Seen here with Pierre Bekker of Safire Insurance are from left to right: Kuhle Mthimkhulu, Lubanzi Mlondo and Andisa Young.

“At Safire, we believe that education is the key to the future of our country, and by investing in the education of our youngsters, we can help to bring about a change in communities where children might not have as many opportunities as others,” says Safire CEO, Pierre Bekker.

Safire established an educational sponsorship programme in 2014, based on the concept of selecting one promising pupil a year from a disadvantaged background and providing them with an opportunity to attend a top primary school in KwaZulu-Natal. At this new school, these pupils are given the chance to develop their skills: academically, culturally, spiritually and on the sports field.

Currently the Safire Insurance educational programme has 4 boys attending Cordwalles Preparatory School in Pietermaritzburg.

Our focus on the ‘human’ aspect of insurance is reflected in Safire’s attention to the youth of the region, with promising school pupils in need being included in the Safire educational programme, which was launched in 2014.

Through this initiative, each year a pupil from a disadvantaged background who shows promise in a variety of fields including academic subjects and sport, and who attends a series of tests and interviews, is selected to attend Cordwalles Preparatory School in Pietermaritzburg. These pupils are mentored to help them adjust and flourish in their new richly stimulating environment and encouraged to develop their skills academically, culturally, spiritually and on the sports field.

“At Safire, we believe that education is the key to the future of our country, and by investing in the education of our youngsters, we can help to bring about a change in communities where children might not have as many opportunities as others,” says Safire CEO, Pierre Bekker.

The second phase of this programme begins in 2018, with the first pupil included in the programme, Andisa Young, progressing to one of the country’s leading high schools, Michaelhouse in Balgowan.

Published 27 March 2017