By: Jeronimo Nghilunanye Kateya
NKURENKURU| Famous Tim Ekandjo’s project, Never Walk Alone over the weekend donated 1000 pairs of shoes and socks to school-going children at the Nkurenkuru Junior Primary School in the Kavango West region.
As a non-profit organization, Never Walk Alone’s initiative was sponsored by Recon Namibia and Beki Kumata Fishing with an amount of N$460 000.
The founder and chief executive officer of the project, Tim Ekandjo expressed the work and the purpose of reaching out to the needy school-going children across the 14 regions.
“Project Never Walk Alone is about making each other better so that everybody can reach their full potential,” he said.
The Environmental Social Governance Manager Recon Namibia, Marvin Sanzila spoke highly of the impact of the project.
“We are always excited to support projects within our community that will bring about change to our people, uplifting your way of life,” he stated.
The Executive Director of Beki Kumata Fishing, Manfred Likoro who graced the occasion through sponsorship together with ReconNamibia pointed out to learners that, “they should wear their shoes to achieve their aims and objectives and that once they become responsible citizens they should plough back in their communities.”
Overwhelmed by joy, learners from various schools convened at the Nkurenkuru Junior Primary School and carried some posters written ‘This is love’ during their performance.
In her welcoming remarks, Deputy Mayor of Nkurenkuru Town Council Fani Kaundu said shoes are a basic necessity that each and every school-going child needs.
She further stated that nowadays a child going to school without shoes may psychologically affect a child’s academic performance.
In his vote of thanks, the director of education, Pontianus Musore pointed out that the Kavango West region is a vast region geographically with 178 schools. He acknowledged that many school-going children come from marginalized communities and that the initiative shows sharing is caring.
“The learners that we see here come from less privileged backgrounds and that we all came from there and we know what it feels about walking to schools without shoes,” he lamented.
“You are lucky ones, your appreciation should come in a form of hard work,” he emphasized.
The non-profit organization intends to raise four million Namibia dollars meant to buy brand new pairs of shoes for the Namibian child countrywide. By so doing, the learner’s self-confidence is boosted with confidence and hope.
The handing over of these brand-new pair of shoes in the Kavango West region is preceded by other regions that have received same blessings.
Hardap, Khomas, Omaheke, Erongo and Kavango East were the very first fortunate regions to have received blessings from Never Walk Alone Project in 2021.
The project handed over 5650 shoes to six regions including Kavango West region.
The historic occasion was attended by traditional leaders, parents, and community members. The school-going children composed songs and cultural performances.