The Namibian Wildlife Resorts (NWR) recently handed over used copper wire to the Community Skills Development Foundation (Cosdef) with the aim to enhance arts and craft creation.
“It is probably the best investment we made compared to throwing them away. We are very happy about this gesture,” said NWR corporate communication manager Nelson Ashipala.
He said the NWR has been doing renovations across most of their resorts and after realising the copper cables that were removed would go to waste, they decided to donate it to Cosdef which has been spending a lot of money buying copper from South Africa for their arts and crafts.
NWR has also decided to allow students to sell their art and crafts at their resort shops.
“Their arts and crafts are very much important to us,” he said.
The donation is valued at N$30 000.
Cosdef Oyetu Outreach Project co-ordinator Samuel Sheyanena said they appreciate the gesture because the beneficiaries of this donation are marginalised communities of Namibia.
“We need this kind of support because we do not have the financial means to procure craft production materials,” he noted.
“Additionally, it is a blessing to our outreach-supported groups across Namibia, particularly those that are specialising in jewellery made with incorporated indigenous semi-precious stones.”
Sheyanena told VIBEZ! their crafters can now use copper wires to enhance their product quality and appeal to customers both local and international.
He said the Oyetu group located in Uis needs copper wires for different copper-wired jewellery, especially for the Makalani nuts jewellery, as well as the communities of Spitzkoppe and Sorris-Sorris that can now add value to the raw stones they sell.
“We need more stakeholders in community development to come on board and together we can defeat unemployment, crime, poverty, and all sorts of social evils. Together, the success of our people and country is unlimited,” said Sheyanena optimistically.