South African financial services company Ubank is distributing 3 000 pairs of school shoes to learners from seven schools from the Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo and North West provinces as part of it’s ‘Back to School’ campaign, with the latest recipients being Matlhaleng Secondary School and Kgorathuto High School.
Matlhaleng Secondary School is situated in the township of Kanana, outside Klerksdorp in the North West province, and Kgorathuto High School in situated in the township of Botshabelo, out side Bloemfontein in the Free State province.
“One of the pillars supporting Ubank’s business strategy is community development – investing in the communities in which we operate, forms a critical part of how we do business and our constant effort has been to help uplift the lives not only of our customers, but also their families,” says Ubank chief executive officer Luthando Vutula.
Ubank has prioritised sustainable educational programmes in partnership with various district offices of the Department of Education (Image: Ubank)According to Vutula, Ubank has prioritised sustainable educational programmes in partnership with various district offices of the Department of Education and also assisting schools in improving their facilities.
“Every child deserves not just books and good facilities to study, but also proper uniforms and clothing that is protective,” said Vutula. “We focused our efforts on helping out the learners of Matlhaleng Secondary School because this is one of the most challenged schools in the area.
“We are extremely pleased that through our efforts the school is being able to overcome at least one of the challenges to ensure an improved learning experience.”
The campaign to increase the number of shoes to be raised is ongoing with North WestFM and has to date raised a further 2 000 pairs.
ADOPT A SCHOOL
As part of the its ongoing corporate social investment initiatives, Ubank adopted Kgorathuto High School in September 2013, when the bank’s Bloemfontein branch was opened.
Thereafter Ubank assisted the school in overcoming their most pressing issues, including the repairing of ceilings in 10 classrooms, maintaining ablution facilities for learners, painting three classrooms and providing school uniforms for 100 learners at the school.
“Ubank has always believed in maintaining the relationships that were started, and this was the reason why the team focused on Kgorathuto High School as one of the schools that benefited from our ‘Back to School’ campaign,” said Ubank chief operations officer Bungane Radebe. “Shoes were one of the only elements that we were not able to help the learners with last year, and now we have fulfilled this need as well.”
