Contributing to the local community

In efforts to raise awareness of the challenges faced by many girls around the world, Capricorn Group employees, in their role as changemakers, donated over 16 500 sanitary pads to more than 50 vulnerable young girls from orphanages and other vulnerable communities in Windhoek on 11 October. The day is an annual and internationally recognised observance that empowers girls and amplifies their voices by creating awareness of their challenges.



According to Capricorn Foundation, they receive numerous requests for financial assistance from projects who aim to support vulnerable girls with the production and supply of sanitary pads. Capricorn Group therefore recognised the increased plight of disadvantaged young girls in vulnerable communities and their struggle to acquire sanitary pads, which often keeps them away from school for a few days of the month.



The group decided to use the International Day of the Girl Child as an opportunity to support Namibia’s girl children in a tangible way and called on their employees to donate sanitary pads and wipes.



The aim was to ensure that the identified girls at the handover event received at least a year’s supply of sanitary pads from the donation drive, with the remaining pads being strategically handed out to the orphanages not present at the event. The run up to the handover event saw many employees from the group and its subsidiaries, Bank Windhoek, Capricorn Asset Management, and Entrepo Holdings, going out of their way to purchase sanitary pads and towels to help keep girls in school.



Marlize Horn, group executive for brand and corporate affairs and executive officer of Capricorn Foundation, made reference to research that shows that underprivileged girls can miss up to 50 days of school per year due to the lack of access to adequate feminine hygiene products.



"We therefore encouraged our employees, in support of our group’s purpose of being connectors of positive change, to not only avail their time to spend here today with the girls, but also to donate their resources to purchase these feminine hygiene products. This way, we are all doing our part to support and empower a young girl," she said.



The handover was accompanied by an afternoon filled with fun events and a hearty meal served for the girls, as well as an inspirational talk by Miss Namibia’s second princess, Diana Andimba.



"I feel like I am on cloud nine. I am happy to receive my pads for a whole year and happy to be here having some fun," said one of the recipients of the pads.