Chains of Kindness reach out to Ovinjange Community Project
The Ovinjange Community Project received a donation of N$88 713 from August 26 Logistics.August 26 Logistics' "Chains of Kindness" Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme selected this project to make an impact the community in the Kunene region.
This initiative and the donation seek to solve issues such as water scarcity while promoting food security in the local community.
Omiti Planting CC is a non-profit organisation, and the Ovinjange Community Project is one of the projects that was established to tackle water scarcity and food insecurity, which have been long-standing challenges in the village, approximately 11 km from Opuwo. It represents a collaborative effort led by two academics, Rui Tyitende and Dr Ellison Tjirera from the University of Namibia. They are passionate about bringing positive change and alleviating the suffering in their community through this project.
With the donation, the project can carry out vital water surveying and drilling a borehole with its accessories.
When asked why two lecturers decided to focus their energy on this project, Tyitende, said, “Instead of criticising the government for not doing enough, find a way of using your skills to contribute”.
Beneficiaries
The direct beneficiaries of this project are the residents of Ovinjange. The lack of water has severely impacted their livelihoods.
The project's first phase will provide access to a reliable water source, giving residents access to clean water for personal and livestock consumption. The second phase will establish a community garden. This garden will enable the community to grow crops, provide food security, and generate income by cultivating cash crops.
Present at the handing over of the donation was Alpha Nekomba, acting managing director of August 26 Logistics, who highlighted the importance of Chains of Kindness.
“Chains of Kindness was recently launched to reach out to communities and make a meaningful difference, especially in food production. Supporting the Ovinjange project is a natural fit for our goals: to promote sustainable development and improve the livelihood of locals."
More support needed
The Kunene region is one of the most drought-affected regions and needs assistance. The two founders mark this project as the beginning of an ongoing project that aims to impact the lives of Ovinjange residents positively.
Chains of Kindness calls on corporate or institutional assistance to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
“We can only do this with the assistance from corporate entities or institutions that have an interest in the socio-economic well-being of the most vulnerable societies; we thank August 26 Logistics for supporting us in such an impactful manner,” Tjirera said.
The plan is to replicate the success of this project in other areas of the country facing similar challenges.