Teach children to save from an early age: Absa

A total of 105 children from Cosmo City and Inkulisa Day Care Centres received contributions of R15 000 each for “play clothing” from Sešego Cares, one of Absa Bank’s charitable arms.

The two day-care centres largely cater for disadvantaged children from Cosmo City in Randburg and Braamfisher in Soweto. The clothing can be used by the children during play hours andon school excursions.

Speaking at a handover ceremony of the clothing items in Cosmo City today, Annemarie Mostert, National Co-ordinator of Sešego Cares, said that appropriate gear for different forms of play activities, is sadly lacking in the Early Childhood Development (ECD) phase.

Mostert explained that the donations were made on the back of the Absa Mega U “Saving for a better future” campaign, which aimed to inform young children about the basics of saving and the value of money.

Gavin Opperman, CE of Absa Retail Bank, said that the Absa Mega U ”Saving for a better future”project,gaveGrade R learners (aged under 6), an early start in financial literacy.

As part of the savings drive, parents were encouraged to start saving towards their children’s grade R graduation ceremony. Early Childhood Development practitioners and ECD centre owners were taught to manage their own bank accounts and businesses more efficiently by learning to invest.

Opperman added that it was never too early to start teaching children about money and saving. “It could all start with that small contribution into the piggy bank,” he advised, adding that these funds could later be transferred into a bank account, such as the Absa Mega U, tailored for children under 18.

Mostert stated that it was important that children were supported in all spheres of their learning and development.

“We believe that when children are uplifted at an early age, communities flourish, entrepreneurs emerge and development becomes sustainable. It is for this reason that we are proud to share in the spirit of Absa’s Mega U ‘Saving for a better future’ project by making a contribution towards the educational practices and well-being of these crèches.

“An investment in our children will contribute towards a future that we can all be proud of as a nation,” concluded Mostert.