Absa Seychelles donates to organisation fighting against substance abuse   |02 February 2023

The handover of the cheque

Absa Seychelles has dedicated its winnings in the finals of the ‘Office Choir – Sing for Charity competition’ organised by the Seychelles Broadcasting Cooperation to the division for substance abuse, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.

In a short ceremony on Monday morning, Absa Seychelles handed over the cheque for R30,000 to the division.

Present at the event was the bank’s managing director, Nazim Mahmood, and its head of people function, Valerie Busetto, who handed over the cheque to the division for substance abuse, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation (DSAPTR) director general, Marie-Josette Louis, in the presence of the organisation’s other representatives and some members of the bank’s choir.

Absa Seychelles said it chose to support the DSAPTR because it believes strongly in wellness and mental health and has seen how DSAPTR tackles these issues, as well as other matters it wanted to support.

With the increase in the use of drugs in the country and the ongoing effort towards rehabilitation, the bank said it was proud to be associated with an organisation that focuses on the mental health of these patients, as this is rarely taken seriously.

In her brief introduction, Mrs Busetto expressed how it was important to have such a ceremony, not only to hand over the cheque but also to reconnect with the cause they have chosen.

“We wanted to link up and spend some time together,” she said.

For his part, Mr Mahmood thanked the members of DSAPTR for their hard work and dedication. “The kind of work that you are doing is exceptional, and the difference you are making in people’s lives, we are just happy to be even a small part of it,” he said.

He also shared how amazing the staff’s level of jubilation and commitment towards the competition and the choir was, and their dedication towards the cause.

Speaking on behalf of DSAPTR, Ms Louis thanked Absa Seychelles and the employees who participated in the competition.

“It is important to state that this donation comes at the right time as we have just opened our day-time hospital, which functions as a day care centre. Therefore this donation will help us in obtaining equipment for the centre,” she said

Equipment will be mostly musical instruments, which will help the patients on their rehabilitation journey, through music therapy.

Diane Laramé

Photos: Joena Meme