Desert Fruit Foundation on Monday donated school gear and stationery to 19 learners in schools in the Karasburg East Constituency.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony here on Monday, Karasburg East Constituency Councillor, Anseline Beukes applauded the foundation for coming to the aid of the learners, as many of them come from poverty-stricken homes where parents cannot afford to buy school uniforms and the needed school material.

She said a school uniform plays an important role in a learner’s life as it makes the learner feel part of a school and boosts their self-esteem in the process.

“School uniform hides the socio-economic status of the learners, makes them feel proud and boosts their self-confidence. Research findings reveal that learners who were previously not attending school when they had no uniform tend to attend school when they get a uniform. Thank you, Desert Fruit, for this caring action,” she said.

The councillor while urging learners to take care of their school uniform and the stationery for them to use them for a long period of time also called on other business people and individuals to support other learners in need of school gear and supplies in the constituency.

Speaking to this news agency, Bernadine Swartbooi, a parent of one of the beneficiaries, extended a word of appreciation towards Desert Fruit Foundation.

“We are really thankful for this donation, some of us as parents cannot afford to buy school uniforms and stationery every year and we really hope it happens every year to help our learners,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of Desert Fruit, Leandri O’Callaghan said: “It is important that if we want a just society there is a need for us to invest in our children right now, we need to give the necessary tools for them to be better prepared for the future.”

Desert Fruit is a farm cultivating dates along the Orange River in southern Namibia.

Source: Namibia Press Agency