Kennedy Dembetembe, national CSI manager for African Bank, says that the partnership is an amazing way to connect African Bankers with CSI causes that the bank is passionate about.

"Putting education first is one of our primary drives. We kicked off 2020 with a stationary drive, packing stationery for 1 500 children at the Winnie Mandela Primary School in Tembisa," says Dembetembe.

Staff were also encouraged to paint pictures, which will be auctioned off as part of the 'Night of a Thousand Drawings' campaign. The children at the school were each given their stationery pack, a packed meal by a team of African Bankers and were entertained by the Mzansi youth choir.

The highlight of the day, according to Dembetembe, was a cheque handover of R500 000 from African Bank to the Click Foundation. Dembetembe says that the money is being used for developing computer labs at various schools and providing children with access to digital learning.

The Foundation believes that education is the most powerful weapon to change the world. Nicola Harris, CEO of the Click Foundation, says that in South Africa there is still  a very real problem; 78% of grade 4 learners can't read for meaning (2016 PIRLS Study).

"Weak student performance in literacy and numeracy in Foundation Phase (grades 1-3) constitutes one of the major factors leading to poor learning outcomes in later grades," says Harris.

"Our Foundation deploys online English literacy programmes in under-privileged primary schools across South Africa. The programmes offer young learners the opportunity to work at their own pace through fun and enjoyable activities, navigating their learning journey by means of technology," Harris says.

"In doing so, the Click Foundation is not only addressing the literacy crisis, but also equipping these young learners with the technological skills required for future success," Harris says. "It relies heavily on donations such as that received from African Bank." 

"The Click Foundation aims to change the trajectory of over 1 million learners' lives through technology-based literacy and numeracy programmes, and we could not be prouder to be supporting them in this quest," concludes Dembetembe.

For more information, visit www.africanbank.co.za. You can also follow African Bank on Facebook or on Twitter.

*Image courtesy of African Bank