New investment from Capricorn Foundation tackles malnutrition
Justicia Shipena
The Capricorn Foundation has committed N$2 million to fight malnutrition in the country through two partnerships.
It will contribute N$600,000 to the Gondwana MealforTwo Programme and N$1.4 million to Genesis Namibia, focusing on the Omaheke Region.
The Omaheke region has been hard hit by malnutrition.
In August last year, Governor Pijoo Nganate said the region recorded 30,219 malnutrition cases and over 800 deaths in two financial years.
In January of this year, the governor’s office and commercial farmers provided 21 goats to support nutrition efforts in the region.
The Capricorn Foundation’s new support builds on an earlier partnership with Genesis Namibia.
In November last year, it launched a pilot project in the Omaheke region with an initial N$565,500.
The six-month initiative ran from December 2024 to May 2025.
It aimed to reach 500 children but ended up supporting 700 children and several adults.
It delivered 67,000 meals across eight soup kitchens in Gobabis, Otjinene, Drimiopsis, Witvlei, Donkerbos, and Epukiro.
Following the success of the pilot, the foundation pledged an additional N$849,540 to Genesis Namibia.
The funding will target 1,000 malnourished children in Omaheke.
In total, the foundation has committed N$1.4 million to Genesis Namibia.
“Genesis Namibia is grateful to the Capricorn Foundation for their unwavering commitment to feeding the children of Namibia. Together with the Office of the Governor of Omaheke and our dedicated communities, we are not just delivering meals; we are delivering hope. We are proud to be part of this life-changing initiative that brings dignity, care, and nourishment to our most vulnerable children,” said Genesis Namibia Managing Director Riaan van Zyl.
Genesis Nutritional Products contains 13 vitamins, five minerals, 19 amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids, and five electrolytes.
The programme tracks the health of children through an electronic record system.
This helps monitor individual progress and increases referrals from soup kitchens and clinics.
The foundation has also been a long-time supporter of the Gondwana Care Trust’s MealforTwo Programme.
The N$600,000 pledge will help provide 400,000 meals to 30 organisations, reaching nearly 8,000 vulnerable people.
The beneficiaries include orphanages, kindergartens, school hostels, and nursing homes.
“We are proud of our partnership with Genesis Namibia and Gondwana Meal4Two and believe that our efforts will collectively contribute to the government’s call to fight poverty in Namibia,” said Marlize Horn, Executive Officer of the Capricorn Foundation.
Quintin Hartung, Environmental and Social Impact Manager at Gondwana, welcomed the continued support.
“Together, we’ve now served over 1.6 million meals since 2017. This partnership is a shining example of what’s possible when we unite for lasting impact,” she said.
Hartung added that the foundation and Bank Windhoek have supported the programme for years, helping set up sustainable gardens and funding meals that go beyond immediate aid.
The Capricorn Foundation was established in February 2020 by the Capricorn Group. It is funded by Bank Windhoek, Capricorn Asset Management, and Entrepo. Over five years, it has invested N$40 million in social responsibility projects across the country.
