A day with a Namibian child

Tunohole Mungoba

Under the theme ‘No child shall be left behind for Namibia’s development’, Day of the Namibian Child will be celebrated on 28 September.

The Zone spent a day with Christine Festus, one of the best-performing grade 6 learners at Havana Primary School in Katutura.

The bright 12-year-old dreams of becoming a doctor and part-time fashion designer.

“I started designing when I was in grade 4 and I would like to make extra money as a fashion designer, as my fulltime job might get boring,” she said.

Festus starts her day at 05:20 every morning. Her mother wakes her up and she prepares for school.

The majority of Havana Primary School learners live in the informal settlement, so they walk to school.

“Some of the learners live far away from the school, but I only stay a few houses from away,” she said.

Christine’s mother is a street vendor at the Havana fourway and sells onions, tomatoes, green peppers and potatoes.

“During the weekend or school holidays, I sometimes help my mother at the fourway. One day, thieves stole her money after she worked hard, so I try to help her wherever I can.”

Christine’s father is carpenter.

Along with her parents, she also lives with an 18-year-old who is currently redoing her grade 10 at Namcol, as well as with two of her aunts and her eight-month-old baby brother.

Festus helps out at home by cooking and cleaning and also taking care of her little brother.

“Sometimes I play with a friend of mine at school and she also assists me with my homework. I do not like playing in the street too much, as it is full of boys and my parents do not like me playing with boys,” she said.

According to Christine, she sometimes has to do her homework by candlelight, as their illegally connected shack has problems with electricity.

“There are also a lot of bars and shebeens in my street and sometimes it is too noisy for me to concentrate on my schoolwork,” she said.

Christine says she loves going to school and being in class as “the teachers explain well and make me understand everything without any difficulties”.

When asked about her high school plans, she said she would like to go to high school in northern Namibia and live in a hostel, as she feels schools in Windhoek are full of negative influences and private schools are too expensive for her parents to afford.

“I know where I am coming from, so I want to make it easier for my parents and attend a good school in the north. It will be cheaper and I will come to Windhoek during the school holidays.

“What I love most about being a Namibian child is the fact that my parents make sure that I do not go to bed hungry.

“They try their best to make sure that I also go with a lunchbox to school and they take good care of me. That is why I am happy to be a Namibian child,” she said.

Christine also thanked the ministry of education for implementing free education.

“This has helped my parents a lot and I have always been taught to be grateful and to value the little things.”

Poverty

Havana Primary School life skills teacher

Selma Nelongo said poverty is a common sight in the community and at the school.

“Some children are negatively affected and we as a school try different methods, such providing porridge in the mornings. This serves as a motivation for them to come to school,” she said.

The school currently has three pregnant learners in grade 7 and according to Nelongo, physical and emotional abuse cases are also reported to the school.

“Some learners are on ARV treatment, so as teachers we have to make sure that these children take their treatment.

“When we celebrate day of the Namibian child, we look at the positives and see how far we have come as a nation in developing our children.

“However, it is also important that we use this day to openly discuss issues that negatively affect our children, what else can be done to improve our education system and making the streets safe for our children,” Nelongo added.