Skorpion Zinc lends a helping hand to SOS Villages
By Paulina Ndalikokule
ABOUT 80 children living in SOS Children’s Village in Windhoek will benefit from a N$100,000 monthly donation from Skorpion Zinc. Skorpion Zinc donated the first tranche to the SOS home in Windhoek recently and will contribute N$1 200 000 over the coming year.
SOS Children’s Villages International is a non-governmental organisation that takes care children who grow up without parental care and runs their children’s homes in Windhoek, Tsumeb and Ondangwa.
The organisation provides support to children up to the age of 18 and sometimes over.
SOS national director Leonard Diergaardt said their journey with Skorpion Zinc started in 2018 when the organisation was searching for corporates to support the children.
“We all know how vital education is to help break the cycle of poverty and disadvantage, so it important that no child is left behind when it comes to learning,” he said.
The mine’s corporate affairs and sustainability manager, Nora Ndopu, said homes such as those provided by SOS provide safety for children without parental care, especially in an era plagued with all sorts of social ills and an increase in gender-based violence in recent years.
“I only hope that this sponsorship makes a difference in the lives of the children and [gives them] a chance in life they all deserve,” Ndopu said. SOS representative Aina Ndengu welcomed the donation and said SOS is committed to raising the quality of life for Namibian children. “We want all children, regardless of race, creed or circumstances to achieve their potential, especially those previously disadvantaged ones, by ensuring their basic needs are catered for.”
She said the donation would help alleviate the household budget, which tends to be the biggest cost to the village. “Your support to children and alleviating our household budget will provide for basic needs, food, water, shelter and security, which will result in better living environment for our children.” The donation also included winter school uniforms for 254 children.