By Siphesihle Dlamini
Aimed at social responsibility and community upliftment, the First National Bank (FNB) Eswatini Foundation has announced a generous donation of E868, 256 to three local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for the financial year 2024/25.
The momentous occasion took place at the FNB Eswatini Headquarters in Ezulwini, where representatives from the beneficiary organizations gathered to receive their much-needed financial support.
The NGOs that have been empowered through this philanthropic initiative include Junior Achievement (JA) Eswatini, Days for Girls, and Gogo Nde Care Centre.
Each organization received a significant portion of the total donation: JA Eswatini was awarded E271,000, Days for Girls secured E394,000, and Gogo Nde Care Centre received E203,000.
In his keynote address, FNB Eswatini Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Thokozani Dlamini emphasized the bank’s commitment to fostering gender diversity, inclusion, humanitarian support, and entrepreneurship.
“As the FNB Eswatini Foundation, we are proud to hand over a sponsorship to an organization that is working tirelessly to address period poverty,” he stated.
This is particularly relevant as Days for Girls has been at the forefront of promoting menstrual equity in Eswatini, addressing the critical challenges surrounding menstrual health.
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Dlamini elaborated on Days for Girls’ initiatives, which include the distribution of menstrual hygiene kits and providing comprehensive menstrual health education.
“These programs aim to improve educational outcomes for girls by reducing absenteeism linked to inadequate menstrual health support while fostering inclusivity and breaking stigmas surrounding menstruation,” he noted.
The focus on education continued as Dlamini presented the sponsorship to JA Eswatini. He expressed pride in supporting an organization that directly addresses youth unemployment through a job shadowing program.
This initiative aims to empower 200 Form 4 students by placing them in ten-day work attachments across 120 companies, helping them align their career aspirations with market demands.
“This initiative directly tackles challenges identified in the National Skills Audit Report, specifically the mismatch between skills supply and demand,” he explained.
Dlamini underscored the bank’s recognition of its role in addressing the challenges facing the nation. “We understand that no single sponsorship package can ever fully address these challenges, but when we collaborate our efforts, we can significantly contribute to Eswatini’s development,” he said.
The final beneficiary of the day was Gogo Nde Care Centre, which received E204,000 to support its mission of assisting vulnerable children.
The Centre currently cares for 20 children residing there and an additional 118 children from the surrounding community.
“The Centre has faced significant financial challenges, particularly exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, and we are pleased to make this contribution towards the sustainability of this important initiative,” Dlamini remarked.
The selection of these projects followed a rigorous process by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, which reviewed multiple applications in response to their Annual Request for Proposals (RFP).
“We believe that these organizations are tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing our country, aligning their causes with our objectives,” Dlamini stated.
He also challenged the partner organizations to maximize the impact of the sponsorships, emphasizing the importance of prudent resource management, teamwork, and trustworthiness.
“For any project to succeed, these standards are essential, and we expect our partners to uphold them, with the ultimate beneficiaries being emaSwati.”
Dlamini concluded his speech by expressing hope for a future where the positive impact of these initiatives is evident throughout the communities.
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“Not only does this build trust among us as partners, but it will also strengthen the case for more support for not-for-profit organizations in Eswatini from the private sector, government, and individuals.
As a bank, we look forward to hearing the many stories of the positive impact you will continue to make across our communities as we grow our relationship,” he said.
FNB Eswatini’s generous contribution underscores the vital role that corporate social responsibility plays in creating a thriving and equitable society, setting a commendable example for other organizations to follow.
Through these initiatives, the bank not only invests in the future of Eswatini but also reinforces the significance of collective efforts in overcoming societal challenges.
