NEWS -
| 2013-08-13Former pupils plan N$3 million fund raising project at A Shipena
Clemans Miyanicwe
LENDING A HAND … Restoration Committee member Simon Lumba, Head of Department for Mathematics at A Shipena Secondary School Victoria Nanghonda, Ester Haixwena and Maths teacher Hilkka Musilika along with Grade 10 pupils holding donated stationary worth N$5 000.
Photograph by Henry Van Rooi
Former pupils of A Shipena Secondary School have been planning to renovate the school building, which is quite neglected in parts. Part of the plans are to raise N$3 million to build a wall at the school, which is home to more than 900 pupils from Grades 8 to 10, who mostly hail from nearby informal settlement areas.
Former pupils recently met to discuss the current condition of the school and a seven member committee was established. This restoration committee, lead by University of Namibia (Unam) French language lecturer, Simon Lumba, will look at ways to restore the school to its former glory.
“The school infrastructure is in a shocking state. The condition is worse than infrastructure at rural schools,” Lumba said.
The school yard is currently surrounded by wire, which has been vandalised and therefore the restoration committee plans to construct a brick wall to keep school infrastructure safe.
Lumba said that the committee is still awaiting approval from the Ministry of Education for their project, as they don’t want to clash with possible plans the Ministry may have for the school.
Lumba said the restoration committee recognises that there is a problem, which is why they have decided to step in, instead of playing the blame game, as to why the school is in its current state.
A year ago extra mural activities were abolished but Lumba and his team hope to raise funds by reintroducing some of these activities, such as the Miss A Shipena pageant, among others to raise funds for further projects.
As the year is slowly winding down, the restoration committee plans a major fund raising event to assemble funds soon, as a way for current pupils and the community to get involved in taking ownership of the school.
This year the geysers at both the girls and boys hostel blocks were renovated by former pupils. The restoration committee believes that if former pupils each contribute just N$1, a lot can be done to bring positive change to the school.
Therefore, Lumba calls on all former pupils to use their skills to assist in various projects, such as the construction of the wall, motivational talks or even assisting in athletics training sessions.
“It’s not only about giving money, one can use their skills to assist the school in different ways,” he said.
Recently, Grade 10 and 12 pupils were given pens and calculators, which were bought with funds donated by former pupils and which will be used to assist current pupils in their final exams.
Ester Haixwema, a member of restoration committee said at the handover of donations of pens and calculators worth N$5000 that the donation was to rescue pupils, so that they were able to perform well during exams.
Former pupils who would like to assist the school in any way, are asked to contact Lumba at 0812891935.
“The school infrastructure is in a shocking state. The condition is worse than infrastructure at rural schools,” Lumba said.
The school yard is currently surrounded by wire, which has been vandalised and therefore the restoration committee plans to construct a brick wall to keep school infrastructure safe.
Lumba said that the committee is still awaiting approval from the Ministry of Education for their project, as they don’t want to clash with possible plans the Ministry may have for the school.
Lumba said the restoration committee recognises that there is a problem, which is why they have decided to step in, instead of playing the blame game, as to why the school is in its current state.
A year ago extra mural activities were abolished but Lumba and his team hope to raise funds by reintroducing some of these activities, such as the Miss A Shipena pageant, among others to raise funds for further projects.
As the year is slowly winding down, the restoration committee plans a major fund raising event to assemble funds soon, as a way for current pupils and the community to get involved in taking ownership of the school.
This year the geysers at both the girls and boys hostel blocks were renovated by former pupils. The restoration committee believes that if former pupils each contribute just N$1, a lot can be done to bring positive change to the school.
Therefore, Lumba calls on all former pupils to use their skills to assist in various projects, such as the construction of the wall, motivational talks or even assisting in athletics training sessions.
“It’s not only about giving money, one can use their skills to assist the school in different ways,” he said.
Recently, Grade 10 and 12 pupils were given pens and calculators, which were bought with funds donated by former pupils and which will be used to assist current pupils in their final exams.
Ester Haixwema, a member of restoration committee said at the handover of donations of pens and calculators worth N$5000 that the donation was to rescue pupils, so that they were able to perform well during exams.
Former pupils who would like to assist the school in any way, are asked to contact Lumba at 0812891935.
