Husab Marathon gives N$70k back to community

Road running
Registration proceeds will support 22 beneficiaries in the Erongo Region, including women-owned businesses, youth entrepreneurs and the Himba community.
Leena Ndakevondjo
  • 12 Hours Ago

Registration fees from this year’s Husab Marathon have raised N$70 000 to support 22 beneficiaries in the Erongo Region, including women-owned small businesses, youth entrepreneurs and members of the Himba community.

The marathon takes place this Saturday outside Swakopmund, with the proceeds already handed over ahead of the event.

Swakop Uranium vice executive president Irvinne Simataa on Monday handed over the N$70 000 to Erongo governor Natalia Goagoses, who said the funds would be channelled towards the identified beneficiaries.


Where the money goes

Goagoses said N$15 000 would be allocated to the Himba community in the Dâures Constituency to assist children with school uniforms and other educational needs.

The remaining N$55 000 will support 18 women from the Swakopmund area who are involved in various small businesses.

Of those, 11 operate informal businesses and will receive seed capital aimed at strengthening their operations and helping them eventually register their businesses.

“This support will assist these emerging entrepreneurs to strengthen and grow their businesses,” Goagoses said.


Giving back through running

Simataa said the marathon had been offered free of charge for its previous eight editions to encourage young people and the wider community to participate in physical activity.

This year, registration fees ranging from N$20 to N$50 were introduced for working participants and those above the age of 21, while children and pensioners continued to participate for free.

He said the fees were not introduced to generate profit for the company, but to allow participants to contribute towards the communities around them.


‘We have not been forgotten’

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Giselle Tsauses expressed gratitude for the contribution, saying even a relatively small amount of financial support could make a significant difference to the women.

“To give someone a certain amount of thousands of dollars that they never have may seem small. But to us, it means so much,” Tsauses said.

She said the support would give the women something productive to focus on, while allowing them to work together, remain active and earn an income.

“For us personally, we are very grateful. It means to us that we have not been forgotten,” she said.

Tsauses added that the contribution went beyond its financial value by giving the beneficiaries a renewed sense of purpose and dignity.

– leandrea@erongo.com.na