WINDHOEK, Namibia - UNFPA Namibia Country Office on 22 September 2020 supported the Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) Knock-Out Project with a contribution of N$50,000, in an effort to help combat homelessness in the country.

UNFPA chosen support goes to Hon. Emma Theofilus, the Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology, who will be performing at the event as Adora, Namibia’s R&B and soul singer.

The MTC Knockout Project started last year as a social intervention program by MTC with the specific aim to address societal issues within our communities.

Last year’s initiative was aimed towards creating awareness around gender-based violence in society when celebrities slugged it out exhibition boxing style during their three rounds bout of a minute each.

The 2020 edition will center on the issue of homelessness with the hope that the project will create awareness, spurring of a national debate and entice Namibians in finding concrete solutions to homelessness.

With the theme “Together we can beat homelessness” the project is a call to action with two main objectives. Firstly, to raise awareness, create conversation and find solutions, and secondly to raise funds so that those who are experts can act.

This year’s Knockout Project will see 30 Namibian personalities challenged/paired to get on stage at a live music concert and perform two hit songs of 30 popular Namibian artists.

The personalities are drawn from diverse fields within the Namibian society from sectors such as the arts, health, banking, fashion, industrial, technology, insurances and mining sectors.

UNFPA country representative Ms. Dennia Gayle, thanked MTC and the Deputy Minister of Information and Communication, Emma Theofelus, for initiating this project.

Gayle emphasised that homelessness is not just a Namibian problem but a global issue.

“This partnership is important to UNFPA. As individual entities we can make a certain dent in an issue but the reality is we need to bring our collective effort together, then we are talking about a knockout and that’s exactly why this is so important for UNFPA because we are looking for knockouts in the world, not small solutions,” Gayle said.

MTC executive Tim Ekandjo thanked all the donors and urged others to come on board.

“Let us stop being part of the problem and let’s start being part of the solution,” Ekandjo said.