N$200 000 donation from ‘Phoenix’ film welcomed

A DONATION of N$200 000 from the Hollywood action film ‘Flight of the Phoenix’ was yesterday handed to three recipients at Swakopmund.

Guy Nockels, co-owner of Namib Films, handed over three cheques on behalf of the Phoenix crew to the Mayors of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay and to the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) West Coast Environmental Fund. Chief Warden of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Rod Braby, accepted the N$100 000 on behalf of the environmental fund.The money will go towards extending the Damara Tern fence to other ecologically sensitive areas, more information signs to be posted along the central Namib, as well as the development of a raised walkway to the horses’ graveyard.The well-known graveyard, which is a major tourist attraction, is in the middle of a fenced-off Damara Tern breeding area.The purpose of a raised walkway is to maintain controlled access to the area.Braby said the substantial contribution would further the cause of sustainable development, especially in the field of tourism.”We need to look after our immediate environment.If we do not protect what is on our doorstep, we will not appreciate things further away.By protecting what we have here, we hope that people will apply the same when they go further afield,” said Braby.The Mayors of the two central coastal towns each received N$50 000 on behalf of their Councils.Rosina //Hoabes of Swakopmund said the money would go towards expanding an HIV-AIDS counselling centre at Mondesa into a multi-purpose centre.The centre will provide access to information, education, recreation, sports and cultural activities, provide trained community volunteers in HIV-AIDS, and provide a suitable environment to people infected with and by the disease.King Mandume Muatunga of Walvis Bay said the donation would be used to boost the Mayoral Relief Fund.The fund provides assistance in cash or kind with the aim of uplifting the previously neglected sectors of the community.It also targets individuals who struggle to afford medical costs, institutions involved in the care, support and rehabilitation of orphans and vulnerable children, patients terminally ill with cancer and AIDS or other serious illnesses.Apart from the N$200 000 donation, various other donations were made to the community during the duration of the filming of the movie.Over Christmas various charities received financial donations, while office equipment, paper and other items valued at around N$200 000 were donated to various organisations, including the Namibian Police, from the production office.’Flight of the Phoenix’, with Dennis Quaid in the lead role, is the first Hollywood film to be shot completely in Namibia.Nockels said he was on his way to London to find new work for his company.He said Namibia had great potential to attract more feature films.Chief Warden of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Rod Braby, accepted the N$100 000 on behalf of the environmental fund.The money will go towards extending the Damara Tern fence to other ecologically sensitive areas, more information signs to be posted along the central Namib, as well as the development of a raised walkway to the horses’ graveyard.The well-known graveyard, which is a major tourist attraction, is in the middle of a fenced-off Damara Tern breeding area.The purpose of a raised walkway is to maintain controlled access to the area.Braby said the substantial contribution would further the cause of sustainable development, especially in the field of tourism.”We need to look after our immediate environment.If we do not protect what is on our doorstep, we will not appreciate things further away.By protecting what we have here, we hope that people will apply the same when they go further afield,” said Braby.The Mayors of the two central coastal towns each received N$50 000 on behalf of their Councils.Rosina //Hoabes of Swakopmund said the money would go towards expanding an HIV-AIDS counselling centre at Mondesa into a multi-purpose centre.The centre will provide access to information, education, recreation, sports and cultural activities, provide trained community volunteers in HIV-AIDS, and provide a suitable environment to people infected with and by the disease.King Mandume Muatunga of Walvis Bay said the donation would be used to boost the Mayoral Relief Fund.The fund provides assistance in cash or kind with the aim of uplifting the previously neglected sectors of the community.It also targets individuals who struggle to afford medical costs, institutions involved in the care, support and rehabilitation of orphans and vulnerable children, patients terminally ill with cancer and AIDS or other serious illnesses.Apart from the N$200 000 donation, various other donations were made to the community during the duration of the filming of the movie.Over Christmas various charities received financial donations, while office equipment, paper and other items valued at around N$200 000 were donated to various organisations, including the Namibian Police, from the production office.’Flight of the Phoenix’, with Dennis Quaid in the lead role, is the first Hollywood film to be shot completely in Namibia.Nockels said he was on his way to London to find new work for his company.He said Namibia had great potential to attract more feature films.