SANGWALI – The new facilities, which were constructed at Sangwali Combined School by the Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust, in partnership with the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology, were officially handed over recently.

The new facilities, which include three classrooms, a storeroom and an administration block that has the principal’s office, a strong room, a reception area, an additional office, and a staff room, were constructed at a cost of about N$1.9 million.

Speaking during the handover, Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust (NFCPT) CEO Victor Pea stated that “the journey that led us here began with a social media video showing learners being taught under trees during the rainy season in January 2023. Moved by this reality, NFCPT committed to making a difference.”

He further pointed out that education is a catalyst for social transformation, and it is for this reason that NFCPT, through corporate social investment programs, is dedicated to making a meaningful change.

“Upon learning of the learners’ hardships, we first donated our old event tent to provide immediate relief. Simultaneously, we mobilised resources to build a permanent, more conducive learning environment,” stated Pea.

The CEO further explained that he personally visited the school in August 2023, and “during this visit, I observed that teachers were cramped in a small staff room, and the principal was using a storeroom as her office. Recognising the urgent need, we added an administrative block to the project to accommodate essential facilities.”

In her remarks, NFCPT board chairperson Suzan Ndjaleka pointed out that the handing over of the facilities is a “realisation of a shared vision, one in which every Namibian child has access to a safe and inspiring environment for learning.”

Zambezi regional governor Dorothy Kabula, in a speech read on her behalf by Judea Lyaboloma constituency councillor Humprey Divai, thanked NFCPT for extending a helping hand to help the nation.

“It is therefore a great privilege to have institutions such as the Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust, which does not only focus on nutrition but also runs programs aimed at empowering the nation by building the capacity of the very people they serve,” stated Kabula.

She further called on the beneficiaries “to make the most of what you are receiving.” Sangwali Combined School Principal Esnart Simobe could not hide her excitement for receiving the new facilities.

“It wasn’t easy for me coming from a school where I had an office to a school where I have to operate from a storeroom; for close to two years now, it has been really hard. I had even resorted to leaving the door open so that colleagues won’t be bothered to knock whenever they want to collect something from the storeroom. You can just imagine how I feel right now,” stated Simobe.

Sangwali Combined School was established on 18 January 1962 as a primary school, with three teachers. Currently, the school has an enrolment of 346 and 18 staff members.

*Aron Mushaukwa is an Information Officer at MICT Zambezi.