Don’t be idle this holiday!

Limba Mupetami

Late night movies

“School holidays are quite long and sometimes it’s not all that easy for learners to stay entertained for long periods of time. The best advice I can give them is to enroll in extra classes. This will ensure that their minds are engaged during this time and to keep them in the process of learning,” said Zikenyeho Mathews, Life Skills Teacher at Khomas High School.

Lovisa Mulungu, a Grade 12 pupil at Academia Secondary School urges her fellow students to stay away from bad habits, listen to their parents and enjoy the break. “Be an inspiration to the young children out there and excel in your talents and skills,” she said.

So with this in mind, The YouthPaper decided to find ways to prevent boredom this school holiday, with some fun and interesting activities...



• Go on a photo walk. You can take pictures of your surroundings and share them with friends or on social networking sites to spark a bit of creativity and debate among your friends.

• Plan a movie night, invite some friends over, pop some popcorn and enjoy a fun night in with friends or family.

• Wash the dogs (OK, this might not be quite what you think of as ‘fun’ but it needs doing! Those dogs stink!)

• Do something crafty – make a collage, make bracelets, or learn to drive.

• Bake some cupcakes and drop them off at a soup kitchen, orphanage or kindergarten in an impoverished area. Those less fortunate will really appreciate it and you will have done your good deed for the day.

• Learn to cook. Try out fun recipes like making pizza, or get the braai going to prevent burning down the house! Make dinner for your family. It’s a great way show some appreciation to your parents.

• Get a part time job (it helps to learn how to use and save money) and you could definitely use the extra cash for all those little gadgets you’ve been wishing for.

• Pull out the board games and have some good old-fashioned fun (Monopoly never goes out of style, 30 Seconds can help keep your general knowledge up to date and even playing cards, or dominoes can be fun for the whole family). Playing chess with your dad is a great way to bond with him and develop your analytical skills.

• If you are at the coast, grab some friends and sand board. Sand dunes are fun to climb up and roll down. Remember to pack a hat and some sunscreen.

• Start collecting something. It could be coins, books, stamps – even sea shells. The possibilities are endless.

• If you find yourself home alone, grab a great book and get stuck into a story about distant lands and cultures. Reading is a great way to improve your grammar. Visit the Windhoek Library, located next to the Museum, register and you can browse the internet, take out books, magazines and even DVDs. Uncle Spikes Book Excange, situated at the corner of Garten and Tal Street, is a great place to find a wide variety of books at very affordable prices. If you don’t have much cash, do a book swop with friends. Exchange your favourite reads for theirs!

• Get involved in sports and keep fit. Remember a healthy body houses a heathy mind!

• Register for a Kids Adventure Camp, which is being offered by Outfit Namibia from 19 to 21 August at Heja Game Lodge. Contact outfitnamibia@gmail.com for more information.

• The National Botanical Garden in Windhoek is worth visiting for an hour or more. The gardens have some beautiful plants and it’s a great way to find out if you perhaps aren’t destined for a future career in nature conservation.

• Ask your parents to take you on a tour of Windhoek. Living in the suburbs, it is easy to forget that many are much less fortunate than we are. Take a drive through the poorer areas and donate some of your old clothes, or old books to those who need it most. Driving around your city and really looking at the sights is a great way to learn more about Namibia’s history and different cultures.

• Visit the National Museum and learn more about Namibia’s natural heritage. There are guided tours through the museum for school pupils.

• Spend your holiday improving your performance in various school subjects. The Michelle Mclean Children’s Trust/Bank Windhoek Spring School kicks off in Windhoek and in Keetmanshoop from 19 August and focusses on tutoring Grade 10 and 12 pupils in physical science, mathemathics, biology, geography and accounting, which will help to prepare you to perform better in your final exams. Contact 061 240807 or email mvisser@mmtc.org.na for more information.

• No matter what you do, make sure you get outside a bit. Breathe some fresh air, bask in the sunlight. Remember that all year long you are trapped in a classroom so take advantage of the chance to enjoy nature.

• Finally, simply use the time to rest. Sleep a little late. Give your brain a rest after all that hard work at school. Watch some television, walk around bare foot. Do some gardening. Whatever gets you in a calm mood.



If all these tips fail to stave off the boredom, perhaps you could think about using your skills and talents to explore your entrepreneul skills. Set up a neighbourhood carwash to make a little extra money, but make sure it’s within the rules of the Local Authority. Many of the most successful people in business today started out as teenage entrepreneurs. It helps to utilise a skill or talent that you are good at.