AN organisation of Ovazemba youths plans documenting and preserving the community’s language, culture and traditions for future generations.
The president of Ovazemba Language and Cultural Development Society (OLCDS), Junias Makoka told Nampa on Saturday there is a need to teach the young generation the importance of their language and preservation of their culture.
He said the group had already met the leadership of Ovazemba Traditional Council and elders of the community to seek guidance on how to document the language and culture.
The meeting also sought to incorporate the youth into the mainstream of socio-economic activities of the community.
Makoka said the meeting was also aimed at soliciting assistance on running the society and how to engage the youth in order to bring development to the community.
He said the society wants to promote the Ovazemba culture by educating and informing people and fostering links with other societies having similar principles.
Makoka said the society will also assist the youth to fill in and submit applications to institutions of higher learning and prevent them from flocking to the cities where they might end up without proper accommodation.
“They can bring their applications to us and we will submit them to the institutions of their choice, instead of them coming to Windhoek where they might have problems getting accommodation,” he said.
The Chief of Ovazemba Traditional Authority, Jonas Kanakemwe Tjikulya commended the youths for their initiative and encouraged them to engage youth groups from other tribes with the view to learn from each other.
The chief called on community elders to support the society and teach their children the importance of culture.
“We must join hands and walk together for the betterment of our community,” Tjikulya said.
The OLCDS was established in 2012 and registered by the then ministry of youth under the Khomas Youth Forum.
The society which is based in the Khomas region, has co-ordinators in Kunene, Omusati and Erongo regions. – Nampa
