By Frederick Philander
WINDHOEK
American Ambassador Joyce Barr recently honoured Namibia’s 2007 Fulbright and Humphrey Fellowship awardees at a luncheon at her official residence.
Namibia should be very proud of its scholars as these American scholarships are among the most competitive and prestigious awards in the world.
The Fulbright Fellowship is awarded in a variety of academic disciplines for two years of study towards a Master’s degree.
The Humphrey Fellowship is granted to future leaders who have a commitment to public service and a vision for a project to better Namibia.
They will undertake a year of non-degree studies and practical work experience in the United States to improve their knowledge and skills before returning to put their vision into place.
These Fellowships are awarded on an annual basis and the US Embassy in Windhoek accepts applications during the months of March and April.
This year, Namibia has two Fulbright Fellows, who have been awarded places at US universities and one alternate.
Michigan State University, one of the top agricultural universities in the US, has offered Martin Angula a place in its Masters of Agriculture programme. Mr Angula is currently working as an Agricultural Training Officer at Neudam Agricultural College.
Cecil Moller is one of Namibia’s top film directors and producers. His latest credits include work on the Gallow Walker film that was shot in Swakopmund, and he also serves as Chairman of the Namibian Film Commission. He has just been approved as a candidate in the Master’s of Film and Video Production programme at Chapman University in California. Just around the corner from Hollywood, Chapman is known for its development of top film and television writers and producers.
Nelao Haimbodi is working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the public affairs department. She is a natural communicator and it is not surprising that she is seeking a Master’s in corporate communications. She is an alternate candidate – should funding become available – for pursuing her studies at Emerson College, an institution with outstanding programmes in journalism and communications located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts.
This year two Namibians won Humphrey Fellowships in the field of HIV/AIDS.
Both grantees will be pursuing US programmes to gain specific academic and practical experience and achieve their future goals.
Albertina Thomas has been working for many years in the field of nursing and plans to use the Humphrey programme to expand her knowledge of HIV/AIDS care, training, and education. In her application, she specifically cited the need for Namibians to learn these skills in order to bring them back to the community here. She will be attending Tulane University in New Orleans to take course work and will then spend time working in an HIV/AIDS training centre.
Jejamaije Mujoro will be pursuing a similar programme. She is currently managing a programme to prevent HIV/AIDS infections and deaths through prevention of mother-to-child-transmission and anti-retroviral treatment.
She will be studying at Emory University in Atlanta, and she too looks forward to returning to Namibia with new skills and ideas which she plans to put into practice in community-based HIV activities and programmes.