Funding withdrawn from fake orphanage

THE Christina Swart-Opperman AIDS Orphan Foundation Trust has withdrawn its assistance to the Yvonne’s AIDS Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children’s Organisation.

In September last year, the trust donated N$27 933 to the organisation. This amount was part of the proceeds of a fundraising event, Fashion Extravaganza for AIDS Orphans, held on September 3.Yvonne’s AIDS Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children’s Organisation was subsequently visited by a social worker from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, a trustee and the trust administrator of the Christina Swart-Opperman AIDS Orphan Foundation Trust.The report received from the Ministry indicated that the organisation was neither an orphanage nor a shelter, but a day-care centre for children living with both their parents.Because the children could not be classified as needy, the trust’s board of trustees decided to withdraw assistance from the centre.”We have a responsibility towards the businesses that we work with to allocate the money where it was meant to go,” Dr Christina Swart-Opperman commented.”We have a long list of projects we are funding, but this money will be given to a new home where orphaned and vulnerable children are cared for.”The trustees will decide upon a new beneficiary at their next meeting.This amount was part of the proceeds of a fundraising event, Fashion Extravaganza for AIDS Orphans, held on September 3.Yvonne’s AIDS Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children’s Organisation was subsequently visited by a social worker from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, a trustee and the trust administrator of the Christina Swart-Opperman AIDS Orphan Foundation Trust.The report received from the Ministry indicated that the organisation was neither an orphanage nor a shelter, but a day-care centre for children living with both their parents.Because the children could not be classified as needy, the trust’s board of trustees decided to withdraw assistance from the centre.”We have a responsibility towards the businesses that we work with to allocate the money where it was meant to go,” Dr Christina Swart-Opperman commented.”We have a long list of projects we are funding, but this money will be given to a new home where orphaned and vulnerable children are cared for.”The trustees will decide upon a new beneficiary at their next meeting.