About 80 staff of Standard Chartered Bank embarked on volunteering activities at the Socialis Sociata (SOS) Children’s Village.

This is part of the bank’s employee volunteering agenda which is in line with its new community initiative called Futuremakers.

About 80 staff of Standard Chartered bank under the pillar of education spent quality time with the kindergarten to primary six pupils equipping them with knowledge and skills they need to be future leaders.

There were reading sessions for children in kindergarten to primary four to inculcate in them the habit of reading. Pupils in primary five to six were test on their debating skills on the topic: What boys can do, girls can do better.

Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, Asiedua Addae said the visit to Tema SOS Village is part of the bank’s staff volunteering activity.

She noted that, the initiative is under the bank’s new community investment approach called Futuremakers which aims to empower young people with employability, education and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Asiedua Addae said staff of the bank decided to do some reading sessions during the visit because “once you inculcate the habit of reading in young people, they grow up with it and also makes a difference in their lives”.

She was also elated the staff planted over 100 trees to help conserve the environment and to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

“Not only does this align with our new community engagement strategy which is futuremakers, it also aligns with our support towards the Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 15” Asiedua Addae observed.

She added that, “this is not just something we will do once but we will go there at least every year to spend time with the students and donate books to them”.

Head of the school, Robert Okine was elated about the initiative undertaken by staff of Standard Chartered bank. He noted that, the interaction will help the children build relationship and also broaden their horizon.

“Listening to people read will help the children build their listening skills and can comprehend better” he added.

Mr. Okine also commended the bank for engaging in a tree planting exercise to save the environment.

“The tree planting is so dear to my heart because our life depends on trees especially in an era where everybody is talking about global warming” he stressed.