Zebaldt Ngaruka

In a show of community spirit, the Awilo Stephanus Foundation on Tuesday donated printing paper and sanitary pads worth N$3 000 to Immanuel Shifidi Secondary School in Windhoek. 

Speaking on behalf of the foundation, Billa Kandjii said the gesture forms part of their social responsibility and reflects their dedication to supporting Namibian learners.

“We take the education of the Namibian child seriously. This donation is our way of adding value to that cause. We are part of the community and must play our part by contributing what little we have. We saw the needs of children in schools and cannot simply wait for government to do everything,” Kandjii said.

He stated that following a successful tournament the foundation hosted in July 2025, they decided to extend their impact by supporting vulnerable communities. “Our aim is to help wherever we can. We plan to expand our efforts to other parts of the country in the near future,” he added.

Receiving the donation, school principal Regina Mulisa expressed heartfelt appreciation, saying the items came at a crucial time.

“On behalf of the school community, we sincerely appreciate the Awilo Stephanus Foundation for this generous donation. It means a lot to us and to the dignity of our girl learners,” Mulisa said. She said that with end-of-year examinations approaching, the demand for printing paper has increased while the school’s budget has already been depleted. “This is the time when we need more photocopy paper. We are truly grateful for this timely contribution,” she noted.

Mulisa added that the donation of sanitary pads was particularly important as the school has previously struggled to meet the needs of its female learners.

“At times, we had no sanitary pads available. Some girls had to move from one female teacher to another just to get one. These donations make a real difference in restoring their dignity and keeping them in school,” she said.

Founded in July 2024, the Awilo Stephanus Foundation was established to identify young football talent and assist vulnerable members of society. 

It is named after Awillo ‘Willy’ Stephanus, one of Namibia’s most decorated footballers.

 He has played for top clubs such as African Stars, Black Africa, and currently plies his trade in the Saudi League. 

-zngaruka@yahoo.com