‘Reading is power’

Life skills coordinator Delvia Jimmy says that reading is power, and through their new library at the #BeFree Youth Campus people will be granted the power to transform lives through reading.

Jimmy made this announcement during the official handover ceremony of the renovated library from Footsteps for Africa, located at the campus in Katutura, on Thursday afternoon.

“The campus will be resuming its activities next week, coinciding with the reopening of schools, which signifies a great opportunity for young people aged 13 to 30 to access the library and its resources,” Jimmy stated.

Opening the library at the campus, Footsteps for Africa founder and chief executive officer Austin Cameron said he appreciates the partnership between the two institutions.

He started the organization in Namibia after a research trip to the northern part of the country, where he encountered many vulnerable children lacking access to aid and educational opportunities.

“Returning to the United States, I was haunted by my experience which kept me awake, ultimately leading me to launch my first project in 2011,” Cameron said.

He added that the donation with the foundation is one that he is very grateful for as it is with people who have a similar vision and assist in helping vulnerable children in Namibia.
Footsteps for Africa is an international initiative that serves to empower marginalized communities by building educational facilities, digging water wells to create reliable sources of clean water and establishing sustainable food programs.

Head of programmes, Kaarina Iita thanked the various stakeholders that made the initiative possible, saying she is looking forward to seeing the impact that the library will have in the lives of the young people of Namibia.

“The donated items included 200 reusable pads from Ann Pads, books from Namibia Book Market and an interactive smartboard from Parrot products, alongside a week of training from Parrot products Namibia,” Iita said.

She added that the campus also received another donation of an Early Childhood Development Centre (ECDC) in Babylon Informal Settlement. The ECD centre was donated by the Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Namibia (Elcin).

Dean of Elcin, Joel Fikeipo, stated that the centre has been dilapidated for years, hence the donation to the foundation, after they expressed interest in it.

“The children that attend the kindergarten have limited resources and activities which is sad to witness. Revamping the centre will benefit many children of the centre as there are various projects on the premises such as a bakery, a garden, recreational centre and two classrooms, although they are currently dilapidated,” Fikeipo said.