Elizabeth Hiyolwa
NKURENKURU – Learners, teachers and parents were equally ecstatic after over 1 000 learners from nine schools in the Kavango West region received new pairs of school shoes valued at N$ 460 000 through the ‘Never Walk Alone’ project a fortnight ago.
The donation was made possible by the project, in partnership with Recon Namibia and Beki-Kumata Fishing.
The project, according to its founder Tim Ekandjo, aims to restore learners’ self-confidence and enable them to walk into the future with renewed hope.
“This project is all about love, ‘Project Never Walk Alone’ is about making each other better so that everybody can reach their full potential,” he stated. At the handover at the Nkurenkuru Junior Primary School, ReconNamibia environmental, social and governance manager Marvin Sanzila said the company takes pride in giving donations to projects that uplift the livelihoods of people, stating that “we are always excited to support projects within our community that will bring about change to our people, uplifting your way of life.”
The executive director of Beki-Kumata Fishing Manfred Likoro stated how the fishing company values sharing the little they make with the Namibian people
as part of their corporate social responsibility. The company pledged N$100 000 towards the project.
“Make sure to achieve your aims and objectives, make sure to finish your school, make sure that when you become responsible citizens of this society, you should also try by all means to make sure that you plough back into the area where you come from, or to any other citizens of this country,” he encouraged the learners.
Meanwhile, the deputy mayor of Nkurenkuru Fani Kaundu described the gesture as a way of restoring the dignity of learners, saying shoes are a definite necessity. She urged more private companies to join and work in collaboration with the government, as the latter is not in a position to meet every child’s needs.
The project benefits orphans and vulnerable and marginalised learners, and has now effectively handed over 5 650 pairs of shoes in five regions, namely Hardap, Omaheke, Erongo, Kavango East and Kavango West, and they look forward to visiting two more regions before the end of 2022.