Nedbank contributes more than half a million rand to support efforts aimed at empowering students to make a difference in communities across South Africa.

The bank donated R500 000 towards Students in Free Enterprise South Africa (SIFE SA) for 1 500 students who have been trained to develop effective community outreach projects. The outreach projects focus on: market economics, entrepreneurship, success skills, financial literacy, environmental sustainability, and business ethics.

Furthermore, Nedbank contributed R150 000 towards the ‘enke: Make Your Mark’ initiative, to train 30 Grade 11 learners on social responsibility and leadership skills. Through equipping young people, the initiative also seeks to reduce inequality in South Africa.

“Our support of these two great initiatives is aimed at empowering learners with the knowledge and skills to become socially responsible citizens. We believe that the philosophy of social sustainability should be instilled in future leaders of our country to ensure continuous improvement,”says Kone Gugushe, Divisional Executive: Corporate Social Responsibility for Nedbank.

The SIFE programme operates in 40 countries and has approximately 1 500 student teams. In each country, student teams compete and the winner represents its nation at the annual SIFE World Cup. Recently, 26 student teams across South Africa’s higher education institutions took part in the SIFE SA programme.

One of SIFE SA’s beneficiaries is Khulekani Chonco, a 25 year old from Umlazi in KwaZulu Natal. He says, “I joined SIFE SA in 2006 through the University of KwaZulu Natal, which represented South Africa at the SIFE World Cup competition in Paris the same year.”

“The SIFE programme has taught me a lot about community development projects, entrepreneurship and many other skills.” Earlier this year, Khulekani joined Nedbank Capital’s graduate programme as a Business Analyst.

The ‘enke: Make Your Mark’ initiative was launched in 2009.It also has the annual ‘enke: Forum’ which brings together young people from South Africa’s townships, rural and urban communities.

Through the Nedbank Foundation, Nedbank continues to support initiatives aimed at fostering social sustainability.

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