Nedbank hands over donations to One Economy Foundation

Nedbank Namibia handed over 300 donated items and N$30 000 in cash to the One Economy Foundation at the BeFree Campus in Katutura last week, marking the culmination of its Gender-Based Violence & Femicide (GBV-F) Box Donation Drive launched in December 2024.The initiative, led by Nedbank Namibia’s Human Capital Team as part of its wellness programmes, saw donation points set up at all branches nationwide, collecting clothing, toiletries, non-perishable food, and educational materials.According to HR executive Bianca Muller, the campaign “speaks to the very heart of humanity and my heart. I grew up in the streets of Dolam, and there's no better site for this campus to have been built.”With regard to survivors of GBV-F, she continued: “These are not just statistics. These are our sisters, our brothers, our neighbours, our colleagues, our children, and they deserve more than our sympathy; they deserve our action. There's a lot to do. And each of us is responsible for making that difference.”She stressed that at Nedbank, corporate responsibility “goes beyond just the balance sheets, the money and the numbers. "It touches lives, uplifts communities and confronts the social ills that threaten our collective well-being.”The partnership with the One Economy Foundation reflects a shared vision for wellness and empowerment.Dr Veronica Theron, the foundation’s director of health and wellness, said they believe in smart partnerships and that collaborations like this “enable us to do what we do with so much passion and ease.”She noted their programmes are “evidence-based,” with ongoing research into “problematic mindsets that are all about gender-based violence, the root causes, the contributing factors, and also efficacy of systems.”Theron emphasised a gender-neutral approach, explaining, “We focus on boys, girls, men and women. Many of the people who want to partner with us focus on the girl child, but we saw the detriment when boys are left behind."Between 2021 and 2023, Nedbank contributed over N$100 000 towards the BeFree Campus, a safe and empowering space for youth and survivors of violence. The bank’s wellness initiatives also include mental health awareness, wellness days, and on-site medical services for staff.The Box Donation Drive, Nedbank says, is more than a charitable gesture; it is a call to action against GBV-F, urging corporates, organisations and individuals to help build a Namibia “where safety is a right, not a privilege, and where every survivor finds not just support, but solidarity”.

Nedbank hands over donations to One Economy Foundation

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-13

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Nedbank hands over donations to One Economy Foundation

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-13

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