Aiming to keep children in school while nourished, Bank Windhoek donated N$252,000 to Imago Dei Welfare and Poverty Relief. Imago Dei facilitated the feeding scheme from August 2023 with feeding programmes and soup kitchens to feed over 1700 children in five regions. The feeding scheme was successfully implemented through schools by a team of volunteers, learners, and teachers who assisted in preparing and serving meals.
Imago Dei, whose ultimate purpose is to connect the community of needs with the community of means, managed to feed children in the Khomas, Erongo, Hardap, Otjozondjupa, and Omaheke regions. With the feeding scheme operating for over six months, the team purchased the food needed and spent time preparing and serving nutritious meals to children who live in impoverished circumstances. Meals were served at or very close to primary schools to ensure that children received the meals prepared for them within proximity. Depending on their existing soup kitchens or school gardens, children received up to five meals weekly.
Bank Windhoek’s Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Sponsorships, Bronwyn Moody, said the Bank is delighted to have supported the feeding scheme. “Bank Windhoek recognises the impact of malnourishment on children’s development and their ability to survive and prosper. We are committed to extending support within our communities through programmes such as these that allow us to partner and create a sustainable future,” she said.
Moody also thanked Imago Dei for successfully facilitating the feeding scheme and joining hands to empower and uplift communities.
Imago Dei Project Coordinator Millinda Coffee highlights that some schools visited need feeding programmes such as these to care for children living in impoverished households. “We are extremely grateful for this assistance in the feeding scheme for learners. These programmes are always received well by those we assist. Every bit of funding is essential for schools to keep providing nutritious meals to the children,” she said.