First Capital Bank Botswana has pledged P50,000 towards the adoption of the ‘Ithute Go Tshameka – Learn To Play’ (LTP) Bontleng playgroup for the 2022 third term.
The donation will cover all required learning resources for the term as well as meals for the 72 children currently enrolled in the playgroup. This pledge follows the donation of 20 play mats to LTP’s various playgroups around the country in commemoration of Day of the African Child in June.
LTP was founded in 2017 with the vision to ensure equitable access to high quality early childhood development by harnessing the power of play as a means to facilitate, stimulate and inspire learning while uplifting women’s economic opportunities. Since its inception, LTP has established playgroups in 5 communities around the country focused on children under the age of 5. The social impact business ensures sustainable cycles of impact by not only relying on donations but leveraging paid early learning from REWA Little Einstein’s – a play-based preschool based in Gaborone – to fund free early learning in various playgroups around the country.
Reinette van der Merwe, First Capital Bank Chief Executive Officer expressed, “Through our engagements with LTP, we noticed the gap and need to support Early Childhood Development, as less than 7 percent of children under the age of 5 in Botswana have access to early learning opportunities. As believers in the power of growth and a child’s right to quality grassroots education, our pledge today speaks to one of the critical success factors in our new group strategy, ‘Growth is our Business’, in which we intend to continue to support and make impactful contributions to the growth of our communities in which we serve.”
Accepting the donation on behalf of Learn to Play, Priyanka Handa Ram, LTP founder, expressed that “Learn To Play is so grateful that First Capital Bank recognises the urgency of investing in holistic early childhood development to break cycles of poverty, crime, and illiteracy. First Capital Bank displays great service and commitment to the children and families of their immediate community here in Bontleng, White City & Newsstands by ensuring continued access to playful learning and nutritious snacks for every child on a daily basis for the rest of the year.”
“As part of our 2022 CSR drive, First Capital Bank colleagues have actively been involved in a number of initiatives across the country including partnerships and engagements with Tshimologo Primary School in Francistown, Ithuteng Primary School here in Gaborone as well as Tatatokwane Primary School and Mahupu Unified Secondary School in the village of Takatokwane,” van der Merwe shared.
