VICTORIA, Seychelles — Absa Bank Seychelles yesterday presented a donation of R60,000 to the Elles Foundation Seychelles at its offices in the Capital City Building, with the funds going directly to support teenage parents, advocacy for legislative change, and the promotion of financial and reproductive education.
The contribution was raised through the Absa Seychelles choir’s participation in the SBC Office Choir Singing for Charity competition, where the choir secured second place in the Jury’s Award and won the People’s Choice Award. Accepting the donation, chairperson of the Elles Foundation Loréa Rassool expressed her gratitude to Absa and its staff, noting that they were not expecting to be chosen. ‘They have been very helpful and understanding towards us, while they also came to look at the work that we did — ‘Stay & Play’ programme — at the National Library,’ she said.
The ‘Stay & Play’ programme, launched in 2022, invites teenage parents and their young children to take part in sessions that educate them on how to interact with children, spend time with them and support their development. The programme organises activities such as arts and crafts, Lego and reading, while the foundation also provides education for the young mothers and conducts school outreach on prevention as teenage pregnancy rates rise. Managing director of Absa Bank Seychelles Nazim Mahmood said: ‘This contribution represents more than just financial support. It is a commitment to shaping a brighter future for the youth of Seychelles.’ The foundation hopes to extend the programme to Praslin, with monthly sessions for young mothers on the second island.
