Osino Resources has increased funding of the Twin Hills Trust to N$2 million to allow for the expansion of its development work.
The gold miner revealed this in its 2023 sustainability report released last week further stating that employees volunteered at several community project events.
The Twin Hills Trust is a Namibian not-for-profit organisation that was established by Osino in 2021. It is the socio-economic and environmental development vehicle for Osino and its business partners who benefit from the Twin Hills Project. The trust prioritises projects that benefit the most vulnerable members of society, primarily in its host communities.
Specifically, the trust invests in projects that contribute to long-term and lasting community development, empowering and improving the quality of life of the most disadvantaged communities and improving the environment.
Since inception in 2021, the trust has disbursed approximately N$3.6 million.
“Osino frequently engages with community stakeholders to understand their evolving needs, expectations and perceptions and regularly shares updates on the company’s projects. Building and nurturing positive relationships with these stakeholders is essential for Osino, as this helps to mitigate conflicts, maintain our social licence to operate, and identify opportunities to create value that contributes to social upliftment outside of mining activities,” says Osino Resources.
During 2023, the trust disbursed approximately N$1.25 million to a variety of projects. One of the larger projects involved funding over 20 Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres in Karibib and Omaruru, which cater to more than 600 children between the ages of 0 and 6. This project is managed by the Development Workshop Namibia (DWN).
The other larger project involved the provision of funding to the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDNF) to assist with the installation of bulk sewer infrastructure in the Usab informal settlement in Karibib. This project is being managed by the Karibib Town Council and will eventually provide the service of safe sewerage disposal to over 700 households.
In 2023, Osino initiated socio-economic studies in Karibib to establish a baseline and to better understand community needs and the mine’s potential impacts, both positive and negative. The needs assessment will highlight the specific challenges host communities are facing, which will inform Osino’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Strategy. A community human rights audit to assess related risks in Karibib is also underway.