Online Reporter
Online Reporter
THE Old Mutual High Schools Quiz, which is now in its 40th year, is widely considered a unique form of corporate social responsibility.
The quiz, run in partnership with the Book of African Records, encourages the quest for knowledge by young people, builds self-esteem and self-belief, encourages teachers and school administrators to get the best out of learners and promotes healthy and progressive competition.
The Old Mutual High Schools Quiz has a strong financial literacy component, thus contributing to the production of tertiary-level entrants who are equipped with the kind of practical knowledge that helps one thrive in the modern world.
Further, the partnership with the Book of African Records contributes to greater interest and awareness of African history, civilisation and development, thereby providing positive identity reinforcement.
The quest to improve financial literacy from an early age is well-supplemented by programmes like the Old Mutual Piggy Bank Campaign, through which children are encouraged to develop a culture of earning money honestly and then saving it.
There is also the Old Mutual Mathematics Olympiad, which is run in collaboration with the University of Zimbabwe’s Mathematics Department and is affiliated with the International Mathematics Olympiad.
With science and technology increasingly forming the core of modern development pursuits, the importance of encouraging mathematical knowledge amongst the young cannot be overemphasised.
Sports
Through the Old Mutual Zimbabwe Foundation, the company also invests in the development of sports.
This includes hosting marathons across Zimbabwe.
And there is also serious involvement in rugby, which in 2018 saw the Sables World Cup Qualifier team having 40 percent of its players drawn from programmes sponsored by Old Mutual.
Further, the Old Mutual Heath Streak Cricket Academy continues to churn out talented cricketers.
Environment
Old Mutual’s CSR policy also covers environmental preservation and promotion.
For example, it supports the Friends of the Environment (FOTE) in environmental preservation programmes.
It was through this partnership that the company helped establish a tree seedling nursery at Siabuwa High School in Binga, Matabeleland North province.
Similar initiatives were also rolled out at Zimunya High School in Manicaland and Thekwane High School in Matabeleland South since the programme started back in 2012.
However, one of the company’s marque health-focused programmes is the Old Mutual Zimbabwe Eye Camp.
In 2024, the week-long camp in Mutare saw an average of 15 eye surgeries being performed every day.
“At Old Mutual, we recognise that vision is one of life’s greatest gifts, connecting us to the world and those around us. However, numerous senior Zimbabweans face eyesight challenges such as cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy,” says the company.
“These conditions, often caused by aging, can severely impair vision, and many elderly individuals in low-income households struggle to access the necessary care due to financial constraints.
“To address this, Old Mutual Zimbabwe partnered with the Eye Institute to improve eye health for the elderly in marginalized communities.”
The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 and SDG 10.
These speak to good health and well-being, as well as reducing inequality by ensuring access to quality eye care for under-served communities.
One of the beneficiaries of the Old Mutual Zimbabwe Eye Camp, Charity Mataruka, said: “It had been years since I last saw clearly. I had double and blurred vision with no solution due to financial constraints. But this surgery has changed everything — I can now function independently.”
Online Reporter