GOOD VIBES ONLY Good news from Namibia and around the world
LOCAL ‘Never Walk Alone’ donates over 4,000 leather shoes The non-profit project initiated by MTC’s Tim Ekandjo in 2021 has raised around N$2.3 million since August last year. The Never Walk Alone project has visited the Hardap, Omaheke, Erongo and Kavango East regions and handed out leather shoes to vulnerable children. The goal is for every child to receive a pair of shoes annually. Shilongo Leather Works, a Namibian owned leather manufacturer, made the 4,475 pairs of leather shoes that have been gifted to date. “While we are proud of this achievement, we know we still have a long way to go. There are over 70,000 barefooted children across the country, waiting and hoping for their turn,” says Beverley Naris, the project's marketing and logistics officer. Source: The Namibian
Renowned ‘Safari Guide of the Year’ award goes to Etoshabased Cameron Pearce South African national Cameron Pearce, who is currently based at Ongava Nature Reserve near Etosha, has scooped the Field Guide’s Association of South Africa’s annual Safari Guide award. He is the current managing and chief instructor of Ongava’s guide training and development, and holds a long list of qualifications including marine, culture and bird guiding. Trails for the award were held in the second half of June and the five finalists competed in categories ranging from guided walks to game drives, photographic safaris, tracking, birding and even rifle handling. This award brings recognition to the calibre of safari guides in Namibia. Source: Field Guides Association of South Africa
AFRICA Karate classes are empowering people with albinism in Tanzania It is estimated that in Tanzania 1 in 1,400 people have albinism. People with this condition are subjected to daily discrimination, often motivated by myths and superstition. In an effort to minimise attacks, mutilation and murder of people with albinism, Jerome Mgahama began a program teaching martial arts to individuals with albinism. He was inspired after teaching children with albinism karate, and seeing first-hand the confidence boost it gives them. Jerome quickly realised he would need more instructors to expand the program, and began offering free, long-term training to adults with albinism who will in turn become karate teachers themselves. Jerome sees a major change in his students’ conduct in daily life since learning martial arts. Source: Al Jazeera
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