BIHL TRUST CONTINUES TO CHAMPION EDUCATIONAL INCLUSIVITY THROUGH A P250,000.00 DONATION TO MARU-A-PULA SCHOOL OVC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

In its continuous commitment to education and sustainable development in Botswana, the BIHL Trust, the corporate social investment division of the BIHL Group, is proud to announce a donation of P250,000.00 to the Maru-a-Pula School Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) scholarship fund.

Since 2010, the BIHL Trust has in partnership with Maru-a-Pula School, provided transformative educational opportunities to Orphans and Vulnerable Children in the country. 2021 marked a significant milestone when the Trust celebrated its 10th gift to the school. With this recent donation, the BIHL Trust's total contribution to the OVC Scholarship Fund has surpassed P2,100,000.

Speaking at the donation handover ceremony, BIHL Group Subsidiary, Botswana Life Insurance Limited (BLIL)Executive Director: Retail, Neo Bogatsu, noted that, “The partnership between the BIHL Trust and Maru-a-Pula School's Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) scholarship is a testament to our shared commitment to making a tangible difference in the communities we operate in and our nation.”

The OVC Scholarship offers more than just school tuition to the recipients. It provides the learners with a comprehensive package covering boarding fees, extra lessons, stationery, medical expenses, uniforms and clothing, sportswear, toiletries, pocket money, and other essentials. Acknowledging the need for digital tools in modern education, the scholarship has included the provision of smartphones and computer devices since 2020.

Maru-a-Pula's OVC program aims to support academically gifted, underprivileged children. These full scholarships have made dreams come true for students across Botswana, with scholarship alumni achieving remarkable academic feats both locally and internationally. The program has seen its students proceed to prestigious institutions such as the University of Botswana, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Kent, Princeton, Stanford, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA.

Maru-a-Pula, School Principal Nick Evans,  while accepting the donation on behalf of the school, explained the highlighted transformative power of partnerships such as the one with the BIHL Trust, stating, “Each donation from the BIHL Trust not only transforms individual lives but also strengthens our nation's future. Maru-a-Pula School is grateful for the opportunity to be able to impact the lives of Batswana learners in this manner. We are further thankful to the BIHL Trust for over a decade of unwavering support. Their dedication to our students' growth and success is truly commendable."

Established in 2007, the BIHL Trust's core mission has been to bring about positive and sustainable impacts in communities across Botswana. The BIHL Group, along with its subsidiaries, commits 1% of all annual post-tax profits to the Trust. The Trust has reinvested over P40 million into various Botswana communities, fulfilling its commitment to engineering legacies.

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