Praise for much-needed Aussenkehr centre
Author: Cape Span
Great was the joy of the Aussenkehr community in Namibia when a much-needed pre-school educational resource centre for Namibian Grape Company (NGC) employees' children was inaugurated recently. Read More...
Praise for much-needed Aussenkehr centre
Categories: COMPANY NEWS , Education
Great was the joy of the Aussenkehr community in Namibia when a much-needed pre-school educational resource centre for Namibian Grape Company (NGC) employees' children was inaugurated recently.
The centre was built by the Namibia Grape Company Social Development Trust, which was established by Capespan in partnership with the NGC board to focus on social needs of the Aussenkehr community and NGC employees. More than 350 people, of whom 80 were VIPs, attended the event. Dignitaries included keynote speaker Namibian minister of health and social services Dr Richard Kamwi; NGC board chairman Dr PT Shipoh, NGC Social Development Trust chairman John Endjala, Maersk Line SA MD David Williams and Capespan MD Neil Oosthuizen.
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Handing over the keys to the emergency vehicle are: Commissioner Upindi, Mr Vitallis Ankama (NYS Board Chairperson), Dr Richard Kamwi, Mr John Endjala and Dr PT Shipoh.
Said Capespan Foundation manager Ansonette van der Merwe, "Phenomenally fast project progress was ensured thanks to the successful funding partnership between shipping company Maersk Line and the NGC Social Development Trust. It took an almost unbelievable eight months from initial discussions to completion of the 120 m2 centre."
As part of the Trust programme to further improve the Aussenkehr communities' lives, an emergency vehicle was handed over officially to the Namibian Ministry of Health at the inauguration. In a statement read on his behalf, Namibian president Hifikepunye Pohamba commended the Trust on improving Aussenkehr residents' living standards with this centre and emergency vehicle. He continued, "I'm happy to note that Namibian companies, as demonstrated by the Namibia Grape Company today, are fulfilling their corporate social responsibilities."
John Endjala said, "It's with a sense of pride that we as Capespan Namibia can confirm that we have already turned the Namibia Grape Company into a profitable business and we'll continue to invest significantly annually to ensure that this grape farm is fully developed in ten years' time."
Van der Merwe explained the Trust's objectives as uplifting and benefiting NGC employees and the surrounding Aussenkehr community. "The parties also have committed to arranging additional funding from partners and stakeholders for social development projects." Aussenkehr was one of the first regions to benefit from Maersk Line's tree planting projects throughout Southern Africa. More than 100 trees were planted at the resource centre.
Earlier this year, the Capespan Group concluded a 10-year marketing and management agreement with the National Youth Service (NYS) to manage the NGC in the south of Namibia as part of a skills transfer process. NGC was transferred to the NYS to administer as part of its asset portfolio by the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement.
The NGC is a 360 ha grape farm employing 263 permanent staff members and about 700 seasonal employees during harvest time. Grapes from the farm are exported mainly to Europe, the UK, Middle East, Far East and other smaller markets.
"Pivotal to the NYS/NGC and Capespan vision is to grow the company in a socially responsible manner while looking to invest further in Namibian produce farming opportunities. This should create much needed jobs and generate foreign income," said Capespan managing director Neil Oosthuizen.
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