Windfall for Namibian youth project

WINDHOEK－The Chinese embassy in Namibia and Chinese-owned mining company Swakop Uranium, donated 1 million Namibian dollars ($69,000) to the One Economy Foundation founded by the First Lady of Namibia, Monica Geingos on Feb 18.

At the donation handover ceremony, the first lady said that the money will be mainly used for the#BeFree campaign, which she launched in 2016.

The campaign, undertaken with the assistance of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities and the organization's joint program to combat HIV and AIDS, was inspired by the latter's drive to ensure an AIDS-free generation by 2020 through the Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS-Free initiative.

Speaking at the event, Geingos said this donation will go directly to the project, and said that she would personally make sure it reaches its beneficiaries.

"I am excited to speak about the#BeFree project and, in the next two weeks, we will be unveiling the finer details of the project for which we are going to use these funds. We are looking to raise 30 million Namibian dollars for the initiative and this 1 million is an absolutely fantastic investment into it," she said, thanking both parties for the donation.

The Chinese Ambassador to Namibia Zhang Yiming said the donation exhibits their care and highlights their motive of youth empowerment.

"We are glad to give support to the#BeFree project," he said, adding that the initiative helps to alleviate youth unemployment and extreme poverty.

The first ladies of both China and Namibia are committed to the education and empowerment of women and young people, he said, adding that China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Namibia in promoting youth development as well as supporting sustainable economic and social development.

Xinhua