Women Forward (2021-2022)
Building a better tomorrow, together
Absa Mauritius remains committed to playing an active role in the communities within which it operates and seeks ways to improve people’s lives while creating value for its shareholders. We will continue to develop solutions to societal challenges through innovative products, services and partnerships, with a primary focus on entrepreneurship and enabling employment for the next generation.
The small and medium business sector, especially women entrepreneurs, was severely impacted by the pandemic. We joined forces with the Future Females Foundation to launch Women Forward, a programme aimed at providing those women entrepreneurs with the necessary resources to reinvent and grow their businesses.
Elected women benefited from a free training and development programme, deemed to help them get back on their feet, reach new markets and gain access to the support, funding and resources they need.
The training and development programme comprised of:
- A free 6-month comprehensive training
- One-to-one coaching sessions that go beyond simple business concepts, focusing on actual needs and challenges
- A peer-to-peer learning environment, supporting women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses
- Regular workshops whose aim was to help women entrepreneurs to grow their business
- Financial support to access the funding they need to grow and scale
- Opportunity to meet and connect with leading innovators
- Being part of the Future Females Foundation community of female founders, investors and funders
Elev8 - turning your creativity into a commercially viable project
Elev8 is a strategy to create shared growth, by helping small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs shape their business ideas into success stories. We offered innovative financial solutions and business development support services to small and medium businesses, to nurture the entrepreneurs of tomorrow and help small and medium-sized businesses succeed and grow.
Absa Academy - developing entrepreneurs and leaders of the future
The Absa Academy is fully aligned with the Mauritian Government’s policy to support the growth of SMEs. In 2015, the Academy partnered with the Women in Networking and Association des Femmes Chefs d'Entreprises Mauriciennes, to provide key business skills to 50 female entrepreneurs in Mauritius.
Absa Mauritius’ aim was to offer educational opportunities to female entrepreneurs in Mauritius and ensure that they are provided with the necessary skills to succeed. Two half-day practical workshops were delivered by our colleagues..
Learn more about our commitment to Covid 19 support
Distribution of sanitary kits to NGOs
NGOs often face financial crisis and experience several difficulties during their daily operations. The second wave of Covid-19, which led to a resurgence of the number of positive cases, accentuated the importance of protecting oneself. In the wake of the alarming situation, Absa Mauritius collaborated with the NGO Mouvement Pour L’Autosuffisance Alimentaire, to distribute sanitary kits to 1,716 beneficiaries of 22 NGOs operating in the field of education to ensure the safety of the children as well as that of staff members. Thermometers, antiseptic soaps and face shields were donated to an NGO which helps children with hearing impairment. The aim behind this initiative was to ensure that our NGOs had the suitable equipment to face the second wave of Covid-19 and ensure continuity in children’s education.
Layering chicken project and organic backyard gardening project to support some 100 families
As a result of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, floods and the Wakashio oil spill in the south east regions of Mauritius, many families found themselves in a difficult situation, lacking finances and facing job losses. To foster resilience amongst these families and help them be more independent, we funded the layering chicken project through Mouvement Pour L’Autosuffisance Alimentaire, where beneficiary families were provided with metal cages, vaccinated laying hens, feeds and vitamins. Over the long-term, this project is meant to help selected families benefit from a source of income through the nurturing and selling of eggs. These families are expected to further expand their businesses and sell eggs on a larger scale basis.
The second wave of Covid-19 also led to an increase in the prices of several basic commodities contributing to the erosion of the purchasing power of numerous families, all the more so since many family members had lost their jobs. Through the organic backyard gardening project these families built their own organic garden, providing them with a source of revenue through the sale of vegetables. From a cost perspective, these families will no longer have to purchase certain vegetables, which in turn ought to spare them from spending while consuming and adopting a healthier food production method. Via this project, we provided these families with gardening trays, compost bags and other equipment, to help them implement the project and achieve autonomy.
Bright Minds
Bright Minds’ aim was to provide high potential students from less fortunate social and financial backgrounds with an opportunity for a brighter future by helping them pursue their tertiary studies. One of our goals being improved access to quality education, we provide skills development to support employability and self-employability, and facilitate access to quality education to deepen knowledge and build skills for the next generation.
Absa Mauritius financed the tertiary education of 40 students from 2016 to 2018, and some Bright Minds benefited from a monthly stipend to ease their spending, as well as a laptop and internet connection to facilitate their journey. An internship programme within the bank was offered to the Bright Minds to introduce them to the workplace and enhance their soft skills. A mentorship initiative was put in place by Absa colleagues to guide the interns through their educational pathway and personal life.
In 2020, a tailor-made leadership programme was implemented to prepare our Bright Minds to enter the job market. The programme focused on topics like communication skills, time management and assertiveness, amongst others. One-to-one mentoring sessions were also conducted to better understand the needs of our Bright Minds. By the end of 2020, most Bright Minds had secured a job. A certificate award ceremony was held in October 2021 to honour them, thereby strengthening our commitment to uplift our communities, together for a meaningful tomorrow. |
Bright Minds testimonials
Our Bright Minds, Namrata, Deerish and Priyanka tell us more about the leadership programme
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Namrata Jeewooth
"The course taught me that I am not a product of the circumstances around me but a product of the decisions that I make. The training was a call to stop blaming external stimuli around us and to regain control over everything within our immediate capacity.
I am now able to decide what are my highest priorities, what makes me happy. Once I learn how to manage myself, I will automatically be able to optimise my time. The course taught me that the secret to effective productivity is to have a list of goals that are so enthralling that I cannot wait to get out of bed and work towards achieving them.”
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Deerish Beeharry
“The ICJM Leadership Programme completely changed my life. It was an educational and reflective course, which provided me with a new set of tools to tackle daily situations. The skills that I have learned can now be applied to my leadership.
"Most importantly, I learnt to be assertive. Our dedicated mentors explained various concepts through innovative examples that are related to our daily routine. They kept us alert, awake and enthusiastic throughout the journey.”
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Priyanka Aneshta Aleear
“Through the Leadership course, I found direction and purpose through the exploration of so many ways like painting, communication, sketch and active listening to express myself and discover what I aspire to be as a human being and as a professional. The hesitation and shyness disappeared within a matter of few sessions since being part of a group of different personalities was such enriching experience for me. I had now found a second home and family.
“I am confident that I am my greatest asset to accomplish my goals. Above all, I feel fulfilled with the leadership course and I am now more than ready to take on new challenges and determined to go for my dreams no matter how hard the journey may seem.
"8 months since I am employed as Accounts clerk in a reputed company. I started off as a temporary intern, but since the past few weeks I have been part of a big change within the organization which meant that I am now entrusted with some major responsibilities. Being mindful of everything I learned during the Leadership course, I am determined to prove my willingness and ability to tackle workplace challenges especially with the current Covid situation affecting work routine.”
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Watch our leadership video
Bright Minds awards ceremony
Colours of life recognised the work of NGOs
This national competition, launched by Absa Mauritius in 2013, aimed at acknowledging the selfless work and immense contribution of NGOs in Mauritius and Rodrigues, while also providing continuous support to vulnerable groups.
Absa Colours of Life Awards
ReadytoWork
This initiative helps young people develop their employability skills for a smooth transition from education to the world of work. It offers the work, people, money and entrepreneurial skills needed to improve employment or self-employment prospects.
Components of ReadytoWork
- Dedicated online platform
- Online assessment
- Exposure to subject matter specialists
- Access to corporate experience sharing and entrepreneurial support
- Workplace exposure through Absa and our partners
- Introduction to potential employers at end of programme
The curriculum focused on:
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