IT was a special day at Eluwa Special School. Former pupils Ananias Shikongo and Johannes Nambala, who recently made their mark at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, made their presence felt on this Friday afternoon 11 November.
Shikongo and Nambala received a warm welcome at the school from pupils and staff who were overjoyed to take pictures with the gold and silver medallists. They are visiting to present their awards and encourage pupils of their former school.
Born and bred in Okankolo, Oshikoto region, Shikongo lost his eyesight in one eye after he was shot with an arrow at the age of four.
As if that was not enough, it was followed by another tragedy when a donkey kicked him in the other eye, rendering him completely blind at the age of seven. At the time, he was a grade one pupil at Etanga School in Onduda. It was then that his parents brought him to start school at Eluwa, which is now home to 349 pupils.
Nambala, 25, is partially sighted and can only see objects which are close to him. He was born and bred in Iikokola in the Omusati region.
In the school hall, the two encouraged pupils to always do their best. Shikongo also described his track experience as one that was groomed while he was still a pupil at this school. He explained how he would set personal goals for himself, and thanked former classmates and teachers for the support he had received.
“This is our home. When my parents brought me to school, I would be fighting every day, and I wanted to go back home with them. It wasn’t long before I began to feel at home at school because the teachers treated us so well. It was then that I realised I had parents at school and at home,” he said while toning down his voice.
Evidently so, the teachers try to make their pupils who have different disabilities feel at home. This, they believe, is the only way the pupils can have confidence in themselves and grow not feeling different from able-bodied persons.
Shikongo, now 30, fills the room with laughter. “Now I am the troublemaker of the track. Who would have thought?”.
He tells the pupils that if they find themselves leaving the school, they should not destroy it as many have a mentality of thinking that they will never return.
“You don’t know that you are not coming back here. We know where we are coming from, but one does not know where they are going, so we need to maintain discipline at all times. Please stay away from wrong friends who will teach you bad behaviour,” Shikongo stated.
He said after he left Eluwa in 2006, he matriculated at the Windhoek Technical School, and then studied marketing at the Namibia University of Science and Technology.
Namibia has six government schools in the country which cater for children with hearing impairments, with the Eluwa Special School at Ongwediva being the most popular, although it only offers education up to Grade 10. The lucky ones continue at schools such as the Gabriel Taapopi Secondary and Mweshipandeka High schools, also at Ongwediva.
In Windhoek, there is Cosmos High and Windhoek Technical High school. The University of Namibia is also accommodating all students, including those with disabilities.
Shikongo furthermore tells the pupils that he took his sporting career very seriously as his mother would sell chickens to be able to send him to school.
“Some of the teachers here would buy and support her…now I will become a millionaire in the family. Study hard, if you like sport…sweat on sport until it becomes a success,” he said to loud applause.
Shikongo says one day, the body (his body) will die, but his name will remain etched for future generations.
Nambala, who only left the school about five years ago, also urged the pupils to have respect for their teachers.
“Start investing in your success. If you do not invest in it, who else will? If you are not doing anything else on your part, you will not go anywhere. Follow your dreams and study hard,” he noted.
School principal Ndinelago Nangolo presented the two with certificates of appreciation for their winnings.
Nangolo, who is proud of Shikongo and Nambala, was also appreciative that they were so generous with their time at the school.
“It was wonderful to have them in our midst again. Anyone who has been in the presence of these fine young men is immediately taken by their kindness, zest for life and commitment to excellence.
“The school produced some of the best people serving in different positions, sports included. Being a school of people with disabilities does not hinder us from participating in different activities. I am proud to see former learners coming back home to present their awards. They were good learners; well-disciplined, and we are proud that they have displayed how Eluwa performs,” she beamed.
Nangolo says Shikongo and Nambala, their former learners as well as friends for life, will surely have many more opportunities to impress the world with their endless talent.
