Standard Bank Lesotho (SLB) this week donated M200 000 to St Cecilia Orphanage for AIDS Orphans and Abandoned Children towards the centre's operations.

The orphanage which is located in Ha Bua-sono, Berea district was established in 2009 to cater for the increasing number of orphans due to the high prevalence of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

It currently houses 60 children aged from one to 18 years, some of them who were taken in as newborns after being abandoned by their parents. The centre also enrolls the children in schools and equips them with vocational and life skills.

Speaking at the handover ceremony on Tuesday, SLB Chief Executive Officer Mpho Vumbukani said the bank was passionate about the welfare and education of orphans and vulnerable children who they viewed as their own.

"We are particularly keen on orphanages such as St Cecilia because we believe that no matter the circumstances, all children deserve love, guidance and security," Mr Vumbukani said

He further indicated they were pleased with the manner in which the centre is run under the guidance of Father Pule Augustinus Mahlaku.

"I was impressed to learn that the environment of St Cecilia is so homely and filled with parental love and compassion that every child deserves."

Part of the funds were raised through a Corporate Golf Day which SLB recently hosted where participating organisations bought raffle tickets and pledged further donations. SLB matched the M100 000 which was raised at the event to bring the total donation to M200 000.

Companies that participated in the fundraising initiative included Alliance Insurance, AON, Insurance Brokers, Glassworld, Insucare, Lesotho Flour Mills, Letseng Diamonds, Letsego Financial Services, Liberty Lesotho, Lesotho Revenue Authority, Maseru Toyota, Metropolitan Lesotho, Matekane Group of Companies, Premier Foods, Sigma Construction, Specialised Insurance Brokers and Vodacom Lesotho.