Etameko booklets reach 160 000 underpriviledged children

IMPRESSIVE, is how the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr David Namwandi described this year’s Etameko project that was officially launched yesterday. The main target of the educational aid project will be flood victims this time.

The project, which is in its fifth year, will empower hundreds of thousands of school children through booklets with health and safety tips and offer opportunities for learners “to win some cash prizes in these difficult times”. The distribution of the Etameko booklets is, according to Dr Namwandi, a prime example of the warm heart of the Namibian business community. “It shows that the business community has its ear to the ground and is more than willing to respond to our needs – often before the Ministry of Education has even requested assistance. It is this kind of involvement and this kind of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) that will take Namibia forward and improve the delivery of education and training,” said Dr Namwandi.

The project will this year distribute 160 000 copies of the booklets, with distribution having started last week already at flood reception camps. Half of the booklets will be distributed in the North, while the South, especially in the so-called traditional areas, will be beneficiaries of 80 000 copies. The booklets also contain empty lined pages and graph pages which can function as exercise books for children who don’t have them. Also included are some games to tease the minds of users. “The Ministry of Education is deeply grateful for this contribution and would like to challenge other companies to emulate this shining example. Everyone should feel free to contact us to find out what kind of assistance is needed.

In many cases a small contribution to a specific cause can make a big difference. “The Ministry is proud of Democratic Media Holdings (DMH) and First National Bank (FNB). Keep up the good job,” said Dr Namwandi. Back in 2006, when the Etameko project started and shortly before the first 500 000 exercise books were distributed at the beginning of 2007, the Head of FNB Strategic Marketing and Communication Division, Dixon Noval, had realised that it did not take much persuasion to be convinced that Etameko is worth getting involved in. He said the former Executive Editor of DMH, Chris Jacobie, is in general a very convincing person and FNB got involved.

He added that FNB have been involved in education prior to the birth of the Etameko project, with the Government Etsip program, “and we immediately saw the need to be part of Etameko, which I call a smart partnership.” The chairperson of the DMH Board of Directors, Chrisna Greeff, stressed the importance of education and promised that the DMH Group continued commitment to the development of education in the country. She also shared a bit of history as to how the Etameko project came to life, saying that the idea came as the result of the request of a reader of the Republikein for the assistance of a school project.

click to enlarge FLOOD VICTIMS: This year’s Etameko project is focussed mainly flood victims in the North. At the launch of the project the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr David Namwandi (second from left), Chairperson of the Democratic Media Holdings (DMH) Board of Directors, Chrisna Greeff (second from right), Head of FNB Namibia Strategic Marketing and Communication Division, Dixon Noval (right) and Sandra van Zyl from the Ministry of Education. © Photos: Feodora von Francois