A program that focuses on empowering women through business and artisan entrepreneurship in Namibia, Penduka Trust, on Thursday celebrated 30 years since it began catering to women’s needs.
It remains one of the first organizations in Namibia that focuses exclusively on empowering women suffering from the effects of unemployment and poverty through the development of creative potential among women, Xinhua news agency reported.
Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Industrialisation and Trade, Verna Sinimbo, highlighted that the core of Penduka’s drive is to eradicate poverty and social challenges among vulnerable women in Namibia.
To date, both private and public organizations support the Penduka Trust by hosting workshops, conferences, and team-building exercises, to name a few.
Some of its projects include an “adult diaper project,” and the trust already has the infrastructure and machinery to undertake such projects.
Sinimbo stressed that sustainable economies develop from businesses that operate fairly and ethically and strive to maximize social impact alongside economic returns for beneficiaries.
“As a result, women who have accrued the necessary entrepreneurial skills are encouraged and continuously supported to start up their enterprise,” she added.
The Penduka Trust has assisted its surrounding communities with skills training in the handcraft industry as well as providing entrepreneurial skills.
Its partners include the Penduka Foundation in the Netherlands, which is the sole distributor of Penduka products in Europe, and a provider of financial contributions, strategic direction, and advice.
Inflation
Namibia’s annual inflation rate increased by 6 percent in June 2021, according to the country’s Consumer Price Index Bulletin (NCPI) released Thursday.
The monthly inflation rate augmented by 1 percent compared to 0.1 percent recorded a month earlier, the bulletin released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) added, Xinhua news agency reported.
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Transport and food and non-alcoholic beverages components continued to be the main contributors to the annual inflation rate with a contribution of 2.7 percentage points and 1.3 percentage points, respectively, the report stated.
“The annual inflation rate for the transport category which accounts for 14.3 percent of the consumer basket continues to be the main driver of the overall inflation, increasing by 18.6 percent in June 2022 compared to 9.6 percent registered in June 2021. The increase in the transport component was mainly reflected in the price levels of Operation of personal transport equipment which increased by 32 percent,” the report added.
Meanwhile, food and non-alcoholic beverages, which accounts for 16.5 percent of the NCPI basket, recorded an inflation rate of 7 percent during June 2022 compared to 7.3 percent registered in the same period of last year, the report further highlighted.