By: Fransina Nghidengwa
The First National Bank (FNB) handed over 460 joy boxes to the beneficiaries of the Namibia adherence and retention project (NARP) on Thursday morning at the Katutura College of the Arts in Windhoek.
The joy boxes included non-perishable food items, stationery, self-care kit, cosmetics, and baby care items, the project mainly focused on children aged 0-2 years, 3-13 years, and 14-18 years.
The country director of the project hopes Namibia (PHN) Rosalia Indongo said that Project HOPE Namibia (PHN) started implementing the current project for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) 9 years ago in 2013.
The project is implemented with the generous support of the American people through PEPFAR funding and the United States Agency for International Development – USAID.
In collaboration with ministries of health and social services, gender equality, poverty eradication, home affairs, immigration, safety and security, Project HOPE has been able to successfully implement the OVC project.
Indongo further stated, that Thursday’s event was a celebration of how corporate
citizens contribute to the betterment of vulnerable communities, particularly children.
According to the program data from the OVC project for the quarter of July – September
2022, among the active project beneficiaries in the Khomas region, a total of 625 (68%)
out of 914 beneficiaries live in households with moderate to severe hunger.
In addition, World Health Organization (WHO), In 2017 reported that Namibia’s poverty rate stood at 17.4% with over 400 000 people in desperate need of food. These households require direct services and support to meet their daily basic needs.
Through the Namibia Adherence Retention Project (NARP) which aims to mitigate the impact, transmission, and spread of HIV, Project HOPE has been implementing a comprehensive OVC service package for vulnerable children and their caregivers. Using a comprehensive case management approach, the project provides services to beneficiaries and these include health, education, safety, and household economic strengthening interventions. Many families who are beneficiaries of the project find it difficult to buy food and meet basic needs.
“This donation that comes during the festive season strengthens the spirit of giving and
will put smiles on the faces of our beneficiaries today. We hope that through the PPP
platforms that Project is establishing in the implementation regions, we can strengthen
this relationship with FNB Namibia” she said.
FNB commercial executive officer Sepo Haihambo further said, there is still a multitude of children who have very little festive cheer to look forward to. These, she said, are the many children around the country who are less fortunate because the circumstances in their homes only allow for their most basic needs to be met. “They are the reason we are here today – and the reason why we sound the call to sponsor a JoyBox – because no child should be left out,” she said.
As part of their vision of being a great Namibian business and creating a better world, the JoyBox Project is a simple way for them to fight poverty and inequality and play their part in the upliftment of the living standards of all Namibians. Their initiative to deliver the gift of joy and hope to these children seeks to reach the unreachable and create moments of happiness that will lead to a better future. This heroic act is powered by the people of FNB Namibia who have been selfless in their contributions toward the JoyBox initiative.
Haihambo added saying she is proud to be able to handover 460 boxes contributed by FNB staff and by the FirstRand Foundation, the joy boxes will be distributed to underprivileged children and elders in Windhoek, Swakopmund, and Ondangwa.
