08 Dec 2024

Komana Village Development Committee (VDC) has received P90 000 from the American embassy to start a vegetable garden as part of diversifying their income generating streams. 

VDC chairperson, Mr Nelson Elias confirmed the financial assistance during the village excellence victory celebration in Komana on Friday, saying they had already purchased the material and that fencing of the vegetable plot was ongoing. 

The project, he said would help enhance food security as well as create employment opportunities for the community.

Already, Mr Elias said the VDC had been running a poultry project to raise more money.

The poulty project, he said was an initiative supported by MMG Khoemacu mine as part of their corporate social responsibility. 

He said the project, which comprised four equipped poultry shelters with 400 chicken layers, had grown as the VDC continued to sell eggs to individuals and companies.

Meanwhile, the victory celebration follows recent VDCs excellence awards ceremony where Komana VDC out of the 47 VDCs in the North West District won four trophies and monetary prizes in best overall trophy, best in digital literacy and the best in innovative and effective as well as the best stakeholders’ collaboration and networking categories respectively.Mr Elias said the secret behind their success was teamwork and cooperation noting that as VDC they engaged the community and stakeholders in everything they do.

For her part, Principal Social Worker, Ms Kerileng Senwamadi gave credit to Komana VDC saying the committee understood their mandate and discharged it very well.  VDCs, she said were the driving forces behind sustainable development and creating employment for the communities, adding that Komana VDC was well-known for that as attested by the trophies.

The trophies, she said were testament that the committee was dedicated to foster development, innovation and creativity at the grassroots level adding that what they were doing was in line with the council’s pillars of self-reliance and resilience.

“You have indeed embraced mindset change agenda, which calls for changing the way people have been doing things both economically and socially. As the community, you have been motivated to think differently, be innovative and look for ways to better your livelihoods and this is commendable,” he said.

She acknowledged that the VDC had challenges but turned them into opportunities to transform their village saying they also initiated income-generating projects to create employment for the locals.

She further urged retired officers to join forces with the community to drive development noting that their expertise could motivate VDCs to be effective in planning and implementing projects for the benefit of communities.

Komana VDC was commended for keeping their records and financial books intact, a feat worthy to attract companies to invest in sustainable community projects undertaken.

A member of Komana VDC, Mr Bannabakae Sebopiwa said collaboration, hardwork and teamwork kept them going hence they continued to enjoy support from different stakeholders. 

He said they had many activities in the pipeline like internet connectivity at the poultry project.

Currently, he said theyhad  installed airconditioners at the project to keep the eggs fresh adding that they had also managed to purchase a laptop and printer. Ends