Five years of positive change
The Capricorn Foundation marked a significant milestone this year, celebrating five years of impactful community investment since its inception at a commemorative event held at the #BeFree Youth Campus in Katutura last week.Established in February 2020, the Foundation has played a pivotal role in driving sustainable socio-economic development across Namibia, living up to its purpose of improving lives by being Connectors of Positive Change.
Since its inception, the Capricorn Foundation has invested N$37.4 million in 100 projects and programmes that uplift communities, focusing on economic advancement and job creation, education and training, sustainability, health, and vulnerability initiatives.
These focus areas guide the foundation’s efforts, ensuring sustainable community investments while supporting the Namibian government’s National Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By collaborating with like-minded organisations, the Capricorn Foundation amplifies its impact and fosters long-term positive change.
"We must remain steadfast in our resolve to tackle Namibia’s socio-economic challenges while focusing on finding long-term sustainable solutions. For us at the Capricorn Foundation, it has always been about creating lasting and sustainable positive change – to help communities not only survive but truly thrive,” said Marlize Horn, the Executive Officer of the Capricorn Foundation.
“Corporate Social Responsibility, or CSR, is an essential concept shaping how we conduct business. At its core, CSR reflects a company's commitment to acknowledge and embrace its role in society and its impact on the environment. It pushes us to look beyond just generating profits; it encourages us to create economic value in a way that also encourages sustainable opportunities for the communities around us”, remarked David Nuyoma, Capricorn Group CEO, during his address at the event.
Impact at a glance
The event highlighted the foundation’s far-reaching impact, directly improving education, economic opportunities, healthcare access, and support for vulnerable communities.
Key milestones include:
• Education and training (N$15.4 million): Providing access to quality education by improving learning facilities, supporting educators, and equipping learners with essential resources. This includes upgrading 48 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, supplying school materials and curriculum support for 300 000 learners, training 1 600 teachers and monitors, and providing solar lights to 2 600 learners in informal settlements.
• Economic advancement (N$5.5 million): Empowering individuals and entrepreneurs with mentorship, training and job opportunities. Eighty entrepreneurs received business coaching and mentorship, 600 rural artisans were trained in handicrafts, and 2 700 individuals were trained in hospitality and other vocational courses.
• Vulnerability initiatives (N$9.2 million): Supporting at-risk communities with food security and direct aid, including 500 000 meals provided, training for 200 nutrition facilitators, improving orphanage facilities and 40 orphans provided daily with food and necessities.
• Health (N$4.2 million): Improving access to healthcare by funding critical medical equipment, including co-founding a GE E95 Ultra Echocardiography machine, donating four slit lamps to the Ministry of Health eye clinic and medical oxygen and equipment for Covid-19.
• Sustainability (N$3.1 million): Rehabilitation of a borehole and a solar water pump for 35 marginalised San households in the Omaheke Region, establishing 180 sustainable gardens, 346 individuals received horticulture training and establishment of a waste management and recycling system in Maltahöhe.
Thanks
At the celebratory event, Isabel Katjavivi, Director of the Omba Arts Trust, thanked the Capricorn Foundation for its support.
“At Omba, we believe that true economic advancement is not just about financial support – it’s about empowerment. The Capricorn Foundation has helped create a lasting impact, ensuring that Namibian artisans have opportunities to build better futures.”
Saddam Biwa, project manager at the One Economy Foundation, reflected on the #BeFree Youth Campus's beginnings and the Capricorn Foundation's pivotal role in its development. “The Capricorn Foundation’s support and belief in our project motivated my team to push forward. Today, I reaffirm our commitment to working alongside the Capricorn Foundation to empower Namibia's youth,” he said.
The Capricorn Foundation has transformed lives, strengthened communities, and contributed to a better Namibia through the initiatives it supports. As they celebrated this milestone, the Foundation reiterated its commitment to creating a lasting impact through collaboration and innovation. The anniversary celebration also provided a platform to honour partners and stakeholders whose collaboration has amplified the Foundation’s mission.
“As we look ahead, we reaffirm our commitment to sustainable impact, working together with like-minded partners to drive meaningful change. Our partners and projects that we work with have been invaluable in helping us make a difference where it’s needed most,” said Veripura Muukua, Capricorn Foundation Coordinator.