Jesus is Hope

Sunday, November 6, 2011

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Absa’s Make a Difference (MAD) campaign ran until 5 November. The focus this year was simple but significant as the bank partners with schools countrywide to plant trees. Environmental issues have moved from the sidelines to take centre stage in the business world. As such, Absa is engaging communities on environmental sustainability through this year’s “Make A Difference” (MAD) initiative.

Absa’s 2011 MAD campaign included tree planting at 37 selected schools countrywide, school ground clean ups and the expansion of existing food garden projects in partnership with Food & Trees For Africa.

With the upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP17) Summit in Kwa-Zulu Natal next month, Absa’s focus on environmental sustainability is even more relevant. The Group will be consolidating and expanding initiatives which were started years ago.

“Absa believes that planting trees is one of the most practical ways of preserving South Africa's natural heritage and therefore, it is critical that we optimise environmental awareness in all our communities, especially among children,” says Mihloti Mathye, Corporate Social Investment (CSI) General Manager at Absa.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Absa Making A Difference Week

Absa, together with Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), celebrated the “Absa Making a Difference Week” at Thembu Primary School in Soweto. Hundreds of learners from Thembu Primary School in Soweto and the educators joined the ABSA team on this great day. There were 60 volunteers from ABSA, and there were 50 trees to be planted. There were also seedlings of; spinach, cabbages, onions and beetroot to be planted in the school garden.

Solomon Mondlane from Food & Trees for Africa was a programme director for the day. The National Anthem was sung by the learners; followed by the welcoming speech by the principal, . Mr Bheki Madolo from ABSA gave a short speech recognizing their participation in helping schools around the country to go green and to make their own food gardens. We also had different cultural perfomances

To conclude the programme, Solomon and Bheki conducted a detailed and energetic tree planting demonstration for the guests along with Absa volunteers.

The team were divided into 3 groups. One group helped with the planting of trees; the other with the planting of seedlings; and the last group helped with the cleaning of the school surroundings. It was a great day as the volunteers, the learners and educators rolled up their sleeves.