By Kuvee Kangueehi Windhoek The Women Action for Development (WAD) yesterday received a sponsorship of more than N$2 million from various organisations. The donations will be used by the women empowerment organisation to implement its training programmes for the year. WAD’s Executive Director Veronica De Klerk, who said the funding would make her organisation’s training programmes possible, received the sponsorship. German non-governmental organisation Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung, the biggest sponsor of the day, donated N$1, 4 million to the women empowering organisation. Its Resident Representative Anton Bosl said since 1994 his organisation has sponsored WAD with more than N$23 million. He said, through funding from his organisation, thousands of rural women have been able to access WAD’s training programmes. WAD was formed in 1994. “Today looking back at these 12 years of intensive cooperation with WAD we are happy to see our donor investment paying dividends to so many people,” said Bosl. Beryl Mohr, Programme Executive of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation which donated over N$200 000, paid tribute to WAD for its endeavours and the difference it is making in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. “WAD has set the groundwork for how a community-based approach can ensure the continuum of care and support for those infected and affected by the pandemic,” said Mohr. She said, in most affected households, girls often drop out of school to care for sick family members, and others are compelled to engage in risky transactional sex to survive, perpetuating the cycle of ignorance and HIV. “Unsurprisingly, access to education is much more difficult in the remote areas of Namibia where women, girls and some men [can] continue [to receive] some form of education and training offered by WAD.” Shell Namibia donated N$50 000. Its External Affairs Officer Mona-Lisa Garises also paid tribute to WAD for empowering rural communities throughout Namibia through skills development. “Rural women are among the most marginalized people in our country and it is through initiatives like those of WAD that this situation is gradually changing, through training and empowerment programmes,” said Garises. She said, in this way, a large group of women has been equipped with skills and confidence to earn a sustainable living, gain respect in their communities as well as pride through WAD’s training activities. Namdeb donated over N$200 000, the First National Bank N$40 000, Rennies Travel N$20 000 while the government, through the Office of Deputy Prime Minister, gave the women empowerment group N$35 000. WAD is also expected to receive upfront payments and BEE dividends from Old Mutual, Nedbank Namibia and Mutual and Federal, which will be paid out quarterly and at year-end.