Corporates give shack dwellers N$2m injection

In a joint effort to provide Namibians with affordable housing, the Pupkewitz Foundation, Ohorongo Cement, and FNB Namibia, through the FirstRand Foundation Trust, have donated N$2 million to the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN).

This was announced in a media statement by First National Bank Namibia spokesperson Hileni Amadhila.

She says the donation will be used to construct 12 houses at Rupara, 22 at Divundu, and 11 at Gobabis.

The partnership between the three corporations and the SDFN began in 2016, and has already resulted in the construction of over 395 houses, she says.

The recent donation was handed over during a ceremony where FNB Home Loans national sales manager Rozina Jacobs said: “This partnership ensures that our people have access to the most basic human right. By providing housing, the partnership has helped to reduce homelessness, improve health and safety, and support economic development.

“The success of this project ultimately demonstrates that it is possible to make a difference through collaboration and innovation.”

Amadhila says the Pupkewitz Foundation donated N$1 million, while Ohorongo Cement and FNB Namibia, through the FirstRand Foundation Trust, donated N$500 000 each.

She says representatives of the three corporations praised the value of the partnership and the impact it has had.

Ohorongo Cement’s Alina Nelenge said it is important to combine resources to achieve more, and through this partnership, many Namibians will have access to decent and affordable housing.

Pupkewitz Foundation representative Gert Burger also attended the event and stressed the transformative power of access to quality housing, including the ability to connect residents to critical amenities, and build stronger social cohesion in communities, creating pathways to education and economic opportunity.

“Each dollar invested in affordable housing boosts local economies by leveraging public and private resources to generate income, adequate job creation and retention, financial stability, and security, and improves the quality of life of residents by leading to better health and population diversity,” he said.