‘Our corporate philosophy of 'How can we help you' forms an integral part of our brand and that is why we bring back our popular 'Spirit of Giving campaign' that is synonymous with the Festive Season.’

The First National Bank (FNB) Foundation has initiated a campaign for the public to nominate charities that are doing excellent work. What is required is for the nominators to give motivating reasons why the FNB Foundation should consider the charities as potential beneficiaries of the N$100,000 set aside for charity.
The closing date for the campaign is 12 January, and the winners of the N$100,000 will be divided into three categories: N$50000 for the winner, N$30000 for second placed charity with the third placed receiving N$20000.
Cassius Moeti, FNB's Manager of Corporate Communications: Strategic Marketing and Communications, said: “Our corporate philosophy of 'How can we help you' forms an integral part of our brand and that is why we bring back our popular 'Spirit of Giving campaign' that is synonymous with the Festive Season.”
He said the FNB Spirit of Giving campaign aims at ensuring that FNB customers participate in the campaign and by so doing making a difference in the lives of the poor.Last year's winners were the Tsumkwe-based Bushman Farmers Development Initiative, Theresia’s Orphans and Vulnerable Children Foundation in Rundu, and the Genadegawe/Gift of Grace Charity in Aranos.
Moeti said all needed from the FNB customers is to get entry forms and motivate the purpose, the objective and the good work charities are doing in various communities. He said the Trustees of the FNB Foundation will go through all the submissions and select the top three nominations and the FNB customers that nominated the winning charities will receive N$5000, N$3000 and N$2000, respectively.
Submissions can be handed at any FNB branch Moeti said. He said the bank's manager said the rewards undoubtedly made an impact and difference in the lives of the local people in the various communities of Namibia.
Moeti said that Elizabeth Hilger, heading the Theresia’s Orphans and Vulnerable Children Foundation, is looking after 143 orphans, disabled, abused and homeless children. Hilger said the Foundation used its prize money to pay for school fees for the children, bought sports equipment, paid transport cost for the children attending school and also for a construction plan to build a hostel for the homeless children.
Nada Strauss of the Genadegawe/Gift of Grace Project in Aranos said that the winnings they received were used for helping to maintain a clean environment of Aranos.
She said, “Between 50 to 80 children and women meet every Saturday morning for spiritual gathering followed by a clean-up operation of Aranos town.”
Strauss said the project also paid school fees for some children, while others were assisted with school-uniforms.
Pastor Hendrik van Zyl, heading the Bushman Farmers Development Initiative, bought 105 sheep together with supplementary feeding, which were donated to 10 villages.