'how can we help you' - FNB

MOSAH MOKGANEDI
Correspondent | Monday July 5, 2010 00:00

FNB Riverwalk branch, under the slogan, 'How can we help you', in collaboration with Wesbank, handed over the community relief creche that is part of the BRNUS centre after revamping it.

The creche is part of the centre that takes care of people who suffer from HIV related illnesses and their young ones. The daycare centre currently has 701 children.

Speaking at the event, the guest speaker, Kgosi Kgolo Puso Gaborone, thanked FNB for restoring dignity in the lives of the disadvantaged children attending the daycare centre. He assured them that in BRNUS they have a true friend and assured them that the building will be put to good use. 'BRNUS has touched many people's lives and that would not have been possible without you,'Gaborone said. He hoped that with the support of FNB BRNUS would grow into a big organisation and be able to achieve its goal. BRNUS was started as a social organisation in 2002 by retired nurses. The centre coordinator, Mavis Kewagamang, explained that after the then president of Botswana, Festus Mogae, declared a war against HIV/AIDS they thought of how they could be part of the war and that is how BRNUS came into being.

'When we started, we had nothing but passion,'said Kewagamang. The centre currently has over one thousand clients that are collected every morning and spend the whole day at the centre where they are taken care of as well do some handwork to keep them busy. Kewagamang said their dream is to expand and have more branches in the country.

FNB marketing manager, Bomolemo Selaledi, assured the BRNUS association that her bank will always come to their aid where they are able to do so. She said her organisation has a community social responsibility programme that is aimed at helping people, especially the disadvantaged and vulnerable children.

She said so far the bank has spent P18 million on 114 projects countrywide. Selaledi also told the BRNUS that they will walk with them throughout to see that their project succeeds because they do not only believe in pumping out money without knowing how it is used.