Standard Bank extends helping hand

MASERU – FOR the third year running, Standard Lesotho Bank staff are extending a generous hand to assist orphans in Lesotho’s schools.
The assistance programme comes as part of the bank’s Back-to-School fundraising campaign.  Clad in their school uniforms, the staff gathered at the bank headquarters grounds where each of them donated what they could.

Others donated groceries while others gave books, school shoes, uniforms and cash. The bank will continue to collect donations until tomorrow.
The purpose is to go to a selected school where a principal will select the beneficiaries who will receive the gifts and an orphanage where all kids will share the donations according to their needs.

Last year the bank donated some goods to Tholoana ea Lerato orphanage which is also known as Save the Children’s Home for Vulnerable Children.
The administrator of Tholoana ea Lerato, Kelebone Letlotlo, said Standard Lesotho Bank chipped in at a time when they had insufficient funds to buy uniforms for the kids.
The bank staff donated a pair of school shoes for each child, school bags, groceries, exercises, lunch boxes and many other school necessities.
The orphanage takes care of 29 children.

Standard Lesotho Bank spokesperson Manyathela Kheleli said each staff member contributes whatever they feel comfortable to donate. He said it can either be some grocery, school accessories or anything. He said this happens in every branch of their bank across the country. “We only choose either an orphanage or one school in every district,” he said. Kheleli said they are a bank that prides itself in giving back to vulnerable communities and to “extend a helping hand to the needy because we are also part of the society and understand the need to grow together”.

He said they have not yet chosen the people whom they will give the donations this year because the staff still has up to Friday to donate.
“Our bank will then add their donations above the ones of the staff then we will give out the donations after that,” he said

’Makhotso Rakotsoane