Niël Terblanché
It is the season of giving, and on Friday, December 1, 2023, employees of Capricorn Group embraced their roles as Changemakers by spreading holiday cheer and giving back to the most vulnerable communities through their Regional Christmas Drive.
Changemakers from across the country participated in various activities and projects close to their branches or departments, which included setting up gardens, serving meals, donating essential items, painting, and distributing Christmas goodies.
The Regional Christmas Drive was a heartwarming initiative that reached out to several organizations dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. These organizations included:
At the Christ’s Hope Care Centre in Oshikuku, Changemakers supported community garden development, ensuring orphaned and vulnerable children received nutritious meals.
At the Lighthouse Children and Youth Ministry in Rehoboth, Changemakers contributed by assisting with painting, gardening, and engaging in games and interactions.
The Lighthouse Ministry focuses on holistic care programs for 75 vulnerable children and teenagers in the Rehoboth community,
Changemakers generously donated baby clothes, blankets, and other essential items at the Hope for Life Foundation in Windhoek. They also played a key role in establishing a garden at the Hope for Life Foundation, which operates a child protection centre providing temporary care for babies awaiting adoption.
Changemakers set up a basic pot garden and a sand pit for the babies at the Ruach Elohim in Swakopmund.
The Ruach Elohim’s primary mission is to prevent baby abandonment and provide a safe and loving home for abandoned babies.
According to Marlize Horn, the Capricorn Group’s Executive of Brand and Corporate Affairs, the Changemaker program is at the heart of Capricorn’s employee volunteerism efforts. It reflects the Group’s purpose of being “Connectors of Positive Change.”
She said that the program aligns with the Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) vision to create economic value responsibly, thereby fostering sustainable opportunities for enhancing the economic and social conditions in the communities where they operate.
Changemakers went above and beyond to make the day special for these communities, exemplifying the spirit of Richard P. Feynman’s words which stated that the highest form of understanding people can achieve are laughter and human compassion.
“I firmly believe a random act of kindness, no matter how small, can bring happiness to others.” Charne Ramjit, one of the Changemakers from the Bank Windhoek Ongwediva service centre said.
