The Standard Chartered Bank Botswana Education Trust (SCB BET), a flagship initiative of the commercial bank, seeks to create a platform for positive change in Botswana by fostering an environment where everyone can realise their potential. The foundation trust aims to do this by initiating, establishing, supplementing, and promoting charitable and educational activities with a primary focus on developing and nurturing early childhood education. Standard Chartered Bank Botswana, Head of Corporate Affairs – Branding & Marketing, BameMoremong provides an insightful overview of the trust’s mission and intended impact on Botswana’s educational landscape to BABOLOKI MEEKWANE.
Q: Please give an overview of the SCB Botswana Education Trust.
A: The Standard Chartered BET is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) vehicle established to impact the country’s education sector. It is an additional vehicle for the furtherance of the Bank’s CSR initiatives in Botswana.
Q: What motivated the establishment of the Trust?
A: Meaningful contribution to Botswana is necessary for Standard Chartered as a Bank. Therefore this was a way for us to ensure participation in the community within which we operate.
Q: Could you provide more details about the specific goals and objectives of the Trust?
A. When the Trust was established, we knew we wanted to work in the education sector, however, that being a very broad sector, the BET researched to ascertain areas where the most impact can be made and the greatest need is in the sector and what initiatives are required for us to close the necessary gaps. The Trust recognised the critical importance of early childhood education in shaping the future and is poised to make a meaningful impact on the educational landscape in Botswana.
Q: Why the focus on early childhood public education?
A: Early Childhood Education is the area found to be the most critical for the success of a child’s education, and it was found to be the space with the least structure and therefore where the greatest input was needed. The research highlights that without strong foundational building blocks, a child may struggle at a later stage in their education.
Q: How will this initiative bring transformative change to the early childhood public education system in Botswana?
A: This initiative, will contribute to the building blocks of early childhood education, with a specific focus on encouraging literacy at a young age. There are four building blocks which the SCBET will be driving i.e. Gola le Standard Chartered, Bala le Standard Chartered, Tshameka le Standard Chartered and Atlegale Standard Chartered.
The building blocks map out key milestones in a child’s development that the Trust aims to support and bring positive change;
Q: What are some of the charitable and educational activities that it drives?
A: One of the key initiatives of the Trust is the upgrade of public libraries in Botswana with a focus on creating child-friendly spaces to encourage improved literacy. This forms part of the Bala le Standard Chartered Pillar as a way of establishing a firmer culture of reading.
Also under this pillar, the Trust, in collaboration with LowapiLearning Centre, has donated books to schools in Mogobanevillage and will continue to donate books and other educational resources around the country. Currently, the Trust is prioritising the public libraries project that is currently in development.
Q: How does this initiative align with Standard Chartered Bank’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy?
A: The Trust is guided by the Bank’s strategic priorities, one of which is achieving economic, social and environmental sustainability. The Trust’s focus on early childhood development delivers on this strategic priority as it aims to build capacity amongst young Batswana that will eventually grow to become more productive, employable and self-sufficient members of our society.
Q: Can you share any partnerships the trust has formed to drive meaningful change in early childhood public education?
A: With Lowapi Study Centre to donate books to schools around Botswana. This is a long-term endeavour that the Trust is undertaking and is a collaborative mission. The Trust is welcoming various groups from government authorities to other organisations that align with the Trust’s mission to be able to jointly make a positive impact in the education system.
