A group of former learners of Festus Gonteb Primary School and Vrede Rede Junior Primary known as ‘Children of Mondesa’ donated school uniforms to 50 learners at the two neighbouring schools on Wednesday.
Lucky //Gaseb, chairperson of the Children of Mondesa group, in a media statement on Thursday said the donation, which came from voluntary member contributions, included shoes, shirts, skirts, jerseys and shorts. The school clothes will allow the children to attend school without worrying about the unpredictable weather, he added.
‘We are responding to President Hage Geingob’s clarion call for all of us to be involved in rebuilding our economy and communities, despite the fact that it will be a long road ahead. As a group, we want to not only support our alma maters, but also those who will follow in our footsteps. In this way, we are not only contributing to a brighter future for those children, but we are also assisting ourselves and them in reimagining a brighter future,” he stated.
//Gaseb noted that the two neighbouring schools have a rich history of producing excellent Swakopmunders in various sectors of society, adding that Vrede Rede Junior Primary has 1 150 learners in Grades 0-9 and is regarded as one of the highest-ranked academic schools in the region.
‘Festus Gonteb Primary School, founded in 1964 as an ‘inboorling school,’ is one of the Erongo Region’s oldest schools. The Children of Mondesa group, driven by its vision of remaining a community-anchored organisation, regularly assists members of the community and contributes to events taking place in Mondesa,’ he stated.
Reverend Lena Moedertjie Gaeses, who officiated at the handover, said she has noticed the group regularly contributing to the Mondesa community.
‘Thank you for investing your time and energy in the next generation of leaders. The best part was seeing the learners’ smiles and joy on their faces,’ she said.
Christophine Paul, principal of Vrede Rede, stated that their learners are vulnerable because they come from low-income families, and that the donation will boost their morale.
‘We are extremely grateful that you chose us as one of your 2022 beneficiaries. Thank you so much for caring about our students,’ she said.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
