Fishing for a special cause

In support of children with special needs, the Stepping Stone Special Education School is hosting its third Galjoen Derby on Saturday, 27 July.

The festival has two main elements: firstly, a galjoen fishing competition, and secondly, a day of fun for the whole family with all the usual activities, food and entertainment.

This year’s festival follows in the footsteps of two hugely successful previous events.

A whopping N$20 000 is up for grabs for the heaviest galjoen, N$10 000 for the second heaviest galjoen, and N$2 500 for the third heaviest galjoen.

Stepping Stone Special Education School provides quality, tailor-made education to students with learning and intellectual development challenges, including children on the autism spectrum. The school complies with world-class educational infrastructure required by autistic students. The school is divided into two streams: Complex Needs and Learning Support. They currently have 44 learners aged between 3 and 16 years.

At least 20 students are on the waiting list for funding for school fees and students are admitted from as early as two years. The school is continuously expanding and future plans include the establishment of a secondary stream as well as vocational training programmes.

Jurie Pieterse, one of the organisers, said that anglers of any age can participate in the fishing competition and the whole family can attend the festival located at the Stepping Stone grounds opposite Ocean View Spar.

“We aim to raise funds towards building a permanent learning and development centre for Stepping Stone Special Education School in Swakopmund. The new school facility is set to be the benchmark for special education in Namibia and Africa.”

He added that no official registration is required, and entry tickets for the competition can be purchased at N$180 until close of business on Friday, 26 July.

Tickets for the fishing competition are available at most tackle and outdoor shops in Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Henties Bay, or by contacting Jurie at 0814 189 189. Entry to the festival grounds is available at the gate on the day of the event.

“Tickets for 1 000 anglers are available and with the great prizes on offer, tickets are expected to be sold out quickly. Over a thousand patrons are expected to attend the family fun day at the school grounds, from where the weigh-in of fish will also be coordinated,” Pieterse said. There will be live music in the main tent where patrons can keep an eye on the weigh-in scoreboard as the fishermen boast their catch.

A country talent competition is one of the main events at the school grounds, along with the prize-giving ceremony for the fishing competition and lucky draws for all attendees. Browse a variety of stalls for all kinds of interesting merchandise. Snacks and delicious food will be available, as well as hot and cold drinks and a bar for the thirsty fishermen. Vendors interested in renting a stall space are welcome to send an email to [email protected] for arrangements.

For those who cannot attend the festival or if catching live fish makes you cringe, you can make a cash or a prize for the lucky draws.

Any further information to contribute to the building of the school is available if you choose to support the project in kind or with labor resources. Contact school principal Almarie Mostert at [email protected].