QUITO, Ecuador – New Era spoke to some of the Namibian youths attending the World Festival for Youth and Students currently underway in Quito, Ecuador, which ends on Friday.
Laina Shapange who is from the Erongo Region says it has been interesting to interact with fellow youths from Peru, Chile and Lebanon. She is also proud that Namibia has been very active in the debates during the individual seminars, given that Namibia is a little known country to the rest of the youths at the festival. “Everybody was amazed that we were making such contributions for a country that is not that well-known,” she said, adding that young women from Peru and young people from Lebanon felt they are being sidelined and the Namibian women were able to encourage them to take initiatives that would ensure that they are part of the decision-making process. “We told the young people from Lebanon that they must team up as youths across the nation and all regions, to create platforms from where they can be heard and to speak with one voice to ensure that they ultimately emerge victorious. In Peru, they said they are now going to petition the decision-makers to be included in the political decision-making process,” said a confident Shapange.
Eben Handura from the Omaheke Region, whose expectations before the seminar included learning more about imperialism and how Namibia can contribute towards the fight against imperialism in the world, said the seminars he attended taught him much about the history of imperialism and that there are countries that are still under colonial oppression. “That history taught me a lot, and my recommendation is that the leaders of tomorrow must unite to fight against capitalism. We should quit talking, there must be actions other than simply coming together without any further development afterwards,” said Handura.
Sylas Mungoba from the Khomas Region says the festival has been a good platform for young people to tackle the challenges of economic freedom. The ‘patriotic spirit’ and the spirit of socialism that drives countries to ensure that all citizens benefit from the country’s resources also impressed Mungoba. “Governments are not concentrating on the elite, we must stand up against imperialism only [then] can we stand up for our people. The youth of Namibia must take ownership of Namibia and it’s economy,” says Mungoba. “I met different people from different countries and continents and have come to learn that we are all the same. We have different situations in the different countries, yet we are learning how to deal with these situations as different people. Just as in the Oshikoto Region where we have different tribes, we must learn from the Latin American people who are different but are united in dealing with the challenges facing them,” said Martha Kaunapawa Hailwa, adding that the festival is a learning opportunity that every youth should get. “The other thing I have learnt is that we in Namibia are actually much better off then most youths, something we should appreciate,” she said.
By Desie Heita