The spirit of Christmas came alive for 300 vulnerable children from Swakopmund, Henties Bay, and Walvis Bay as Capricorn Group’s employee-led ChangeMaker programme supported a fantastic three-day festive event on 8, 9, and 11 December. The celebration, organised by Connect People to People, created a memorable experience for children with various disabilities, those from local orphanages, and others from less fortunate communities.
Children from organisations including Side by Side, Chain, TASK, Stepping Stones and Jonah Home enjoyed days filled with laughter and exciting activities. The event was packed with opportunities for fun, including skating, putt-putt, rope climbing, and zip lining, all in an atmosphere of pure enjoyment and inclusion. The special gathering was designed to ensure every child felt valued and special during the festive season.
This year, the Annual Event saw a significant boost thanks to the sponsorship from the Capricorn Group ChangeMakers. Their generous support enabled Connect People to People, founded by Buttons Heyns, Dave Hammond, and Marcello Baas, to successfully host 300 children along with their parents and teachers. Since 2019, Connect People to People has been dedicated to this event, but it was the support of Capricorn Group ChangeMakers that elevated the experience for everyone involved.
Beyond the sponsorship, the ChangeMakers demonstrated their personal commitment by organising a gift drive. This initiative collected enough presents for Father Christmas to give a special gift to every child in attendance, reflecting how Capricorn employees actively bring their purpose of being Connectors of Positive Change to life. The event was a true testament to the idea that everyone is valued and deserves to feel special during the Christmas season.
“Our sincere gratitude goes to our partners for their generous support in making this fantastic event possible. A special thank you to Paratus Namibia, Capricorn Asset Management, Bank Windhoek, Food Lovers Market, Metro, Seapride, Abentuer Africa, and our media partner, Future Media. I also want to acknowledge our valued employees known as ChangeMakers, whose dedication and enthusiasm were central to the success of this initiative,” said Marlize Horn, Group Chief Brand and Corporate Affairs Officer, about the initiative.
Dave Hammond of Connect People to People shared his thoughts on the initiative: “Every child deserves the right to feel special and should have the opportunity to experience this irrespective of finances, race or gender. This is such a heartwarming experience for us and we are grateful for the partnership with The Capricorn Group, Connectors of Positive Change, as we Connect People to People.”
