Seawork Fish Processors (Pty) Ltd, with the assistance of Bank Windhoek and other corporate partners, hosted their second seafood festival over the weekend to collect funds to aid less-privileged learners with meals.
The three-day Bank Windhoek Seawork Seafood Festival 2023, which started on Thursday at the Olympia Swimming Pool, attracted several seafood enthusiasts and vendors, who prepared aromatic and salivating cuisines that got attendees’ tongues wagging for more. Festivalgoers braved the cold and windy conditions to indulge in gourmet seafood and delightful drinks – from the wine, beer and cocktail bars.
Children had a blast in the play park with pony rides, face painting and magic shows. Games, competitions and incredible prizes were also on offer.
Live music was provided by, among others, The Ell’s, Ang & Mona, American Rick, Riaan Smit, The Yesterdaes, Roadhouse Blues and Vaughn Ahrens.
Seawork marketing manager Oliver Binneman told VIBEZ! the aim of the event was to introduce seafood to more Windhoekers and promote awareness about Seawork Cares and the charity work they do for schools.
Since 2019, Seawork has established two corporate social responsibility projects that collectively provide healthy meals to over 2 000 people, with the numbers increasing daily.
“Seawork Cares focuses on helping children stay in school by providing them with healthy meals so that they do not have to leave schools to fend for themselves. It is a little bit of an incentive for them to stay and finish their school and to get a good education because we believe education is the best way to uplift people,” explained Binneman.
Seawork, which specialises in the catching, value-adding and marketing of frozen seafood products for the international market, has adopted schools that they cater to – the Marmer Primary School, situated in Aus, and the Cocoma Junior Primary School, which is situated roughly 250km outside Rundu.
Collectively, more than 400 children receive breakfast and lunch daily.
One of the vendors, Rodrigo Borges, said he appreciates events like these because they promote the seafood culture, which is not something someone sees every day in Windhoek.
“We are far from the coast, and I know that most Namibians are meat lovers, so it is good to see the culture being revived in such a way,” said the owner of the eatery, The Hook.
Borges added: “This seafood festival, apart from allowing people to indulge in various cuisines and bringing families together, also has a bigger goal, which is to provide meals to learners in destitute schools, which is commendable, and I appreciate the organisers for that”.
The Portuguese national, who has been in Namibia for almost a decade, said the event equally supports local businesses, and more events of this nature should be hosted.
Seafood truck owner Alicia van de Steeg said the festival was fantastic, and that it provided a great platform to share her passion for seafood with a diverse audience.
“The opportunity to connect with fellow food enthusiasts and receive their feedback was truly fulfilling. I had the chance to introduce unique dishes, share cooking tips and promote the importance of sustainable seafood practices. It was a wonderful experience overall, and I sold all my stock; I am happy,” she exclaimed.
The Okahandja-based seafood lover added the initiative by Seawork is commendable, and being part of a charity initiative that aims to assist less-privileged schools around the country is an honour and privilege.
Van de Steeg said: “Knowing that the initiative will provide aid and support to these schools gives me a sense of purpose and fulfilment, and I am grateful to be part of such a meaningful initiative”.