Standard Bank boost for Mazenod learners
Nthatuoa Koeshe
THE Standard Lesotho Bank and its staff recently donated sanitary towels to 390 female learners at Mazenod High School.
The donation was made through Her Majesty Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Bereng Seeiso’s Hlokomela Banana project. Hlokomela Banana Project was established in 2016 by Her Majesty to ensure that every Mosotho girl has access to sanitary towels.
Speaking at the recent handover, Standard Lesotho Bank chief executive officer Mpho Vumbukani said the bank and its staff made equal contributions to raise M62 000 which was used to purchase the sanitary towels for at least 1000 learners drawn from all the country’s 10 districts.
Mr Vumbukani further said that Mazenod High School had been chosen as one of the beneficiaries of the project and the 390 learners would receive their sanitary towels on a quarterly basis from this month until August 2019.
“Our staff contributed M67 each to bring the total to M31 000 and that amount was matched by the bank to bring the grand total to M62 000,” Mr Vumbukani said, adding, “that (amount) will take care of 1000 girls in all the 10 districts of Lesotho”.
“I am happy that we launched this initiative in the month of August which is the African Woman’s Month. This shows that we came at the right time to make contributions to the women of tomorrow.
“We believe that these girls are the next generation that will lead our bank and our country so they must be nurtured, respected and empowered from today onwards.”
On her part the Mazenod School manager, Sister Agustina Thokoa, expressed gratitude to Standard Lesotho Bank for their timely assistance to the learners who often missed classes whenever they went on the monthly menstrual periods.
Sr Thokoa said many girls who could not afford the sanitary towels lived in fear of being discriminated.
“It was not a mistake for God to decide that girls should go through that (monthly menstrual periods). We are glad that Standard Lesotho Bank decided to assist our girls to regain their confidence,” Sr Thokoa said.
The school’s head girl, Puleng Mafa, also thanked Standard Lesotho Bank for their gesture which came during the month of August which has been set aside to honour women.
“This (donation) shows that there are people who care for us and we are happy that we were among the chosen schools,” Ms Mafa said.
The Standard Lesotho Bank donation to the Hlokomela Banana project was made ahead of Her Majesty’s 42nd birthday in June this year.
At the time, Queen Masenate Bereng Seeiso thanked SLB for their assistance that would enable Hlokomela Banana to reach out to every child who could not afford to purchase her own sanitary towels.
Her Majesty said proper sanitary towels restored girls’ dignity and allowed them to take pride in their womanhood.
“The provision of sanitary towels to high school girls is the best gift one can get for a birthday as it contributes to the overall wellbeing of girls in schools and their ability to study effectively. They are also the future leaders of the country,” Her Majesty said at the time.
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