President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says children should not be defined by the circumstances or places into which they are born.
In a message marking the Day of the Namibian Child on Monday, Nandi-Ndaitwah says every child should have equal opportunities to learn, stay healthy, develop their talents and pursue their dreams.
She says a child growing up in a village, on a farm, in an informal settlement or in a town or city deserves the same opportunities as any other child.
“That child deserves the same opportunity to learn, to be healthy, to discover their talents and to pursue their dreams. That is the Namibia we must continue building,” she says.
Nandi-Ndaitwah says the country must continue working towards a Namibia where children have equal opportunities, regardless of their background.
She says many children in Namibia continue to experience violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, warning that no child should have to live in fear in the very places where they should feel safest.
“Every Namibian child deserves to grow up knowing that they are loved, that they are safe, that their dreams matter and that their country believes in them,” she says.
However, she says protecting children cannot be the responsibility of the government alone, adding that protection begins at home and extends to schools, communities, churches and institutions.
“Parents, families, teachers, community leaders, civil society and government all have a duty to create an environment in which children are protected and supported. This is a responsibility we share as a nation,” Nandi-Ndaitwah says.
Nandi-Ndaitwah says education remains one of the greatest investments Namibia can make in its children.
However, she says preparing children for the future requires more than simply providing access to classrooms.
Children should be encouraged to develop critical-thinking skills, acquire life skills and participate in conversations about issues affecting their lives and future, she says.
She encourages children to study hard, ask questions, believe in themselves and respect their parents, teachers and one another.
