We are passionate about our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility and we concentrate on a small number of dedicated projects that are guided by our Key Values. Our approach is founded on a broad understanding of the concept of corporate citizenship and employee participation is always encouraged.
Many of our staff give their own time and make personal donations to the organisations we are in partnership with. Since the launch of our CSR programme, we have been supporting a number of humanitarian and charitable organizations. Approximately 50% of our CSR budget is donated to the Fondation Joseph Lagesse (FJL). This money is utilised to support areas of interest to AfrAsia Bank which are mainly children's education and welfare, as well as environment protection.
As an organization, we are continually looking for ways to reduce our "carbon footprint" - our environmental charter encourages all employees to reduce, reuse, and recycle both in the office and at home. We are also embarking on a national environmental project in partnership with FJL and Mission Verte, which involves raising awareness of school children in relation to local environmental and ecological issues and making them part of the solution.
Children Welfare
We continue our support to the day care centre for children set up by the Fondation Joseph Lagesse at Bois Marchand, a suburb mostly inhabited by squatters living in extreme poverty. The day care centre aims at providing the children a pedagogical environment and gearing them for pre-primary/ primary schools.
Our employees often volunteer their time to these children and frequently donate food, clothes, books, toys and games. Our continued support has created a bond and consolidated the relationship between our organisations.
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As an extension of our commitment to Maison Familiale Rurale du Nord (MFR), we rolled out a financial literacy project to teenagers. MFR is a unique agricultural project in Mauritius, encouraging entrepreneurship and offering the students skills that will increase their prospects for employment. The Bank played an important role in assisting in the setting up of their 'home farm' in October 2009. The self-managed farm continues to flourish under the leadership of the students and our financial literacy programme helped in providing the basic financial skills these young adults will need for the future.
We have donated funds to Rugby Union Mauritius to purchase playing kit and equipment for underprivileged children aged between 11 and 17 who have a desire to learn and play rugby. We strongly believe sport can play an active role in assisting the development of social and other important skills which these children may transfer to their personal and academic lives.
Our staff made a presentation on the importance of a savings culture and money management to children of the Soonee Surthee Government School. This initiative was part of the Mauritius Banker's Association CSR contribution.
Environment Sustainability
