NEWS - NAMIBIA
| 2013-07-23Erongo Education Fund launched
Adam Hartman
IT’S hard to believe that an old man in blue overalls, daily going about his general maintenance work for residential and business owners in Libertina Amathila Street in Swakopmund for the past 30 years, is the driving force behind the establishment of a N$600 000 education fund for the Erongo region.
Gideon Itewa is such a man, and he received his moment of acknowledgement during the official launch of the Erongo Education Fund on Friday.
The event, which was attended by local authority councillors, regional governors, the education fraternity and businesses, was graced by Founding President Sam Nujoma – who was appointed as the Patron of the fund.
Itewa told The Namibian that he wants Erongo schools to be the best performers in Namibia. For the past three years, Erongo schools have achieved top position in standard and higher education results for Grade 10 and 12.
“Now we must stay there,” he said seated at one of the tables of honour at the gala event neatly dressed in a suit and tie compared to the busy old man in blue overalls.
In 2010 Itewa approached the Education Inspectors for the Erongo Region, Clementine Garises and Angeline Steenkamp, with his plan. They immediately were interested and the ball started rolling. The idea was introduced at schools in the region and fund-raising initiatives were held. For instance, learners could on certain days come to school in plain clothes and pay a small fee of one or two dollars to participate in these ‘sivvy’ days.
The money was collected and paid into an account every month. By this year the total stood at an impressive N$154 000. As a result, the Erongo Education Directorate decided to double the amount to N$308 000 before the official launch of the fund last Friday.
Erongo Education Director, John Awaseb said the primary aim of the fund is to get better qualified teachers in lower primary levels and for the crucial subjects such as the sciences and mathematics. It will also be used to uplift and assist Grade 10 and 12 learners from disadvantaged backgrounds to “go to good schools”.
The gala was used as an opportunity for fundraising. Nujoma opened the challenge with a N$5 000 cheque. He then gave another N$5 000 on behalf of Namibian businessman Frans Aupa Indongo.
By the end of the evening the education fund had doubled once more after individuals and businesses made their contributions to bring the fund to over N$600 000.
A committee has been appointed to manage the fund of which Itewa was appointed vice-chairman.
“I’m a straight man. We cannot wait for the minister. We must do it and I’m not expecting any favours back. I want Erongo’s schools to be number one,” said the father of five children – of whom the last child is expected to finish Grade 12 this year.
Gideon Itewa is such a man, and he received his moment of acknowledgement during the official launch of the Erongo Education Fund on Friday.
The event, which was attended by local authority councillors, regional governors, the education fraternity and businesses, was graced by Founding President Sam Nujoma – who was appointed as the Patron of the fund.
Itewa told The Namibian that he wants Erongo schools to be the best performers in Namibia. For the past three years, Erongo schools have achieved top position in standard and higher education results for Grade 10 and 12.
“Now we must stay there,” he said seated at one of the tables of honour at the gala event neatly dressed in a suit and tie compared to the busy old man in blue overalls.
In 2010 Itewa approached the Education Inspectors for the Erongo Region, Clementine Garises and Angeline Steenkamp, with his plan. They immediately were interested and the ball started rolling. The idea was introduced at schools in the region and fund-raising initiatives were held. For instance, learners could on certain days come to school in plain clothes and pay a small fee of one or two dollars to participate in these ‘sivvy’ days.
The money was collected and paid into an account every month. By this year the total stood at an impressive N$154 000. As a result, the Erongo Education Directorate decided to double the amount to N$308 000 before the official launch of the fund last Friday.
Erongo Education Director, John Awaseb said the primary aim of the fund is to get better qualified teachers in lower primary levels and for the crucial subjects such as the sciences and mathematics. It will also be used to uplift and assist Grade 10 and 12 learners from disadvantaged backgrounds to “go to good schools”.
The gala was used as an opportunity for fundraising. Nujoma opened the challenge with a N$5 000 cheque. He then gave another N$5 000 on behalf of Namibian businessman Frans Aupa Indongo.
By the end of the evening the education fund had doubled once more after individuals and businesses made their contributions to bring the fund to over N$600 000.
A committee has been appointed to manage the fund of which Itewa was appointed vice-chairman.
“I’m a straight man. We cannot wait for the minister. We must do it and I’m not expecting any favours back. I want Erongo’s schools to be number one,” said the father of five children – of whom the last child is expected to finish Grade 12 this year.
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