Placido Hilukilwa
GONDWANA’S Etosha King Nehale Lodge was this past weekend the scene of an important fundraising event, described by the organisers as an emphatic success.
A cash amount of over N$400 000 was collected and/or pledged, while the in-kind donations included six head of cattle and two sheep.
The event was organised by the Oompale Trust Fund and was, among others, attended by Omukwaniilwa Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo of the Ondonga Traditional Authority (OTA) who is also the Trust Fund’s patron.
According to Oombale Trustee Loise Shixwameni, the amount of slightly over N$400 000 does not include the lodge’s in-kind donation of 30 free rooms for the duration of the event that lasted two days.
The King Nehale Lodge is located on the Andoni plains, one kilometre from Etosha National Park’s King Nehale gate.
The Oompala Trust was established in 2019 with the aim of revitalising and augmenting the OTA’s relief services by modernising the traditional way of collecting food stuffs and other items for the humanitarian assistance of the needy members of the Ondonga community.
According to Shixwameni, the Fund aims to plough back into the community by coming up or supporting with developmental and programs and business initiatives.
The plan includes providing scholarships to needy young people to further their studies.
The Trust is the brainchild of young Oshindonga-speaking business personalities and young professionals who organised themselves to modernise and expand the OTA’s service delivery.
“As citizens we want to make a difference,” said Shixwameni.
The fund kick-started its activities in 2019 with an initial collection of N$100 000 as part of an ambitious plan to reach a balance of N$1 000 000 within a year.
However, the Fund did not reach its target for last year due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
More fundraising events are planned to take place in Windhoek and at Ondangwa, on dates to be announced on due course.
