“To start off with, the Old Mutual Foundation will assist the following regions and schools: Zambezi Region, repairs of chairs and desks at Silumbi Combined School, while the supply of new chairs and desks will be provided to Mavuluma Secondary School. In the Omaheke Region, repairs of chairs and desks will be done at Gunichas Roman Catholic Primary School, and the supply of new chairs and desks will go to C. Ngatjizeko Primary School, as well as Drimiopsis Primary School (Sponsored by Futurenergy Consultancy CC). Lastly, in the Kunene Region: repairs of chairs and desks at Okapara Mobile Unit (Ondao School) and the supply of new chairs and desks to Elias Amxab Combined School,” said Mignon du Preez, Group Marketing, Public Affairs and Sustainability Executive at Old Mutual Namibia.

The foundation, which pledged to partner with local entrepreneurs, businesses, vocational training facilities, and correctional services to collaborate on the provision and repair of furniture to ensure the success of the initiative, said it had received 81 applications from vendors across the country.

“Selected vendors will be contacted based on geographic location to submit quotations for repairs and supply works by September 22, 2023,” she said.

The C&D Initiative, funded to the tune of N$500,000, aims to provide new chairs and desks to schools with a real need, while also repairing all fixable damaged chairs and desks, to address the urgent demand for usable chairs and desks in public schools throughout the country's 14 regions.

The Old Mutual Foundation is Old Mutual's corporate social investment vehicle and is funded by a 1% allocation of after-tax profit from the company annually.