Standard Bank commits E368,600

By Delisa Magagula and Gift Nkabinde

Standard Bank Eswatini has decisively amplified its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) commitment, announcing a combined financial injection of E368,600.00 into two key national development areas.

The investment targets two cornerstone organisations, the BAWSS Foundation and Junior Achievement (JA) Eswatini, reflecting the bank’s foundational purpose.

This substantial funding allocation, unveiled during a handover event held at the Bank’s Headquarters boardroom on Monday underscores a strategic vision that links essential human needs with the cultivation of future economic leaders.

During the handover, a major portion of the funding, E218,600.00, was dedicated to tackling the pervasive and often invisible challenge of period poverty that acts as a significant barrier to education across the kingdom.

This investment facilitated the provision of 1,000 Dignity Packs through a partnership with the BAWSS Foundation, a dedicated non-profit focused on supporting under-resourced high school girls.

Bongiwe Hlophe, Head of People and Culture at Standard Bank Eswatini, conveyed the gravity of the issue and the profound simplicity of the solution during her address at the handover.

“Today we hand over 1,000 dignity packs to under-resourced high school girls. Each pack is simple in form sanitary pads, soap, deodorant, and essentials for menstrual hygiene but profound in impact. They help keep a girl in school, protect her dignity, and signal to her that this community believes in her potential,” said Hlophe.

Hlophe elaborated on the devastating cost of inaction, noting that period poverty forces girls to miss valuable classroom time, not because of a lack of ambition, but due to a lack of basic, affordable products and hygienic facilities.

She referenced global data points, observing that roughly one in ten school-age girls in Africa is absent from school during their menstruation. She said this absenteeism translates directly into lost lessons, lost confidence, and, too often, lost opportunities a cycle that hinders personal and national progress.

“We know this problem is preventable, dignity is not abstract. Dignity is a girl staying in class because she has what she needs. It’s her raising her hand without fear that a stain will betray her.

It’s staying engaged in sports, science labs, debates, and leadership roles throughout the month. It’s the quiet confidence of coming to school prepared, every day,” she said.

Meanwhile Anele Shabangu, Founder of the BAWSS Foundation, emotionally accepted the donation, underscoring the critical role such a large-scale, funded project plays in their mission.

“Standard Bank has invested in self-worth, for a girl struggling with poverty, her period becomes a monthly source of anxiety and interruption.

This partnership means we can reach girls deep within our communities who have limited access to appropriate products and safe washing facilities, ensuring they can manage their periods with dignity. This act, in turn, restores momentum to a girl’s education journey,” said Shabangu.

Meanwhile complementing the foundational support provided to young women, the second pillar of the bank’s investment was a significant grant of E150,000.00 to Junior Achievement (JA) Eswatini.

This funding is strategically allocated to strengthen JA’s programmes, which focus on cultivating crucial entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy among the country’s youth.

Mlamuli Hlatjwako, Head of Business Banking at Standard Bank Eswatini, provided the business case for this development-focused investment, drawing a direct line between youth empowerment and the nation’s financial vitality.

“At Standard Bank, our purpose Eswatini as our home, we drive her growth. Driving Eswatini’s growth means investing in young people so they can learn, lead, and participate fully in the economy,” Hlatjwako asserted.

He emphasised that the bank’s support goes beyond capital, including mentorship and skills programmes, because true empowerment is about providing the tools, knowledge, and opportunities that unlock potential.

Hlatjwako stressed that the challenges facing the youth unemployment rate demand proactive measures.

“We know the problem is complex, however, by partnering with organisations like Junior Achievement, we are giving young Swati the practical skills necessary to be job creators, not just job seekers. This is where sustainable economic acceleration begins,” he said.

Receiving the cheque on behalf of the foundation was Nomusa Mamba, the Acting Executive Director of the JA Eswatini Foundation. Mamba detailed how the bank’s contribution would be leveraged to scale their programs across more schools.

“This generous commitment from Standard Bank allows us to significantly broaden our reach, providing our students with crucial exposure to financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurial mentorship,” Mamba explained.

“We are preparing our youth to navigate a complex, modern economy. The bank’s commitment to providing this financial stability means we can focus on delivering high-quality, impactful curriculum that aligns directly with national development objectives,” she added.

Mamba also linked the JA intervention to the dignity initiative, noting that when youth are equipped with economic skills, they gain financial dignity and independence.

“When we invest in their education and their economic futures, we accelerate the progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 4 and SDG 5. This is an investment that pays dividends for the entire nation,” she said.

Worth mentioning, this dual commitment of E368,600.00 is not an isolated event, but a clear continuation of Standard Bank Eswatini’s long-standing, multi-faceted CSI policy.

The bank has historically maintained a significant focus on holistic community support across education, health, and arts.

For instance, Standard Bank’s backing of the arts, particularly through its sponsorship of the Swaziland National Choral Music Association (SNCMA), is an engagement that spans over two decades, showing a cumulative contribution of over E1.5 million to preserving and advancing the country’s cultural heritage

In addressing the professional needs of young graduates, the bank has committed E742,000 in a recent period to its Graduate Trainee and Internship Programmes, offering essential pathways into the formal sector.