Barclays Intensifies Financial Inclusion
Staff Writer | Monday September 25, 2017 16:13
Barclays managing director, Reinette van der Merwe said the bank’s activities reflect their determination to make an impact in the communities in which the bank operates.
“We launched the third season of Madi Majwana, the radio drama on financial literacy in February at Maitisong Theatre,” she said.
She added that the drama played on three radio stations, adding that the theatrical performance went on tour to 11 villages including D’kar, Gantsi, Hukuntsi, Kanye, and Jwaneng.
van der Merwe said the drama was received with enthusiasm by the communities as it provided them with an opportunity to learn about money management and to discuss issues that concern them. “Our colleagues continue to play a significant role in the implementation of our strategy, and in June participated in a savings education campaign in commemoration of The Day of the African Child. They visited primary and junior secondary schools and NGOs across Botswana to teach approximately 3,000 children about the importance of savings,” she said.
In addition, she said ‘Ready-to-Work’ remains a focus in 2017 with over 3,000 youth having graduated from the programme in the first six months.
“Our partners, Stepping Stones International and Project Concern International (PCI), continue to play a major role in training youth in the villages of Molepolole, Kanye, Kasane, Gantsi, Bobonong, Maun and Goodhope,” she said.
Currently, 48 youth-owned businesses are being incubated in Maun by PCI and in the past few months have been provided with mentors from the private sector. van der Merwe further noted that environmental conservation is an area of importance to Barclays and through their partnership with the Kalahari Conservation Society, they have been able to educate communities about conservation and its impact on their individual lives.
As part of the programme, she said a theatrical drama was produced and showcased in several villages in the northern and southern parts of Botswana in early 2017.
The drama, which was entitled Tshukudu ya Etsho, highlighted the challenges created by poaching and the responsibility that all have to protect and preserve the environment.
“In an effort to promote and embed our financial inclusion agenda, we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Citizenship Entrepreneurial Development Agency,” she said.
The MoU seeks to assist small and micro entrepreneurs to have access to the much-needed credit facilities that will help them build their businesses.
She said the programme, which is known as Mabogo Dinku, uses the new and existing Barclays Motshelo accounts as collateral in order to extend the loans to the businesses.