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Oshana seeks help for vulnerable children

2022-05-20  Aletta Shikololo

Oshana seeks help for vulnerable children

OSHAKATI – The education director in the Oshana region, Hileni Amukana said the high unemployment rate in the country and the negative effects of Covid-19 have increased the vulnerability of children in the region.

Amukana told New Era that many parents in the region leave their children in the care of grandparents.

“We have a high number of vulnerable children as many parents have migrated to urban areas in search of greener pastures, leaving their children with elderly people who also find it hard to survive,” she said.

Amukana is calling upon the business community and individuals to donate, especially school and clothing items, to these children through the office of the director.

“We really hope people will support us, especially during this cold season. We have registers of vulnerable children in schools and also at the regional offices, so when people donate, it is easier for us to identify children that are in dire situations,” she said.

In a quest to help less-privileged learners in the region, the governor, Elia Irimari donated 55 sets of uniforms at a cost of N$19 018.

The donation benefited five learners per constituency.

“I have seen the critical conditions of children from underprivileged homes. This detrimental situation of learners is disheartening, and indeed one of the pressing challenges in our communities,” said Irimari.

He mentioned that it is crucial to support the future generation in driving Namibia’s economic growth and bring about prosperity.

“It is evident that education is the promise to achieving and sustaining our economic development. It is, therefore, out of the importance of education that I started this initiative,” he said.

Irimari urged community members to do the same in meeting the dire needs of children in order to break the poverty circle.

“Our small steps will not only improve livelihoods, but will also improve our regional academic performance and enhance government efforts towards an equal society,” he added.

Irimari further challenged individuals to take up collective responsibility of ensuring that no child attends school barefoot and with torn and old clothing under their watch.

 It is projected that by 2021, Namibia had approximately 250 000 orphan and vulnerable children under the age of 15.

-ashikololo@nepc.com.na


2022-05-20  Aletta Shikololo

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