Hilma Hashange
TSUMEB - Namibia finds itself in the clutches of the Covid-19 pandemic that has threatened to destroy all aspects of the nation’s development and adversely affects all sectors of the economy.
The crisis has an even greater impact on small and medium-sized businesses, with the youth and
women among those at risk of losing their jobs and fall into the cycle of poverty.
In light of this, the SOS Children’s Village Namibia in Tsumeb through its Family Strengthening Programme (FSP) has introduced a Solidarity Fund Project which aims to uplift community members whose incomes were negatively impacted by the pandemic, to provide them with livelihood support and empower them economically.
The project is funded by the SOS Children’s Village Namibia and implemented in a joint effort by Hai//Oms Traditional Councils and the municipality of Tsumeb through the local economic development office.
Through the project, 41 beneficiaries will undergo Basic Business Management skills’ training that covers topics such as business ideas generation, resources management, costing and pricing, customer care, village savings loan association (VSLA) formation and profit maximising.
Tsumeb mayor Mathew Hangula last Wednesday handed over livelihood support materials and equipment worth N$60 000 to the beneficiaries at the Benjamen //Kheimseb Community Hall.
He informed them to consider themselves lucky to be recipients of the project as there are many more businesses in Tsumeb that would appreciate such support. The mayor further encouraged the recipients to work hard with the little that they received, and to contribute to the economic development of the town by supporting their families and expanding their businesses in a formal set-up.
According to the SOS Children’s Village Tsumeb manager Teopolina Haitembu, the Family Strengthening Programme has provided support to more than 3 000 beneficiaries since 2007. She said this year alone, the programme is providing support to 357 participants from 123 families.
The SOS Children’s Village in Tsumeb was established in 1998 as a welfare organisation, committed to provide alternative care to children who are at risk, or about to lose parental care. The organisation is supported by international and local donors as well as the business community and the government.