Employees of Erongo Marine Enterprises (EME), together with community members, suppliers and stakeholders, packed an impressive 20 000 meals during a Rise Against Hunger meal-packing event held at the Walvis Bay Town Hall on Tuesday this week.
The event formed part of the Oceana Group’s social impact programme, which is implemented in partnership with Rise Against Hunger Africa and aims to help combat hunger in vulnerable communities. EME employees set a target of packing 20 000 meals within eight hours. However, according to participants, the target was reached in a fraction of that time as volunteers worked side by side to package nutritious meal packs consisting of rice, soya, vegetables and essential vitamins.
The meals are intended to support children and families facing food insecurity. Each pack can help feed up to six children and contributes to efforts to combat malnutrition while supporting early childhood development. The initiative has grown significantly over the years. Since its inception, Oceana Group employees have packed more than one million meals across Namibia, South Africa and the United States.
In Namibia alone, more than 21 000 meals were packed and distributed during 2025 to schools and community projects, including beneficiaries in the Ohangwena Region and Walvis Bay. For some of the volunteers, the impact of the programme is personal Following the meal-packing event, representatives from Rise Against Hunger, EME and community volunteers visited a local feeding project that supports children from Farm 37. According to organisers of the feeding scheme, many of the children arrive early in the morning and wait until late in the afternoon for transport, with some relying on the programme for their only meal of the day. The organisers thanked the many individuals, businesses and organisations that have supported the project over the past year and a half. Special appreciation was extended to King Charcoal Namibia for assisting with transport for the children, as well as several local businesses, community members and donors who continue to contribute food and resources.
Members of the Noble Hearts community outreach group also participated in the meal-packing event. Ryan Gordon and his team later welcomed representatives from Rise Against Hunger and EME to visit the children benefiting from the feeding programme. The visit gave volunteers an opportunity to see first-hand where the meals and donations are making a difference. Community members said the experience was a reminder that every meal packed helps bring hope to a child in need.
Organisers thanked everyone who contributed to the initiative and encouraged continued support for programmes aimed at fighting hunger and improving the lives of vulnerable children in the Erongo Region.
By Eileen van der Schyff
