Niël Terblanché
In commemoration of World Food Day, the Capricorn Foundation, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR), extended a helping hand to 200 vulnerable households in the Kavango East region of Namibia.
The foundation contributed N$62,000.00 to provide food parcels to those in need, demonstrating their commitment to addressing food insecurity in the country.
World Food Day (WFD), is observed annually in mid-October and is a global initiative led by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations to combat world hunger and raise awareness about food challenges worldwide.
In Namibia, the event is celebrated in one region on a rotational basis, with the MAWLR taking the lead.
This year, the Kavango East Region was chosen as the focal point for the commemoration, under the theme, “Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind.”
During the event, food parcels containing essential food items to alleviate immediate hunger and provide support to those facing food insecurity in the region were handed over to representatives of vulnerable households.
Marlize Horn, Executive Officer of the Capricorn Foundation, stressed the importance of collaboration with like-minded organizations to combat food insecurity in Namibia.
“Our efforts encourage self-sufficiency within local communities and inspire them to value and utilize precious resources, creating a sustainable and impactful change in Namibia’s fight against hunger and food waste,” she said.
World Food Day 2023 was aimed at creating global awareness about the wise management of water resources to produce more food and agricultural commodities with fewer inputs and less water.
This comes at a time when water resources are under threat due to rapid population growth, urbanization, economic development, and the impact of climate change.
The Capricorn Foundation has been actively involved in numerous projects and initiatives to improve food and nutrition security in Namibia.
These efforts include distributing essential food items, such as butternuts, to disadvantaged communities across the country.
Additionally, the foundation has collaborated with prominent organizations like the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to explore transformative strategies to address critical food-related issues in Namibia.
Another initiative by the Capricorn Foundation is the annual Food Waste Challenge, which focuses on minimizing food waste in Namibia by exploring innovative solutions.
According to Horn, these initiatives enable the foundation to continue making significant strides towards ensuring a sustainable and food-secure future for all Namibians.
