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Hardap community benefits from ministerial grants

One of the beneficiaries of the Income Generating Activities by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Elrico Kooper, owner of Tausan Trading Enterprises chats to Hon. Rosalia Nghidinwa, the Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare and the Councillor of the Rehoboth Rural Constituency, Hon. Riaan McNab at the handover ceremony of equipment in Kalkrand recently. (Photograph by Lorato Khobetsi)

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare through its Directorate of Community Empowerment recently handed over equipment and material to 18 income generating projects in the Hardap Region. Annually the Ministry sets aside an amount of N$5.8 million to assist basic successful and viable income generating activities financially by means of grants in all regions.

This year, Hardap Region received approximately N$385,000 for the 2014/15 financial year for community projects from all constituencies in the region. During the previous financial year 2013/14, the Ministry assisted nine projects in the region with close to N$70 000. Close to 42 community members of which 33 were female and nine males benefited from the grant. The criteria to select successful applicants are done at the Regional level through the Regional Income Generating Activities Committees and are then recommended to the Ministry.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Kalkrand, to Hon. Rosalia Nghidinwa, the Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare said the purpose of the grant is to improve the socio-economic development of the hard working and qualifying previously disadvantaged Namibian men and women while also creating employment and eradicating poverty. She further encouraged community members to embark on economically viable projects. “The ministry provides start-up funds which are complimented by training in basic business management skills towards poverty alleviation and thus improving the life of many Namibians as stipulated in Vision 2030, NDP4 and the Millennium Development Goals,” said Nghidinwa.
The chairperson of the Kalkrand Village Council, Councillor Christina Scholtz urged the beneficiaries to take proper care of the equipment they received. “Make your dreams become a reality from this day and onwards,” she added. Mariental resident and owner of Tausan Trading  Enterprises, Elrico Kooper thanked the ministry for the grant, stating that the equipment he received are one of the best quality in the industry and will help his business grow from strength to strength.

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