The Namibian Port Authority (NamPort) held a Social Investment Fund gala dinner in Windhoek, where it allocated N$23 million to 20 recipients in sponsorship for the procurement of projects across 14 regions.
Under the theme '78 million reasons to believe in community, commitment and change,' the funds are meant to assist in job creation, education and health care.
NamPort CEO Andrew Kanime highlighted numerous completed NSIF projects, displaying positive impact and ongoing development nationwide.
This included the allocation of over N$600,000 for the construction of ablution facilities in the Kavango East and Omaheke Regions.
"Today, we are celebrating the allocation of N$23 million for projects that were identified as deserving over the past 18 months, so to the recipients, we do not merely ask of you to deliver on your projects. We request that you lead with purpose, amplifying the impact of every dollar and cent, ensuring that the lives of those you save are changed, not momentarily but sustainably," said Kanime.
NamPort also donated computer tablets to the Namibian National Association of the Deaf to support the expected September launch of a sign language application to enhance communication for the deaf community nationwide.
Speaking at the Gala event, Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare said his office would provide employment opportunities to TVET trainees through the procurement of community gardens and sanitation facilities at schools in rural areas.
"As you know, the Prime Minister's office coordinates drought relief, but we have also said in parliament recently that we would like to build resilience of this drought relief, where each village must have a community garden, and each village must be supported to be able to produce food. In addition, we have begun in the Otjobinde constituency."
The office of the Prime Minister will select trainees from vocational training centres in the local area to complete the task.
''So we have then started by using the young people in NYS and TVET graduates as well as the unemployed young people, because the Cabinet, not too long ago, decided that food for work and cash for work are back. Therefore, we are using the unemployed to be able to clear the land so that the land can then be used to produce food. Now we are working with others such as the World Food Programme."