The Innocentia Likoro Kindergarten is the only kindergarten in the Makuvi village, some 140 km east of Rundu, but most parents are hesitant to send their children there because of the run-down condition of the thatch-hut structure.

The one-room pre-school was established last year after an urgent request from community members to their local authorities to put up such a facility, as many children have been missing out on early childhood education.

“Although the learners are taught in a traditional structure, made by caring and patriotic parents, due to the increased number of learners, we need a fully-furnished classroom and we are appealing to the public to help us with zinc and other building materials. With the current structure, learners are suffering during rainy and winter seasons,” pleaded teacher of the kindergarten Eusebius Kudumo.

The kindergarten caters to 24 children.

Kudumo said they also require a proper ablution facility and teaching materials. 

They also need to fence off the yard as well as food for them to implement a feeding programme because many learners go to school on empty stomachs.

Rob Youth Foundation, a local youth initiative, has pledged support towards the kindergarten by raising funds to buy uniforms, chairs and tables.

The foundation’s operations manager in the region, Ndumba Frans, is thus calling on other youth programmes in the region and other good Samaritans to donate the little they can to help build a proper pre-primary school in the area. 

“These are our future leaders – and as a foundation, we will facilitate and assist as much as we can,” said Frans.

- ashikololo@nepc.com.na