Absa home Loans Central Region held an inauguration ceremony on 22 January at Sunrise Pre School in Freedom Square. The school forms part of one of the volunteerism project that Absa employees have undertaken as part of their Corporate Social Investment initiatives. Encouraging Absa employees to participate in volunteerism is high on the Absa agenda and various projects are undertaken nationally to support various communities through various initiatives.
Sunrise Pre School was identified in February 2008 by Child Welfare Bloemfontein and introduced to Absa. The infrastructure needed immediate attention and Absa Home loans Central region grabbed this opportunity to better the lives of these children. The school provides day care to more than a 100 children with ages ranging from 6 months up to 5 years.
In 2008 the team upgraded the 3 classrooms and also raised funds to buy essential items needed for the school including tables and chairs, build new bathrooms & toilets, build a new roof and layed a tiled floor.
In 2009 the Absa staff build another 3 classroom with additional funding provided by Sešego Cares. Sešego Cares is a South African registered Section 21 Company that was established in 2005 by the spouses of Absa and has taken up the challenge to collectively involve themselves in social upliftment projects to make a difference to those less fortunate across all Southern African communities.
Absa Home loans volunteered their time over the weekends to finish this project. They also did fundraising projects by means of a golf days and sold food to Absa staff to fund the project. Partnerships and relationships with Absa clients also helped to fund and support the project.
The community has gained a properly built crèche with adequate space that offers a safe and nurturing environment for the children to learn and develop. The team's spirit has strengthened and each member has gained a sense of pride and self worth by making a difference to somebody else's life.
"The community now has gained a school with adequate space that offers a safe and nurturing environment for the children to learn and develop and will now be able to serve the community for many years to come." Says Joanne von Zeuner Chairperson of Sešego Cares.
The new and improved school will serve the community for many years to come. The community can now be sure that their children are given the chance to enjoy their childhood that they are entitled to.