Niël Terblanché
Between January and February 2024, Bank Windhoek’s Marketing and Corporate Communication Services Department donated toiletries and stationery items to the Baumgartsbrum Farm School and the Rocky Crest High School in Windhoek.
According to Bank Windhoek’s Executive Officer of Marketing and Corporate Communication Services, Jacquiline Pack, the initiative is part of the bank’s Empathy Project.
Situated about 20 kilometres from Windhoek towards the Daan Viljoen dam, Baumgartsbrum Farm School is a government boarding school accommodating 280 learners from less privileged backgrounds, mainly from the surrounding farms.
Upon receiving the donations, the school’s Principal, Maureen Gariseb, expressed her gratitude to the Bank and said the donation would mean a lot to the learners.
“It will boost their confidence as school starts. We are so grateful for this donation and encourage the Bank to continue doing more,” she said.
The Principal of Rocky Crest High School, Justine Klein, said seeing Bank Windhoek at her school was a pleasant surprise. She said it is pleasing to see companies meeting their social responsibility obligations and being inclusive regarding school donations.
“This is a good initiative by Bank Windhoek as the number of vulnerable children without parents is increasing yearly, and most of them cannot afford basic needs. Teachers do help, but it is not enough since they are also struggling. This donation will go a long way, and many learners eat in the life skills class because they do not have something to eat at home. This will benefit the Namibian child,” she said.
The Rocky Crest High School has four hundred and seventy-eight learners.
Thandeka Goxobes, a volunteer at the Rocky Crest High School’s feeding programme, said that the Bank’s assistance came at the right time.
“I did not know where to get some food for the children for the next few months. My heart is for the children, and this donation will help them have something to eat.
When asked what keeps her going despite the challenges while caring for the learners, Goxobes said she is passionate about helping children.
“They are the future,” she said.
The Bank Windhoek Empathy Project is an annual outreach that aims to spark the spirit of generosity within the community by empowering its employees to give back to worthy communities or initiatives that need support.
“As a caring institution, we have noticed that this time of the year is always challenging for schools and their learners. For this reason, we have identified a couple of schools that we can support to kick start their calendar year to continue Bank Windhoek’s crucial role in uplifting the community in which we operate,” Pack said.
She said that Bank Windhoek annually allocates N$500 000 in seed capital for its branches, agencies and departments to invest in education initiatives in their immediate communities.
Pack added that among other social responsibilities, the Bank Windhoek Empathy Project aims to remind staff members of the importance of showing empathy among people. She said it is the cornerstone of Bank Windhoek’s existence as a responsible corporate citizen.
