Staff step up to help hungry learners

  • 6 Days Ago - 2025-07-25 10:50:00
In Namibia, poverty and hunger remain two of the biggest obstacles to education. While schooling is often seen as a pathway to a better future, it's hard for learners to thrive in the classroom when their most basic needs – like proper nutrition – aren’t met.
Recognising this challenge, staff from FNB Namibia, in collaboration with the FirstRand Namibia Foundation and the Windhoek Life Change Centre (WLCC), launched a hands-on school feeding programme to support vulnerable learners. The initiative aims to provide warm, nutritious meals to pupils at four schools in Windhoek: Cosmos High School, Khomastura Secondary School, A.I. Steenkamp Primary School, and Acacia Senior Secondary School.
Backed by a N$200 000 investment, the programme kicked off at Cosmos High School, where FNB Namibia staff joined Life Skills teachers to prepare and serve meals. But beyond the funding, it’s the people behind the project who make it truly special.
“Corporate Social Investment is about more than just money, it’s about people giving their time and heart,” said Revonia Job, CSI Manager at the FirstRand Namibia Foundation. “It’s our colleagues who are making the difference by showing up, rolling up their sleeves, and bringing care and compassion to every meal served.”
The volunteer programme falls under FirstRand Namibia’s “People Pillar”, which encourages community involvement and active citizenship. Staff are supported to contribute to causes close to their hearts, and the Group matches every dollar donated by employees to their chosen causes.
Volunteers begin cooking at 05:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays. By Tuesday at 09:00, the soup is ready to be delivered to learners in time for their 10:00 break, with help from Life Skills teachers.
In addition to school meals, FNB volunteers also help distribute monthly food parcels to 226 elderly Namibians, as part of the WLCC’s broader outreach.
This initiative will continue throughout the rest of the year, with FNB staff preparing and serving meals twice a week at the participating schools.