PARTNER STORY
COMMUNITY MATTERS
Photo by: Degnos
Bank Windhoek’s Social Investment Fund a catalyst for sustainable opportunities in communities.
B
ank Windhoek’s Social Investment Fund is all about making an impact at the heart of communities in Namibia. The Fund supports organisations that are already established and whose focus areas are aligned with those of the Fund. “In the past we used to give organisations money to run their projects, but recently our approach has shifted to becoming a lot more involved in what they do to support their efforts,” says Sanet De Waal, Head of CSI, Sponsorships & Events.
“A valuable lesson that we’ve learnt from the projects we support is not to try and reinvent the wheel,” Sanet affirms. “The people you want to help know best how you can help them. Work with what you have in a specific community or project, and find ways to support their efforts.” An example of this is Aleksandra ØrbeckNilssen and the Nanofasa team, who
have carved an international niche market for their SAN-DAL project, using the age-old San tradition of sandal-making. Their unique product generates much-needed income for the Ju/’Hoansi-San. Sanet says, “The community loves making these sandals and the tradition is not only kept alive, but also passed on to the younger generation. “This should be the essence of all community projects,” she adds. “Don’t tell people what you think they should be doing – rather ask what they want to and can do, and build on that. Too often we try to tell people what they should do from a business perspective.” When taking on a project to support, Sanet emphasises the importance of thorough research. “You need to look at the community and understand why they do what they do, and how your assistance can improve on this. Give them training and equip them with the required skills to run a sustainable business, but don’t kill what they are doing.”
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Members of staff are also encouraged to get more involved in supporting the communities in which they live and work, and in support of this the Bank Windhoek Empathy Project was born. Sanet explains, “We give our branches and departments start-up capital and they then raise additional money to invest in projects in their community. And the good thing about this,” she adds, “is that staff members gain a better understanding of the challenges their clients face. It also enables them to interact with clients and other stakeholders on a more intimate level.”
Tel: +264 61 299 1200 www.bankwindhoek.com.na