NGOMA – What initially started as a fishing expedition by a family of tourists from Britain has resulted in philanthropic activities that continue to benefit learners of Impalila Combined School.
Last Wednesday the school received a large consignment of textbooks covering all grades and subjects from a charity known as the Chris Pace Trust from Britain.
The trust is named after British citizen, Christopher Pace, whose love for fishing led him to visit Impalila and subsequently he became a benefactor for the school.
Pace was initially on a family holiday that included his profound love for fishing and upon hearing about Impalila he decided to visit the school.
When he returned home he organised what would be the first assistance to the school, which was desktop computers for the school’s library.
What is heart breaking about his life story though is that this good Samaritan, who was born with a congenital heart condition and underwent two massive heart operations, passed on in 2006 at the age of 38.
However his family, parents David and Sylvia Pace and sister Sarah Rayner, decided to continue with his philanthropy posthumously.
A charity was then registered by his family to continue with his legacy. His mother, Sylvia Pace, who spoke from London, said Chritopher would approve of their continuous generosity.
“It was Chritopher’s sister Sarah, who first suggested that we should build on and continue this project in memory of Christopher. He was very energetic and a positive person. His ill health did not stop him doing anything and we knew he would approve,” said his mother.
A number of fund raising activities by the charity organisation to raise funds for the building of a computer library at Impalila Combined School started soon after the trust was founded.
Over 35 000 Pounds (N$490 000) was raised. The Pace family was even invited during the inauguration of the building in 2011. The new block at the school is named after Christopher.
The latest assistance are books worth over N$100 000 and that were locally produced and delivered by the Pearson Foundation on behalf of the trust.
Receiving the donation, Principal of the school, Robert Mubita, who conceded the school had textbook shortages, thanked the trust adding the one child one text book policy is likely to be realised.
“We had a serious problem with textbooks before. Government is looking at the one textbook one child ratio and with this donation we are addressing the problem. We will add to the little we have and this will definitely improve the learning outcome. Some books will be kept at our library. We are thankful for the support given to the school by this trust. We really appreciate it,” noted Mubita.
Similar sentiments were expressed by the Acting Ngoma circuit inspector in the directorate of education, Kenneth Sisamu, who said other organisations should emulate the good example shown by the trust. “We appreciate the donation, especially coming from a private organisation. Their gesture will enhance teaching and learning and we hope this can continue with other organisations,” he said.
The educational representative of the Pearson Foundation, Robert Ntesa, said other consignments were still to come as other textbooks were still outstanding. “These books cover all the subjects and they are for all the grades. We are still going to deliver more books to the school as some books are still outstanding,” Ntesa told New Era.
Impalila is a Namibian island surrounded by the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers adjacent to Botswana.
By George Sanzila