Blog

As a truly caring Namibian company, we at Oryx Properties embrace our obligations of corporate citizenship. Our comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (‘CSR’) policy focuses on enhancing youth development, minimising our environmental impact, and making a positive contribution to the society in which we operate and to all our stakeholders. During the year 2018 - 2019, Oryx participated/contributed to various initiatives: Children’s Camp Namibia, established in 2009, started off as a ‘fun day’ but by 2012 had evolved into an annual holiday camp for 49 vulnerable and disadvantaged kids aged 13 to 15 during the May school holidays. Activities include fun games sessions, sports, and workshops focusing on protection, nature and the environment. For the 2018 camp, Oryx sponsored an Oryx branded hat for each child who attended the camp. The directors recognise the need to support education to assist in the sustainable development of the economy. In line with this, Oryx contributed N$20,000 towards the NSX/FLI Scholars Investment Challenge competition, which aims at raising awareness amongst scholars and the general public on the role and operations of the Namibian capital market whilst encouraging broad based participation by the Namibian public. Oryx once again supported Namibia’s Church Alliance for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CAFO) . CAFO is a nongovernment organisation that cares for these most vulnerable members of our society. This year we assisted the Queen Elizabeth School by donating a carpet for use in one of their newly built classrooms. During November 2017, some employees of Oryx visited the children's ward at the Katutura State Hospital in Windhoek. We handed out care packages and some soft toys to the children aged from 0 to 12 years. The packages consisted of some hygiene products and fruit. Diapers for the babies were also donated to the pre natal ward. Since a big part of Oryx’s focus is on the education of the Namibian child we also donated puzzles, colouring books, crayons, reading books and push boards to the Katutura Hospital School. The donation was done to brighten up the children's day and to give them an early Christmas gift. During the year, Oryx supported various key initiatives of the Cancer Association of Namibia either through donating cash or free promotional space in Maerua Mall. The events/projects that we supported during this year were the shave/spray-athon day, Pink day and the Bank Windhoek Apple project. We at Oryx take responsibility for minimising our impact on the environment, and our aim is to be a ‘green’ company. This year, we expanded our green foot print through our solar panels at Maerua Mall. We increased our generating capacity from 1MW to 2.5 MW, adding 1.5 MW to our electricity grid. Basic energy saving measures can be implemented at low or no cost and the payback period for renewable energy technologies continue to reduce. Oryx will look to further this to our other properties within the portfolio. Refer to the Asset Manager’s report on page 27 to 31 for further details. The Winter Knights is an annual project hosted by Round Table Namibia. This project is aimed at raising funds for marginalized communities all over Namibia. The main aim is to raise cash donations, in order to buy blankets for these communities. Any other donations in the form of old clothing, blankets and nonperishable food is also distributed to these beneficiaries. Oryx made a contribution of blankets and non-perishable food to the Winter Knights initiative and further assisted with setting up collection boxes within Maerua Mall to allow customers the opportunity to donate while shopping. For the festive season Oryx had various initiatives to bring the Christmas cheer to all our shoppers. We arranged for children to be able to meet Santa and take a picture with him during the December period, which brought cheer to the little ones being able to tell Santa what they wanted most for Christmas. Annually we also allow the Salvation Army to use promotion space within the Mall to wrap Christmas gifts for shoppers who are willing to make a donation. Shoppers were further entertained by the St Boniface school choir which we brought all the way from the North of Namibia to bring Christmas cheer. SPONSORED PROMOTION SPACES AND ADVERTISING The installation of LED TVs in Maerua Mall has played a major role in the creation of awareness for several campaigns that Oryx holds close to the heart. By sponsoring the exhibition spaces as well as the advertising of over N$3,000, the campaign’s reach substantially increases as the initiative’s message is spread to shoppers.