Kambimba Senior Primary School needs assistance to construct a proper community hostel to accommodate about 66 pupils from surrounding villages.
School principal Maria Dinyando says the current community hostel, situated in the Mukwe constituency of the Kavango East region, that was constructed with discarded material in 2021 has become a safety concern and is uninhabitable.
The hostel also does not have adequate food with children either not getting all three meals a day or going some days without food.
The hostel accommodates pupils from Dithimba, Shanondho, Korokosha, Shakashi, and Mbapuka to ensure that children from far off villages live near the school and do not miss classes or drop out because of walking long distances.
“The need for a proper community hostel for our pupils remains urgent as they currently rely on inadequate accommodation.
Any assistance, whether in the form of funding, construction materials, technical support, or other resources, will be highly appreciated.
It will also make a meaningful difference to our learners, as a new community hostel will greatly improve the safety, well-being, and educational opportunities for our pupils and surrounding communities,” she says.
Dinyando further says that the hostel is also facing other challenges such as a lack of mattresses, blankets, and bedding, as well as sanitation and hygiene.
“These pupils come from very poor backgrounds; they lack basic school uniforms or school shoes.
Feeding these pupils throughout the month is also a challenge as the N$100 per month contributed by the parents is not sufficient,” she says.
The Mukwe Orphan Vulnerable Children and Youth Support Services (OVCS) director Aron Mundanya told The Namibian that they are concerned about pupils who would go for days without eating, saying that it’s a common occurrence.
“These children were already missing classes or dropping out of school because of the long distances that they were walking every day.
However, they are now facing hunger that will also not be motivating them to stay in school,” he says.
He says that the OVCS managed to secure donations from local businesses and bought two bags of maize, rice, cooking oil, eggs, and soup packets.
“We also donated vegetables from the OVCS garden. However, these food items will not last long for three meals a day.
Therefore, we appeal to other businesses and locals who are able to come on board and give their contribution in any form,” he says.
