Barclays, MoESD and SSI form partnership for the youth

Kgomotso Molelekeng | Monday March 17, 2014 15:26

Friday saw the birth of Aflateen, an initiative rolled out by SSI and supported by Barclays and the ministry.

The managing director of SSI, Lisa Jamu said at the launch of the partnership that Aflateen is crucial as it demonstrates a true public private partnership, which will contribute to an educated nation.

She said the ministry recently signed a memorandum of understanding with SSI to enable SSI facilitators to train teachers to implement Aflateen in schools.

“Barclays Bank Botswana has provided the financial support as well as programme monitoring support by the branch employees,” she said.

She added that Aflateen is an innovative and interactive programme designed to develop children and youth to become conscientious, responsible adults. She said the programme includes social and financial enterprise, savings and spending, planning and budgeting, personal understanding and exploration and rights and responsibilities.

She pointed out that teachers from schools in Maun, Palapye, Gaborone, Kanye, Molepolole and Artesia have been trained over the past month under the programme.

The youth who will participate in the programme will form Aflateen clubs and execute social and financial enterprise activities in schools and the community. 

Barclays Bank Botswana CEO, Reinette Van Der Merwe, pointed out that through the Aflateen programme and their partnership with SSI, they will be talking the exciting world of money and finances to children at 10 schools in all districts of Botswana.

“It is fitting that we are celebrating our partnership and this programme during global money week, which is a time that the international community is focusing on teaching children about the importance of money, enterprise, employability and livelihood and this is what we plan to do here,” she said.

She pledged to work with and support the public to break the myth that children have nothing to do with money, as they believe childhood is the right level of intervention if the nation wants to have a responsible adult population in future.

Principal education officer, Kobontle Kgakge, applauded SSI for the good work they are doing. “We need more organisations like this that deals with improving the youth’s life’s and we at the MoESD will always offer our help where needed.”