Havana children celebrate the joy of Christmas

WINDHOEK, DEC. 21 – This year, 60 Havana children will get the chance to celebrate the real joy of Christmas. In the midst of the dusty informal settlement where children are often forgotten, local pastors Anna and Petrus Kharigus of Jesus Maak Die Storm Stil Ministries will bring the spirit of Christmas alive with a nourishing Christmas lunch, made with love, for Havana’s children.

Anna and Petrus have run the ministry here for the past nine years, during which time they formed a special relationship with the families of Havana. This year, in the spirit of giving back and in the true spirit of Christmas, MultiChoice Namibia donated food valued at N$5 000 to the church for the children of this disadvantaged community.

MultiChoice Namibia staff personally delivered the food last week, surprising the children with a special visit to the church. Here they handed out Christmas packs containing juice, chips, sweets, biscuits and lollies to the overjoyed children, whose happy smiles and laughter told the real story of their appreciation for this unexpected gesture.

The children gifted the MultiChoice team with something as well, something priceless that can only come from a place of love – beautiful songs of appreciation, sung in unison, to say thank you. This brought home the true message of Christmas and the power of giving to those less fortunate.

MultiChoice staff also delivered fresh fruit as well as minced meat, sugar, macaroni, salt, sugar and maize meal. Next week Anna will use these items to cook up a delicious Christmas Day lunch for the children, bringing a little more festive joy into their lives.

“We had heard about Anna and the amazing work she and her husband were doing in the Havana community through their ministry, and wanted to help. Sometimes, she struggles to provide for her own family, yet there she is, always helping those less fortunate. Anna says enriching lives is her calling. That’s our calling too, as a socially responsible corporate citizen, so this was a natural partnership that we hope will have a significant, positive impact in the lives of these children going forward,” said MultiChoice Namibia Managing Director, Roger Gertze.

This heartfelt gesture from MultiChoice Namibia follows similar donations during the year. In February the company donated three smart TVs valued at close to N$25 000 to the National Institute for Special Education after calls to help the struggling institution fulfil its commitment to its hearing-impaired learners.

Meanwhile, four childrens homes benefitted from MultiChoice Namibia’s Easter drive, which included handing out Easter treats to all the young residents; the children at Life Change Centre were provided with winter blankets, food supplements, school shoes and warm soup; and the children of Hope Initiatives S-A Namibia childrens home in Havana were also given blankets and food supplements to see them through the winter.

All these initiatives reflect MultiChoice Namibia’s passion for and commitment to the African continent, specifically the upliftment of the communities in which it operates. By making great entertainment more accessible, MultiChoice Namibia creates value for its customers, employees, and the communities and economies where it works. – info@namibiadailynews.info