made in their lives.
“I have been a recipient of the scholarship for four years since I was in Grade 8 and it has changed my life. My school fees and basic needs are always met which means I don’t have to worry and can focus on my studies. I want to encourage other learners to motivate themselves and grab the opportunity with both hands if they get it so they can reach the top,” Grade 11 learner, Lagia Hausiku, said.
Her counterpart, Christine Kanghono, who is in Grade 12 and has been a recipient of the scholarship for two years agreed with her. “This scholarship has had a positive impact on my life because I no longer have to worry about basic issues such as toiletries. It motivates me to work hard on my studies,” she said.
She concluded that learners should have a positive vision for their lives and not pay attention to nay-sayers because they can achieve anything they put their minds to.
Caption: (L-R) FAWENA Executive Committee member, Gerson Kongoro, Lee-Kayla Platt, Lahja Akaambo, National Chapter Coordinator of FAWENA, Marlene Mungunda, Lagia Hausiku, Christine Kanghono and Standard Bank’s Acting Head of Marketing, Sigrid Tjijorokisa, during the sponsorship handover.