14 Oct 2024

Close to 40 schools across the  country have received Solar backpacks through the First National Bank Botswana(FNBB) Foundation with the aim to support educational activities of children at home.

Head of FNBB Foundation,  Ms Atang Mbikiwa said the bags, provided by a Kenyan supplier (Soular)  were easy to use as they came with a step by step manual and allowed children to complete homework after daylight.

The bags aim to reduce study downtime for learners in areas without grid electricity, she said.

She said the backpacks were installed with a solar panel, and had a side lamp  which charges throughout the day.

Ms Mbikiwa said the initiative had demonstrated the bank’s commitment to improve grades of learners in under served communities.

She added that the Foundation as a corporate social investment arm of the bank was aligned to the UN SDGs as well as the African Agenda 2063 and the country’s Vision 2036.

One of the schools that the bank assisted is Khurutshe Primary School, a boarding facility of 40 learners.

School head Ms Ntupa Mphothwe explained that the schools had 45 learners and was located five kilometers from Kgomodiatshaba settlement.

“We are not intimidated by nature of the area which does not have utilities like electricity and water. Our students have been doing well in the past years,” she said.

However, she said because of the school’s location, teaching in their setup was not an easy task, as it required teachers to be passionate and loving in order to deliver exceptional results.

The Foundation donated solar backpacks fitted with solar panels  to Standard 5, 6 and 7 pupils.  When fully charged, the lamps reportedly can light up for a continuous eight hours.

Ms Mphothwe said the donated set came handy in supporting education endeavours of the school. Ends