Community celebration for Mutual & Federal
Mutual & Federal was recently honoured at a special community event in celebration of the short-term insurer’s R250 000 contribution to the Ubuntu Education Fund. Held at the Ubuntu Centre in Zwide, Port Elizabeth, the function was attended by members
“It became clear during the celebrations just how much these communities value the work done by Ubuntu to improve the lives of vulnerable children and their families,” says Laurien Comyn, Head Corporate Business Responsibility at Mutual & Federal.
The Ubuntu Education Fund is a non-profit organisation providing world-class health and educational support to children in need, ensuring they can access higher education and employment. Over the past 12 years, Ubuntu has built an integrated system of medical, health, educational and social interventions to help these children succeed in higher education and employment.
Today, Ubuntu has more than 2,000 children on the programme and 132 students on scholarships at universities.
“We felt privileged to attend the event where we met learners, parents and school principals from the area,” says Comyn. “The spirit was incredible and we could see how much the community appreciates Ubuntu’s efforts. It is wonderful to know we are helping this organisation to carry out its valuable work in the community.
“We were given a warm welcome by learners playing marimbas and treated to a poem written and performed by a Grade 12 learner, Nwabisa Mona. When our regional manager in Port Elizabeth, Pascal Pau, stood up to address guests he was honoured by an unexpected introduction from a praise singer.”
“The funds donated by Mutual & Federal will help provide orphaned children affected by HIV/Aids with after-school extra lessons and life orientation classes, enabling them to escape the cycle of poverty and poor education that affects these communities,” says Banks Gwaxula, the founder and senior advisor of the Ubuntu Education Fund.
Corporate social investment at Mutual & Federal, a member of the Old Mutual Group, focuses on four major areas, all chosen because of their impact on the short-term insurance industry. These are education, road traffic safety, crime prevention and youth rehabilitation as well as agricultural socio-economic development.
“Our philosophy in terms of social investment is to try to reach communities nationally wherever we have a footprint,” says Comyn.
The short-term insurer will also be launching a new employee volunteering initiative this year.
Mutual & Federal is one of the leading short-term insurers in southern Africa.
