SOE forum makes Otweya donation
Children living in Otweya’s temporary shelter have received a donation of school uniforms worth N$100 000 from the Public Enterprises Chief Executive Officers’ Forum.
The forum, which made the donation to the Office of the Erongo Governor, also decided to add another N$67 000 donation that will be used to construct a playground for the children in Otweya.
“Most of us were touched by what happened at Otweya, especially in public enterprises; we looked at the children of Otweya and a forum sat around the table – and said, what are we going to do for these young children, and then we deliberated as a committee and together, we are agreed that there is a need for us to make an impact to these children,” Freddy Mwiya, chairperson of the Public Enterprises Chief Executive Officers’ Forum, said at the handover.
The donation to the 85 children who were affected will include t-shirts, trousers, socks and shoes.
“We feel that, indeed, there will be a mark made by Public Enterprises Chief Executive Officers’ Forum in the region and we look at it as very small, but it will make an impact on these young children”, Mwiya said.
Erongo governor Neville Andre expressed gratitude towards the donation by the Forum during the handover.
“As you may remember that while we were busy with Covid-19 and trying to respond to the disaster, 153 shelters were lost in the fire that gutted Otweya. Sadly, we lost one life. The Namibian government, through the Office of the Prime Minister, declared the incident as a disaster and supported the people of Otweya with a number of facilities, food and clothing. I must also applaud the private sector and the Namibian people at large for all those who donated specific items to the victims,” the governor said.
He added that Namibians need to band together during times of struggle, especially with the people of Otweya.
“We also need to bring the light back in terms of the kids at Otweya. They should not go far to play in their own surrounding. In bringing the playground to their environment, is what we really want to express, thank you,” the governor said.