NamPower Donates Classroom to Immanuel Shifidi SS

NamPower, through the NamPower Foundation, donated a classroom to the Immanuel Shifidi Secondary School last week.

The class handover and ribbon cutting event took place in the presence of school pupils who were excited to receive the extra classroom.

At the handover ceremony, the Khomas Region Education Inspector for Circuit 2, Milton Ya Otto, congratulated the efforts of the foundation and referenced the shocking number of pupils who do not have classrooms around Windhoek.

Ya Otto gave statistics on the number of classroom tents per constituency in Windhoek. “With 36 tents in Windhoek, it means there are 1 440 pupils who are still being taught in tents. Thus the foundation has done an honourable thing to help reduce these numbers,” he said. He further advised the pupils to appreciate their gift, ending with a strong call for “no vandalism”.

The foundation’s head, Lucia Hiveluah, asserted the reputation of the foundation, saying the company is amongst corporate citizens who have demonstrated support for the country. “Among the five focus area of the NamPower Foundation, education receives the bulk of our funding. We believe that for effective teaching and learning to take place, there should be a conducive environment. Teaching and learning should be in a classroom and not under a tree or in a tent,” said Hiveluah.

Sharing the same sentiments as Ya Otto, Hiveluah also urged the pupils not to vandalise the building. “I have visited many schools in the country where some are very well maintained and some have very dilapidated buildings. Fortunately, windows do not break on their own and animals do not write on walls or throw litter around. Unfortunately, careless people do that. I am sure there are no such pupils at this school,” she said.

The foundation presented a cheque worth N$209 700 for material and labour costs for the construction of the classroom.

According to the school management, they have knocked on many doors for assistance and their call was only answered by the NamPower Foundation. On behalf of the school, Alma Shilamba, the HoD for Sciences, thanked the foundation, saying they are indeed grateful.

From those to benefit the donation was 17-year-old Kristof Thimoteus, who could not hide his excitement. “It is such an honour that our school of all schools received an additional classroom. This will benefit the school greatly,” said the Grade 12 pupil.

Amelia Fragoso, also a Grade 12 pupil, expressed her gratitude, saying the additional class answers to society. “This means that there will be more space at the school so we will not have many pupils sent home because of a lack of space.”

Hiveluah concluded that NamPower, through the NamPower Foundation, will continue to invest in communities for as long as resources are available.

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