Nedbank’s E250 000 for Sibebe survivor
MBABANE – The 18th edition of the Sibebe Survivor Challenge was yesterday launched with Nedbank Eswatini, the main sponsor, contributing E250 000.
This year’s Sibebe Survivor Challenge will be held on July 30, 2023 and is targeting 6 000 participants. Registration is now open and participants can register online at https:// mbuluzimbabanerotary.org.sz.
Presenting the cheque, Nedbank Managing Director (MD) Fikile Nkosi, said the primary purpose of the challenge was to create and raise awareness on the natural history of the Sibebe Rock, which was the second largest boulder in the world.
Nkosi said most importantly, Nedbank was promoting fitness among the climbers, while showcasing the natural history of the rock.
She said rotary’s purpose was to do good for all and resonated well with Nedbank’s purpose, which was also doing good using their financial expertise to individuals, families, businesses and the community at large.
Expertise
The MD stated that Nedbank’s purpose of doing good using financial expertise was to ensure that they targeted specific sustainable development goals (SDGs). Nkosi said health, education for all, youth and community development, were some of the specific goals which they targeted. “We are doing good to ensure that the community in which we are living has a better lifestyle,” said Nkosi.
She said they were working with government to foster the SDGs, which was why they believed it was a better vehicle to partner with rotary as a way of synergising in their purpose. The MD said the core purpose of Nedbank was to use their financial expertise and leverage landing capabilities to do good to individuals, families, businesses and the community.
Nkosi said as an anchor sponsor, they were aware that they did not
just sponsor but became a big part of the journey as they impacted the lives of those who were underprivileged and communities around them.
“As Nedbank, we actually participate in some of the activities and have worked on painting schools around, including Mbabane Central and an orphanage. Also we have worked with water preservation project at Siphocosini.”
Nkosi said they believed in partnership as Nedbank and did not want to be just seen as contributing but wanted to also impact lives around them for sustainability of individuals, families and businesses.
The MD said they were looking forward to the projects where they would work together as a team with
rotary. Nkosi added that what they appreciated with the Sibebe Challenge was that it encouraged everybody to be a part of the noble event to appreciate nature. Furthermore, she invited emaSwati to be part of the event, which contributed to a healthy lifestyle.
She said individuals, families, corporate and as a business.
Rotary Club of Mbuluzi-Mbabane President Andrew Muwonge said this year could be the 20th edition of the Sibebe Survivor but two years was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Muwonge thanked Nedbank for their continued support in partnering with them in the project. He said the Mbuluzi-Mbabane Rotary Club had the largest fundraiser in the country with regard to rotary clubs. He said every year they raised about half a million towards proceeds and projects. According to Muwonge, the rotary club was a volunteer organisation. “Members volunteer their time, resources towards giving back to communities and making the world a better place.”
Bursaries
He said they made around E470 000 last year, which majority went to education. Muwonge said they funded a quarter of a million Emalangeni towards bursaries for high schools and under-privileged students.
Muwonge thanked the rotarians for their commitment towards charity.
He said there were over 3 000 participants last year, despite that it came at a short notice.
The president said, this year, Sibebe Survivor Challenge would run similar to last year’s event, where they piloted the fitness weekend.
He said activation would take place in two weeks, whereby they would be completing painting at Ekwetsembeni School.
Muwonge said they would be having the top 100 corporate companies and the idea was to get people understand their work.