Nanso aids Namibian students internationally
The Nanso International Desk is dealing with an accreditation issue of pharmacy students that graduated from India (JSS), and an NSFAF issue of a student in the USA.
Desiree Gases
The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) is assisting Namibian students in foreign countries during the pandemic. The president of Nanso, Simon Taapopi, lists what they have done in certain countries to aid Namibian students.
“Nanso was able to tackle most international students’ difficulties brought before the organisation through the assistance of our stakeholders, international reps and students community.
“Additionally, Nanso’s commitment and loyalty to its members is never compromised and such is manifested by the yielding of continuous results in resolving students’ plights.
“Currently, the Nanso International Desk is dealing with an accreditation issue of pharmacy students that graduated from India (JSS), and an NSFAF issue of a student in the USA.
“Nanso set up a Namibian international community help desk to enable students to be in direct communication with the organisation and air their difficulties.
“Nanso engaged the Namibia Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) to furnish students with stipends as a Covid-19 response and in response, NSFAF decided to provide students with a stipend fee of US$500.
“Cuba: Nanso engaged the ministry of health, ministry of international relations, Nanso Cuban rep, NAMISO (Namibian students’ organisation in Cuba) and held a demonstration at the two ministries for students’ parcels to be sent to Cuba as a matter of urgency and that was done.
“China: Nanso engaged the Chinese embassy in Namibia, the Namibian embassy in China, the Nanso Chinese rep to address the issue regarding the inappropriate food that our students were being fed, as such the situation drastically improved.
“Russia: Nanso engaged the ministry of international relations and ministry of education that amid Covid-19 and lockdown, urgent repatriation of the given graduates must happen and it so happened as they were repatriated and brought home.
“Nanso further communicated to international students’ organisations (ZINASU, SASCO and BONUS) to provide necessary assistance to our students should they need anything in their respective countries.”
Students share their experiences
Jessica Kalangula, a 21-year-old student at Sechenov University in Moscow, Russia, says: “My experience as an ex-pat student during the pandemic has been extremely challenging. The limitations that came with the pandemic have been extremely limiting to my education. Not only have I missed out on crucial clinical work but I have also felt a major lack of motivation.”
She mentions that it is comforting to know that she is not the only one going through this, thus her university provided an extensive guidebook to help its students work better in the pandemic. She mentions that as a student in Russia, it was risky to leave the country and attend the classes online since the borders have been closed since the beginning of the pandemic.
Another student, Dhalia Ayesha Hetheni, is a 20-year-old student at Stamford International University In Bangkok, Thailand. Hetheni says last year was the first time she had left the country for so long.
“It has been such a different experience, one with many ups and downs but overall, very positive,” she says.
Hetheni adds that the Thai people are friendly and that has made her feel welcome and less lonely. The university offers lecturers who are helpful and patient. She has been on campus a couple of times but most of the time she studies online, she says.
“It's easy being distracted with online classes in comparison to the physical class.” She says she finds herself multitasking and doing other things during the online lectures. “I am hoping to get out of this habit as I do not want it to affect my grades.”
Darmell Samaria is a 22-year-old student at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. “I moved to Johannesburg before the pandemic. “Three months into the year everything changed drastically. We went from waking up early to get the bus, to not looking at the time at all,” she says.
When the news of the first few cases in South Africa hit the campus, they took it with a grain of salt, she says. However, after a week everything changed. The campus was now a ghost town and there was a surge of panic. The students started vacating residences and rushing home.
The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) is assisting Namibian students in foreign countries during the pandemic. The president of Nanso, Simon Taapopi, lists what they have done in certain countries to aid Namibian students.
“Nanso was able to tackle most international students’ difficulties brought before the organisation through the assistance of our stakeholders, international reps and students community.
“Additionally, Nanso’s commitment and loyalty to its members is never compromised and such is manifested by the yielding of continuous results in resolving students’ plights.
“Currently, the Nanso International Desk is dealing with an accreditation issue of pharmacy students that graduated from India (JSS), and an NSFAF issue of a student in the USA.
“Nanso set up a Namibian international community help desk to enable students to be in direct communication with the organisation and air their difficulties.
“Nanso engaged the Namibia Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) to furnish students with stipends as a Covid-19 response and in response, NSFAF decided to provide students with a stipend fee of US$500.
“Cuba: Nanso engaged the ministry of health, ministry of international relations, Nanso Cuban rep, NAMISO (Namibian students’ organisation in Cuba) and held a demonstration at the two ministries for students’ parcels to be sent to Cuba as a matter of urgency and that was done.
“China: Nanso engaged the Chinese embassy in Namibia, the Namibian embassy in China, the Nanso Chinese rep to address the issue regarding the inappropriate food that our students were being fed, as such the situation drastically improved.
“Russia: Nanso engaged the ministry of international relations and ministry of education that amid Covid-19 and lockdown, urgent repatriation of the given graduates must happen and it so happened as they were repatriated and brought home.
“Nanso further communicated to international students’ organisations (ZINASU, SASCO and BONUS) to provide necessary assistance to our students should they need anything in their respective countries.”
Students share their experiences
Jessica Kalangula, a 21-year-old student at Sechenov University in Moscow, Russia, says: “My experience as an ex-pat student during the pandemic has been extremely challenging. The limitations that came with the pandemic have been extremely limiting to my education. Not only have I missed out on crucial clinical work but I have also felt a major lack of motivation.”
She mentions that it is comforting to know that she is not the only one going through this, thus her university provided an extensive guidebook to help its students work better in the pandemic. She mentions that as a student in Russia, it was risky to leave the country and attend the classes online since the borders have been closed since the beginning of the pandemic.
Another student, Dhalia Ayesha Hetheni, is a 20-year-old student at Stamford International University In Bangkok, Thailand. Hetheni says last year was the first time she had left the country for so long.
“It has been such a different experience, one with many ups and downs but overall, very positive,” she says.
Hetheni adds that the Thai people are friendly and that has made her feel welcome and less lonely. The university offers lecturers who are helpful and patient. She has been on campus a couple of times but most of the time she studies online, she says.
“It's easy being distracted with online classes in comparison to the physical class.” She says she finds herself multitasking and doing other things during the online lectures. “I am hoping to get out of this habit as I do not want it to affect my grades.”
Darmell Samaria is a 22-year-old student at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. “I moved to Johannesburg before the pandemic. “Three months into the year everything changed drastically. We went from waking up early to get the bus, to not looking at the time at all,” she says.
When the news of the first few cases in South Africa hit the campus, they took it with a grain of salt, she says. However, after a week everything changed. The campus was now a ghost town and there was a surge of panic. The students started vacating residences and rushing home.
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