Deep in Namibia’s far north-western Kunene Region you will find Otjinungua, set on the Marienfluss Conservancy, and some 340 km from the closest town, Opuwo. Here, arguably Namibia’s most isolated group of Himba live. The distance, access and harsh environment makes it challenging for these residents to have the same quality of life that other cultural groups in Namibia are exposed to.
In the village, between 150 and 200 children attend Otjinungua Primary School and the boarding hostel. Food is supplied by the government, in the form of one warm meal (porridge) a day – when there are government vehicles available to transport the food. At times they wait up to three months.
Since discovering this, Wilderness Namibia’s Community Engagement Department has made a point of sourcing internal and external resources to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3 and 10, Vision 2030, the Harambee Prosperity Plan, and Africa Agenda 2063 by the AU.
Furthermore, Wilderness’ partnership with PE Minerals (Pty) Ltd has made the targets achievable.
Through the partnership, the first of its new monthly school feeding donations was supplied in April this year, and the last in September as we excluded the month-long school holiday in July.
To make the challenging trip to Marienfluss, we worked closely with Marienfluss Conservancy management, as seen below on the left, and the Governor’s office, as seen on the right.
PE Minerals has also made waves with Constituency Councilors, among other government officials and traditional leaders.
In financial terms, the value of the fuel amounts to some NAD25 000 for the five months, with the food coming in at NAD90 000, totalling some NAD115 000 in support for the community since April.
Thank you to Wilderness Namibia and PE Minerals for making this critically important feeding scheme a reality!
