TSUMEB – TOV HIV/AIDS Orphans & Vulnerable Children Organisation has proved that paying children to go to school does pay off as the grades of most learners have sky rocketed since the programme’s inception in four years ago.
TOV pays learners from poor families N$15 for attending school, N$70 for passing the first two semesters and N$140 for advancing to the next grade.
However, due to limited funding, TOV can only afford to pay for children at Ondundu Primary School, as these children travel the furthest to school every day.
“The children come to TOV each morning before heading off to school for bread, nik- naks and fruit, if any are available. If a child goes to school for one consecutive week without missing a single day we pay them N$15, this we discovered is a great source of motivation for most of the children,” said TOV Technical Adviser, Reverend Edward Amadhila.
According to Amadhila, learners from Ondundu Primary School have started performing well above average, missing a day of school has become a thing of the past even though most walk over 2 kilometres from Kuvukiland Informal Settlement where they live with their parents.
“Most of these children come from the San community and their parents have not fully grasped the importance of education, therefore going to school is not enforced at home. This idea of monetary incentives was introduced not only to keep children in school but also to positively motivate them to strive to pass and do their best in class. All this has been made possible with the help of a very generous businesswoman, Kauna Ndilula, the owner of Business financial solutions,” said Amadhila.
“Ndilula wanted to help disadvantaged children and the community by sponsoring N$3000 to TOV each month since November 2011, thanks to her, our children can dream of becoming lawyers and doctors,” further revealed Amadhila.
The money is mostly used by the children to buy soap and help out at home, as most of their parents are unemployed. Parents have also started motivating their children to go to school. When money is thrown into the equation they pass as this can helps improve conditions at home.
When asked what he benefits from all these ventures, Amadhila told New Era that he too lived on the streets once and his cousin came to his aid.
“The first thing I get is peace and fulfilment of helping fellow human beings and making a real difference in the lives of these children,” he says.
“A cousin helped me and gave me direction, all I am doing is teaching over 40 children what he taught me and secondly seeing with my own eyes how much it helps the children, is enough. Money makes life easier but it does not give you a sense of fulfilment. Helping children stay in school and giving them their best fighting chance is a reward in itself,” he says with a smile.