Allexer Namundjembo
Palms Life Fund is supporting 30 San learners in the Tsumkwe Constituency through a cleaning campaign project aimed at reducing school dropouts.
The initiative supports primary and secondary school learners with monthly food parcels, stationery and toiletries valued at N$600 each.
The fund’s spokesperson Gabriel Tomas said the project aims to encourage children to remain in school.
“We have embarked on motivating school learners not to drop out of school. We have also been engaging the learners and youth in sports activities such as soccer tournaments after three to four months,” Tomas told the Windhoek Observer on Tuesday.
He said the organisation provides food parcels instead of cash to help households directly.
“The fund gives them food parcels to contribute to the household rather than giving them money that they might spend on alcohol and drug abuse,” he said.
Tomas said the programme also focuses on discipline and cleaner living conditions.
“The main motive is that we want to educate them to live in a clean environment from a young age. We want to promote a healthy learning environment and instil discipline within the learners and the youth,” he added.
The cleaning campaign involves learners and young people cleaning schools and residential areas and planting trees.
Tomas said learners clean school grounds three times a week after classes, while youths focus on residential areas and streets.
“We have played a major role in involving the community to keep their environment clean. We want to ensure that Tsumkwe becomes a clean and conducive environment for all,” he said.
Otjozondjupa-based community activist Maria Lukas welcomed the initiative and said it is helping marginalised San communities.
“It is impressive seeing an organisation caring about San people, especially through motivating school-going children to stay in school,” she said.
Lukas said she hopes to start a similar initiative focused on education in disadvantaged communities.
“I have thought of coming up with a foundation, and this dream is still alive. We need to empower our young people on the importance of schooling and we need initiatives such as the one by the Palms Life Fund,” she said.
School dropout rates remain a challenge in Tsumkwe due to poverty, long travelling distances and limited infrastructure.
Some learners travel up to 70 kilometres from villages such as Grasshoek to attend school.
Challenges such as lack of electricity, limited hostel space, food shortages, early marriages and difficulties in retaining teachers continue to affect learning in the area.
The report said projects such as electrification in areas like Mangetti Dune and support from organisations including the Ju/’hoansi Development Fund are helping improve conditions for learners.
The Namibia Training Authority (NTA) is also engaging communities to expand vocational training opportunities aimed at keeping young people in school and training programmes.
