Barclays gives financial boost to NGOs |13 October 2014

 
In line with its commitment to making a difference to vulnerable groups and young aspiring entrepreneurs, Barclays Bank (Seychelles) Limited has sponsored projects for three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to the tune of R445,000.

The donations were made by the interim managing director of Barclays Seychelles, James Kinyany, in a small ceremony held last Thursday at Barclays’ Independence Avenue branch in the presence of MNA Sylvianne Valmont, the chief executive of Lungos Steve Lalande, staff of Barclays and invited guests.

Mr Kinyany said that Barclays was delighted to financially support worthy projects that will positively impact young lives and empower the next generation with enterprise, employability and financial skills, thus helping them to contribute towards the country’s economic growth.

Under the Barclays 2014 community project cycle, the Seychelles Scouts Association received R195,000 for its ‘Economic Empowerment of Youth with Disabilities’ project. It is a project that will be implemented in partnership with the School for the Exceptional Child whereby the domestic sciences and art & craft subjects will be given a further boost. The project will also see the setting up of a garden and rearing of animals. The aim is to enhance the students’ life skills, increase their self-confidence and for them to have employability prospects once they finish school.

The cheque was collected by Francis Accouche, the national executive coordinator of Scouts Seychelles who thanked Barclays bank for the donation.

The Seychelles Association of Women Entrepreneurs (Sawe) was the beneficiary of R150,000 for its ‘Empower Young Entrepreneurs’ project. Upon collecting the cheque on behalf of the association, its chairperson Iouana Pillay explained that the objective of their project is to build up the capacity of young entrepreneurs and school leavers on Praslin and La Digue in financial literacy, entrepreneurial and marketing skills via business management training and mentoring sessions. She also thanked Barclays for offering the young entrepreneurs great opportunity for success.  

Les Li Viv, the pro-life organisation that provides support for pregnant teenagers who have to abandon formal education, received R100,000 from Barclays for the implementation of its project ‘A Helping Hand for Teenage Mothers’. It is to empower the young mothers with life and employment skills thus enhancing their prospects of securing a decent employment. They will have certified IT and English language skills programmes in addition to home economic sessions and dried flower arrangements. The project will also make provision for the girls who wish to pursue adult education. Chairperson Florence Mémée collected the donation on behalf of Les Li Viv and thanked Barclays bank.

In addition to the ceremony, 14 disabled were presented with basic skills certificates for taking part in a project that was run by Love and Care Association this year. The ‘Real Hope’ project provided sessions in IT, arts & craft and basic English language skills for the disabled group. It was a project that had received the sponsorship of Barclays Bank Seychelles. The 14 disabled received their certificates from Mr Kinyany.

The chairperson of Love and Care Association, Anne Jacques, said that she was very satisfied with how the project went about.

To show it success an art & craft exhibition of the works done by those who attended the course were on display for the guests. Items on display included bracelets, ear rings and necklaces made of beads and also cloth & dried flower arrangement.