Standard Chartered Bank donates 60 second-hand computers to Uganda Kokoro-Juku

On September 4th, a ceremony for the donation of computers was held at the Japanese branch of Standard Chartered Bank in Tameike-Sanno in Tokyo. 60 computers that had been used for two years by the bank were offered to Ashinaga Uganda after being completely wiped, the operating system reinstalled until ready for use again. It is the second time they have given computers to Ashinaga since 2015. Standard Chartered Bank, which has many branches and has been doing business in Africa for many years, has made this donation possible by giving its support to the Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI).

The donation ceremony was organized in the Tokyo Branch of Standard Chartered Bank in the presence of Mr. Yasunori Takeuchi, representative of the company in Japan ; Mr. Sunil Kaushal, Regional CEO of Standard Chartered Africa and the Middle-East ; and six members of Ashinaga, including the President, Mr. Yoshiomi Tamai and Ms. Yukie Seki, Director of AAI. After a few appreciative words, both sides introduced their activities and their history in Africa to deepen their mutual understanding and shared goals. As part of its corporate social responsibility, Standard Chartered Bank is engaged in activities for visually handicapped people, as well as projects to support women in Kenya. “We bear the company promise of ”Here for Good”, and this donation of computers has really made this promise come true”, Mr. Takeuchi said. “I want to continue supporting AAI students in as many ways as possible. Let’s work together for the development of Africa.”, added Mr. Kaushal, as he was shaking hands with President Tamai.

“Here for Good” holds both meanings of “we live to do good” and “we are going to continue working on this Earth forever”. These are also inherent principles of Ashinaga and its long-term AAI project. The donated computers were selected for several African regions and lent to AAI students from Uganda who are preparing for their study abroad; the AAI students now use them to study or organize their university applications.

“Standard Chartered Bank” is an international bank based in the United Kingdom. In 1880, they set up their first representative office in Japan. With 86,000 bank employees all over the world, in Asia, Africa or Middle East, this financial group has more than 150 years of experience. As part of their corporate social responsibility, they organized the “Seeing is Believing” support activities for the visually handicapped and have contributed to the eyesight recovery of at least 2.9 million people.