Omitanda vya Ruuua (Youth from Oruuua), in collaboration with the Omatako constituency office, recently hosted the third Ovitoto Spelling Bee competition, creating a platform for young Namibians to enhance their public speaking skills.
The contest attracted 21 participants in the 12-14, 15-17, and 18-22 age groups, vying for the best spellers of the day.
“We pledge our commitment to arranging similar events in the future, to ensure the development and shaping of vital human skills such as public speaking, with purpose and confidence,” said Omitanda vya Ruuua’s chairperson Ewald Katenaa Hukura.
Held under the theme “Educational Enhancement Through Public Speaking”, the Spelling Bee attracted participants from villages within the Ovitoto area.
Omatako constituency councillor Israel Riukua Hukura commended the organisers for creating the platform while appealing to them to maintain consistency. “I would like to want the participants to be exposed to such competitions at regional, national, and international levels, for optimal exposure. The qualities that you will acquire from this competition will serve you well. Nerves are natural and part of any competition, especially one as intense as this. So don’t let the nerves paralyses you,” he advised.
He called on the youth to learn, grow, and challenge themselves, and being part of the competition shows their commitment already.
In the 12-14 category, Tjamena Puje Ndorokaze took top honours, with Tjingeeri Katjatenja as runner-up. Hikambeke Hukura walked away with the 15-17 prize, and Kunondjo Mureti came in second, while Mekere Kavendjaa amassed great confidence to prevail in the 18-22 age group, followed by Jandjee Hukura.
The winning prizes included cash of N$500, N$ 1000 and N$ 1500 respectively. The initial Ovitoto Spelling Bee was held in 2019, with the second edition in 2023.
The winner of the inaugural event, Vezemba Pujatura, shared how the platform contributed to unlocking his then-introverted personality, as he then went on to take up roles in the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) and now hosts radio shows and community events in Zambia, where he is pursuing veterinary studies.
“Standing here brings back memories from that day in 2019 when I won. Growing up, I never used to talk in front of people like this. It was never easy, even at home, I was always on my own, I was never among people,” he recalled.
Pujatura said that year, he unlocked something new, and immediately after winning the competition, he was in Grade 12, upgrading results, so he used that to his advantage and got the will to pass and pursue tertiary education.
“When I went to Unam in Katima, someone said I was showing great potential and that I could speak. They hinted at opening a Nanso branch, and I was elected as secretary for ICT and the spokesperson,” he recalled.
He got the task of speaking on the plight of students at the regional level, and all it took was the Spelling Bee competition that brought that confidence in him.
–psiririka@nepc.com.na