On 28 February 2023, Dundee Precious Me tals Tsumeb Community Trust handed over a donation of hospitality and tourism as well as fashion design training equipment, valued at over N$100 000, to COSDEC in Tsumeb through its trust fund COSDEF. 

COSDEF is the national umbrella body for the Community Skills Development Centres (COSDECs) and the COSDEF arts and crafts centres. It is a registered trust that coordinates, supports and supervises the various centres. 

The training is primarily for youth and previously disadvantaged groups to assist them in partaking in economic development activities. 

Max Johnson, the community trust chairperson, officially handed over the donated equipment to Ntema Sihela, COSDEC centre manager. 

Johnson highlighted that the support is aligned with one of Dundee Precious Metals’ core values: “We partner with our communities”. Quoting author Martin Carter, he said: “I do not sleep to dream but dream to change the world” by encouraging the trainees to continue working hard to make their dreams come true. 

On behalf of COSDEF, COSDEC Tsumeb management and the board, Sihela thanked the Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb Community Trust for donating the equipment to the centre. 

This donation has made it possible for the centre to endorse its vision and mission to provide relevant practical skills training to aspiring trainees – he said. 

He said the centre looks forward to producing the best-trained professionals in the culinary arts, hospitality and tourism, as well as fashion design fields, amongst others. 

The donated training equipment includes chaffing dishes, crockery, a toaster conveyer, a mobile food griller and domestic sewing machines, which will be used for training purposes. 

This donation from the community trust will contribute to improved skills development in the country.