Sanlam Uganda, a leading diversified financial services brand which comprises Sanlam Life Insurance Uganda, Sanlam General Insurance Uganda, and Sanlam Investment East Africa, has today initiated the final phase of its ‘Sanlam Schools Project’ in partnership with World Vision Uganda, a global not-for-profit organization. The project is dedicated to the reconstruction of schools in Northern Uganda and the project, carried out over three years has seen schools in northern Uganda benefit from funding to the tune of UGX 670 million.
This funding was directed towards the reconstruction of classroom facilities, the provision of scholastic materials to pupils, and the improvement of the teaching environment for teachers.
Mr. Robert Dommisse, Chief Executive of Sanlam Allianz Life Insurance, expressed his gratitude to Sanlam Uganda for fostering the spirit of collaboration in their quest to promote social causes.
“At Sanlam, our mission in Africa extends far beyond providing financial empowerment. We are deeply committed to fostering sustainable development and improving the quality of life for communities across the continent. We believe that education is a powerful tool for transformation, and it is through education that we can unlock the potential of the next generation” he stressed.
Adding, “The ‘Sanlam Schools Project’ is a Sanlam Groupwide initiative through which the group promotes quality education in Africa. This was made possible by the support from our Sanlam Foundation Trust in South Africa, a South African registered non-profit developmental organization that has invested more than US$58 million in support of development in education, financial literacy, health, water security, enterprise and supplier development initiatives, and staff volunteerism since its establishment in 2011.”
Speaking at a press engagement to announce the commissioning of the final project phase, Mr. Gary Corbit, the CEO of Sanlam General Insurance Uganda, provided an update on the project’s progress and its impact on the surrounding communities. “Today is a great day for both Sanlam and World Vision. Three years ago, we embarked on an ambitious journey to bring positive change to the education sector in northern Uganda. We committed UGX 670 million to upgrade and refurbish select schools in the region. I am elated to inform you that the results of this project have exceeded our expectations. While our mission was anchored in education, the benefits have transcended beyond just education, transforming the communities where these projects are based for the better,” Corbit said,
“Over three years, this project aimed to address the barriers preventing children in rural Uganda from accessing quality education. Through this initiative, we have provided adequate shelter and learning tools to students in these select schools to ensure that they have a conducive environment for their studies. Additionally, we decided to look beyond the students’ needs to construct a teacher’s block to improve working conditions. This is aimed at providing an environment for teachers to teach the students well,” he added.
Some of the schools that have benefitted from this programme include Lamogi-Omeny Kimac Primary School, Dang Dwong Parent’s Primary School in Pader district and Ajali Lajwa Primary School in Agago district in Northern Uganda.
Mr. Jeremiah Nyagah, The World Vision Uganda National Director, lauded the project’s impact on the children and members of the chosen communities. “When we set out to do this initiative, we were looking for a way we could build the bridge between communities in need and companies like Sanlam to ensure that they enter into mutually beneficial partnerships. Three years after we first started, I am proud to say that we succeeded in this mission,” he said.
“The impact of this project on the hosting communities is nothing short of remarkable. In one of the schools in Paiula Sub-county in Pader, it was reported in one of the local papers here that school enrolment had doubled shortly after a new block had been commissioned. Such occurrences are proof that it takes a united effort to change society, and for World Vision to be a part of something like this is a great privilege. I want to thank Sanlam for being such a great partner throughout this effort, and we look forward to working with them in similar partnerships in the future,” he emphasized.
The “Sanlam Schools Project” is part of the company’s CSR initiatives, which encompass various projects including education, all funded by the Sanlam Foundation Trust. This is a South African registered non-profit developmental organisation has invested in various causes in the last 12 years. These investments have been directed towards enhancing the education sector, promoting financial literacy, addressing health issues such as HIV/AIDS, and supporting enterprise and supplier development initiatives and employee volunteerism.
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