KAYEC, Omba and LAC fly on Finnish funds

The Finnish Embassy this week signed funding agreements with three local organisations to help them in their work to eradicate poverty and contribute to the support and development of vulnerable individuals and communities.
The Legal Assistance Centre, the KAYEC Trust and OMBA Arts Trust signed agreements for funding to the combined value of about N$6.5 million.
The money comes from the embassy’s Fund for Local Cooperation.
One of the aims of the Fund for Local Cooperation is to ensure that human rights, in particular the rights of the most vulnerable, are effectively implemented.
The Legal Assistance Centre was granted a total amount of N$3.7 million for a two year project.
 Among several activities, the funding will be used to support the implementation of projects addressing gender and children’s rights, the rights of marginalised groups, people living with HIV/AIDS, the rights of indigenous peoples and the rights of rural residents.
Another key objective of the Fund is to support employment creation and socio-economic development at large.
The Embassy granted funding for two recipients that focus their activities on sustainable socio-economic development.
 Omba Arts Trust was granted a total amount of N$1.8 million for the development, sales and marketing of innovative Namibian Crafts and to strengthening the Omba Arts Trust.
The funding will be used to train the craft artists and supply capacity to ensure marketable and viable products.
The KAYEC Trust was granted a total amount of N$1.05 million for a one-year project called “Solar Energy and Business Mentoring as Means to Generate Income for Out-Of-School Youth”.
The project aims to improve access to sustainable energy and promotion of renewable energy by creating career paths and business opportunities in the renewable energy industry for the vulnerable youth.
According to Finnish Ambassador to Namibia, H.E. Anne Saloranta, the Fund for Local Cooperation is a local funding instrument administered by the Embassy.
It has supported the work towards the promotion and realization of human rights and democracy in Namibia for nearly 11 years, complementing other funding instruments made available by the Government of Finland.
The Fund for Local Cooperation is used to support various development initiatives and civil society actors.
 It is also used to promote trade and business relations between Finland and Namibia.