By William J. Mbangula OSHAKATI Namibia and Mauritania would benefit from a fund-raising campaign spearheaded by an Austrian triathlon that is currently travelling on a motorbike in Namibia and intends to visit 40 countries to create awareness about the plight of the children in the two African countries. Such benefits for Namibian children would be realized through UNICEF since the traveller would raise funds in the name of the Austrian National Committee of UNICEF. In an interview with New Era, the fund-raiser, Felix Bergmeister, 29, said he started his trip in October last year and entered the African continent through Morocco. So far, 11 African countries have been visited. These are Mauritania, Togo, Burkina Faso, Benin, Gabon, Angola, Congo-Brazzaville, Cameroon, Nigeria, Mali and Namibia. He entered Namibia through the Northern border post of Oshikango from Angola. ” I love the country. It is very beautiful and I have gained marvellous experience about what Namibia is all about, and the world at large,” he said when asked about his impression of the country. He expressed concern about the prevalence of the HIV/Aids pandemic and the plight of the children, especially at places he has so far visited in the North dealing with children. Bergmeister is accompanied on his trip in Namibia by the local UNICEF Communication Officer, Judy Matjila. The Austrian has visited some places in the Ohangwena Region such as Okauva Primary School in Ondobe constituency and Kapombo Primary School in Endola constituency, as well as the centre run by the Church Alliance for Orphans and vulnerable children in the Ohangwena constituency. In Windhoek, he will visit street children. He will also visit other places in Mariental and Keetmanshoop on his way to Cape Town, South Africa. Bergmeister, who is self-sponsored, said he intends to complete his journey of 70ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ km on a motorbike within 18 months. After visiting Namibia he will go to South Africa in two weeks’ time where he will depart for America and later on for Asia before returning to his native Austria on completion of the mission. For each place he has visited, Bergmeister is submitting a report to the National Committee of UNICEF in Vienna, Austria, as a way to create awareness among the business institutions to make donations. When he is back home, he will be the spokesperson on the plight of the children, and this will help to educate fellow citizens about the plight of the children in many places he has visited. “I have saved money for nine years in order to embark on this trip, and it is quite a lot of money that is involved”, he said.