Educating the San community

Octavia Tsibes



Palms for Life Fund (PFLF) was founded in 2006 as a non-profit organisation dedicated to bringing long-lasting change to the most debilitating manifestations of poverty by supporting programmes in the areas of education, access to food, water and sanitation - basic human rights. Since its inception, PFLF has raised grants from bilateral aid, corporations, foundations and individuals and impacted the lives of thousands of people around the world, particularly vulnerable children.

Kingston Makoni, the national coordinator for PFLF, said the idea to support the San community came because of their low educational outcomes due to several reasons. “Majority of the cases, only 20% of San children enrolled in grade 1 complete secondary education. As a result, most of these youths do not have any functional skills for work-related or entrepreneurship ventures. The ones who are fortunate enough to finish school do not have the means to enrol for post-secondary institution,” he said.

“This is one of the most marginalised and disadvantaged groups in Namibia. Their human development index is the lowest among all the groups in Namibia,” he added.

PFLF, in partnership with COSDEF, is launching a new vocational training scholarship programme in Namibia to benefit young girls and boys from the San communities. The training will be provided at COSDEC training institutions and will include a six-month preparatory course followed by vocational training.

“COSEDC is a strategic partner since they have experience in training marginalised San youths and have centres in regions, we find most of the San populations. Secondly, they provide quality and inclusive vocational training,” he said.

Makoni added that the main reasons the scholarship programme was introduced was to provide skills to San youths who dropped out of school and to provide career alternatives to those who completed school but could not enrol in post-secondary training institutions due to a lack of means.

The scholarship programme will cover tuition fees, accommodation, monthly upkeep allowance, stationery, uniforms and transport for the duration of the training.

Trainees are selected on the following criteria:

Must be between the ages of 18 and 30.

Basic numeracy skills.

Excellent oral and written English skills.

Candidates are expected to know San language and must be proud of their identity and culture.

Way forward for PFLF

PFLF recently secured funding for a large-scale three-year social development programme in Namibia, targeting marginalised San communities in different regions.

“The proposed activities will be implemented in close coordination with the ministry of gender equality, other key line ministries and local implementing partners,” he said.

PFLF will ensure alignment with phase two of the Namibian Harambee Prosperity Plan. The proposed programme encompasses the following areas of support:

1. Construction of Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in a select group of communities and upgrade of existing ECD centres as necessary, and following local assessments of needs, existing infrastructure including availability of water and child-friendly sanitation.

2. Strengthening skills of ECD caregivers/teachers from a select group of ECD centres. Wherever feasible, such skills development can be provided via a distance learning programme developed by the Montessori Training College and then replicated to cover a large number of ECD caregivers/teachers.

3. Improving or establishing a sustainable school feeding system at ECD centres that includes engaging private businesses.

4. Investing in improved food security at community level via income-generating food production projects, including the use of new technologies such as aquaponics.

5. Funding of a San scholarship programme for tertiary/university studies, vocational skills, special bridging courses for students who could not complete secondary education. An assessment will be conducted prior to introduction of the programme to identify the need and to mould the shape the programme will take. As much as possible, distance learning will be explored.

6. Improving the overall quality of hostels pending an assessment of existing hostels in marginalised communities.

7. Upgrading health facilities in marginalised communities pending an assessment of existing health facilities.

8. Additional activities funded by partner organisations include the provision of internet to remote San communities in collaboration with Wanderport Africa. This initiative is under preparation.

9. Innovation Africa (IA) will be invited to participate in the installation of community water systems. This possibility will be further explored with the government and IA.

Activities in progress:

1. Finalising the construction of a second centre in Tsumkwe. This will be followed by three additional constructions in Likwaterera, Farm Uitkoms and Amarika. Caregivers are being trained by the Montessori Training College.

2. A project agreement is in place with the Omba Arts Trust to promote income generating activities with a group of artisan women who receive training and marketing support.

3. The scholarship programme with COSDEC is in preparation phase. A bridging course will be offered to students that will ensure a higher success rate when they engage in vocational skills training.

Caption 1: Otjinene ECD feeding programme.

Caption 2: San VTC students at COSDEC Tsumeb.

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED