The Ubuntu Education Fund has had a further R800 000 injected into it’s multi-faceted programmes which support youth in the Zwide and surrounding area in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. These programmes help them to develop and achieve their ambitions – in the right way.
Ubuntu Education Fund adopts an integrated system of educational, social and health interventions and recognises that a traditional development model does not have the capacity to address the complex challenges facing this community.
Over the past 14 years, Ubuntu has developed programming that focuses on empowering vulnerable children by addressing the needs of an entire household. It has found that this integrated approach is the most effective way to stabilise the households of children, reducing violence and neglect and treating disease and poverty.
“The people of Zwide face great difficulties in overcoming poverty and Absa’s goal is for the children of this community to be able to access academic and economic opportunities,” says Absa Regional Executive, Tshiwela Mhlantla. “Ubuntu’s interventions are not ‘once-off’. They are a series of interventions and their impact can only be achieved through long-term and sustained support, and Absa proud to be a partner in this. The Ubuntu centre exudes respect, integrity, excellence and service, all of which subscribe to Absa’s values,” concludes Mhlantla.
Absa‘s partnership helps Ubuntu to reach its objectives of an integrated system of educational, social and health interventions. Absa supports Ubuntu’s Employability and Life Skills Programme, providing comprehensive support to 1 240 orphaned and vulnerable children, transforming their lives from cradle to career. With support from Ubuntu’s proven model, 32 students are on scholarships at universities, 10 scholars have graduated from university, three are in post-graduate programmes and 43 young adults have already found rewarding careers.
“The scale of this investment signals the turn of a new chapter in our fundraising campaign at home in South Africa. It is a vote of confidence, not just for our in-school and out-of-school youth programmes, but on our transparent financial management processes,” says Ubuntu Deputy President, Gcobani Zonke.
“We have proven in the last 14 years that investing in children every day of their lives until they are stable, yields the greatest returns on human investment. Each rand invested in an Ubuntu child multiplies eight times in terms of lifetime earnings for the child and two times in terms of net gain to society,” explained Zonke.
“We are proud to be partnering with an institution like Absa. The bank’s commitment to providing educational support to the disadvantaged communities of South Africa is in line with Ubuntu Education Fund’s mission. For the past nine years our partnership has empowered orphans and vulnerable children to lead healthy lives, thrive academically and gain access to opportunities. We look forward to an even longer partnership that will continue to help young South Africans achieve in life.”
Absa’s partnership with the Ubuntu Education Fund began in 2005, having invested close to R2.3 million in young futures, helping them to prosper.
Celebrating Absa’s further investment in the youth – from cradle to career – through programmes presented by the Ubuntu Education Fund at the Ubuntu Centre in Zwide Port Elizabeth is (L – R) Ayanda Ngqeleni (Absa), Richard Piyose (Absa), Gcobani Zonke (Deputy President Ubuntu), Andy de la Mare (Absa), Banks Gwaxula (Founder and Senior Advisor Ubuntu) and Roland Williams (NMBM)
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