27 children from St. Peter’s Day Care Centre’s reception class celebrated their graduation, moving one step closer towards greater educational prosperity. A graduation ceremony was held at the Centre, located in the heart of Mogoditshane, on Saturday 22nd November 2014. Supported by Stanbic Bank Botswana and other stakeholders, the ceremony and festivities, including a Nativity play and Christmas carol recitals, were held before patrons, supporters, family and friends of St. Peter’s.
“Our relationship with St Peter’s Day Care Centre under the leadership of Father Andrew began in 2013, when our Client Coverage team began nurturing a relationship we hoped would blossom into a long term, beneficial one. We are pleased to see young minds grow and shine, and to be able to support growing one of the key foundations of our nation: the education of our children. The graduation ceremony allows us to reflect and celebrate what has been achieved and what is still to be done. It is a milestone of excitement and of promise, and we are grateful to be a part of St Peter’s success story,” commented Mr. Sheperd Aisam, Head of Client Coverage at Stanbic Bank Botswana.
Stanbic Bank donated P60, 000.00 towards the Centre’s 2014 budget. The Centre’s place in the hearts of those at the Bank has previously been evidenced by a P100, 000.00 donation made in 2013 towards its operational expenses and an official recommendation of the Centre as one of the beneficiaries of the 2013 Diacore Gaborone Marathon. Most crucially is the commitment made by the Bank’s Client Coverage division for a hands-on and engaging relationship with the Centre.
“We have enjoyed a long and engaging relationship with the Stanbic Bank team, one that I am pleased to say goes beyond the simple signing of a cheque. The Stanbic team have often spent time with the children, made an effort to promote greater financial literacy amongst the children from a young age, and taken the initiative to drive a sustainable sense of change in the lives of the children of St. Peter’s Day Care Centre. We look forward to seeing this investment continue to grow, as with such a heartfelt investment as this, there can only be positive returns,” said Father Andrew.
St. Peter’s Day Care centre is a centre for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) that has up to 120 students of various ages enrolled at any given time. The Centre was established in 2003, and falls under the Anglican Diocese of Botswana (Church of the Province of Central Africa) under the leadership of the Bishop, the Right Reverend Metlhayotlhe Beleme. 80 of the children enrolled are between two and a half and six years old, with an additional 30 after school care children who come for lunch, homework supervision and afternoon activities.
“This donation is in line with the Bank’s community social investment objectives and those of Vision 2016: to cultivate an educated and informed nation. It is our hope that this donation will go a long way towards ensuring that our children feel nurtured, empowered and protected and we hope to continue in moving our community forward in this way,” concluded Mr. Sheperd Aisam, Head of Client Coverage at Stanbic Bank Botswana.
