15 minute read
Social Progression
Education Development Support
Since 2010, the Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb Community Trust has targeted majority of its funding towards education. These efforts are complementing the work and resources of the Ministry of Education to ensure access to education, as well as supporting the broader Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of quality education.
Advertisement
The Trust has invested to date over 10 Million NAD in education and education related projects. The table below details the annual financial contributions.
Year Total Community Investment Education Investment Education Investment %
2011 1,496,847.27 1,170,150.00 78% 2012 1,749,369.84 1,147,916.84 66% 2013 790,528.19 249,831.07 32% 2014 2,682,694.40 1,163,742.33 43% 2015 3,158081.30 1,549,673.89 49% 2016 4,957,900.80 1,629,719.05 33% 2017 4,544,593.62 1,452,938.09 32% 2018 4,019,687.49 1,464,714.26 36% 2019 7,644,081.93 983,090 13%
Total 31,043,784.84 10,811,775.53 35%
As part of the 2016-2019 Community Investment Development Plan (CIDP) the Trust invested in initiatives aimed at delivering quality education in Tsumeb and the Oshikoto Region at large. These investments targeted early childhood development, primary and secondary education, and vocational education and training. The impact and outcomes derived from these past investments in education achieved improved sanitation, pass rate improvement and the upgrading of science laboratories at secondary schools improved teaching methods and practical experiences of learners in the classroom.
Education remains a priority funding area, with approximately 40% of overall Trust investments to date. As part of the Community Trust’s new 3-year CIDP (20192021) the support is focused on the following: • Early Childhood Development (institutional and human capacity development) • Early Childhood Development (educational material & equipment) • Primary Education (upgrading computer centers, equipment, education materials) • Primary Education (complementing government school feeding programme for a balance diet) • Primary Education (motivation, training and capacity building) • Secondary Education (upgrading computer centers and science laboratories)
Launch of the Empowerment of Women in Education in Oshikoto Region event
• Secondary Education (educational materials and equipment) • Secondary Education (motivation, training and capacity building) • Vocational Education (institutional and human capacity development) • Vocational Education (education grants) The Trust educational support is greatly appreciated by the many beneficiaries and key stakeholders. The funding towards education is a collective effort with the regional clusters and forums. The regional clusters and forums meet regularly to discuss their challenges, share experiences and resources, and then develop a plan for development interventions as a collective. • Kindergarten Forum, • Primary Schools Cluster • Secondary Schools Cluster • Life Skills Teachers Forum
We believe that our support towards education is an investment in the future and is critical given the global and local economic outlook. Optimized education in Namibia requires collaboration and teamwork from various stakeholders. There is still so much that needs to be done in order for more schools within Tsumeb and the Oshikoto Region to be in the top 20 national ranking. This will be an indication of improved overall academic performance for the schools in the Oshikoto Region.
Courtesy visit by Ms. Alleta Eises, Oshikoto Regional Education Director
Tsumeb Kindergarten Forum Tsintsabis Combined School, Gardening Project The garden is successful due to the involvement of the parents from the community that work daily in the school garden. The school garden compliments the school feeding programme that helps to keep learners in School, especially the marginalized.
Ondundu School Feeding Programme
Early Childhood Development
NAMCOL CECD Programme
Improving human and institutional capacity in pre-primary education.
Since 2016, the Trust has given tuition grants for qualifying caregivers, to upskill themselves by earning an Early Childhood Development Certificate (CECD). This enables caregivers to provide services at ECD centres and ensure improved development skills for children receiving preprimary education.
This benefit is offered to members of the vibrant Tsumeb Kindergarten Forum. This forum is made up of ECD centres within Tsumeb and surrounding areas. The Kindergarten Forum is the first of its kind in Namibia and has proven to be a successfully working model. To date almost half of the caregivers from targeted ECD centre in Tsumeb have obtained their formal qualification in Early Childhood Development from the Namibia College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) with the support of the Trust. Objectives of the NAMCOL CECD Programme: • Improve knowledge and understanding of caring for children in their developmental stages. • Provide a safe nurturing and loving environment. • Use available resources constructively, creatively and effectively.
Handover ceremony of First Aid and Basic Firefighting Training certificates to the teachers and principals of the Kindergarten Forum
• Ensure national uniformity of the programme at all ECD centres. • Understand the significance of a child’s development. • Develop a lively, questioning, appreciative and creative intellect in a child. • Develop positive self-esteem through social interaction, as well as self-confidence and understanding of the world a child lives in. • Provide for the child’s individual needs and aptitudes. • Promote and foster the highest moral and ethical values within a child.
Primary Schools
School Feeding Program
Partnership with Tulipamwe and Primary Schools
Objective: To complement the Namibian Government efforts and strategy to address inequalities and expand access to educational opportunities to disadvantaged children, particularly orphans and vulnerable school learners. Through our contribution, schools are now able to provide learners with a more balance diet of at least one warm meal a day, for five days a week. According to the reports from the participating schools, for some vulnerable children this is the only meal they have, and they look forward to it each day.
Key performance indicators:
1. Improved school attendance 2. Improve academic performance of learners and schools
School Feeding Program beneficieries for 2019:
• Tsumeb English Medium Primary School • Ondundu Primary School • Nomtsoub Primary School • Huigub Primary School • Ludwigshafen Primary School • Khomxa Khoeda Primary School • Ombili Primary School • Ondera Primary School • Kuvukiland Primary School • St Francis Primary School • Tsintsabis Combined School
Community participation/contribution:
• Parents help prepare the food for the learners. • Parents assist in chopping wood for cooking purposes. • Parents assist in collecting firewood.
Primary Schools (cont’d)
Successes:
• Learners are fed properly during this time and additional food is provided during the week. • School attendance has improved as well as fewer drop outs. • Academic results have improved. • One school has started a project to build their own kitchen. • The food supplemented the maize that schools received from the government.
Challenges/Recommendations:
• Kitchen conduciveness is critical if help is provided by community and other stakeholders. • Shortage of serving and eating utensils. • The lack of firewood for the meal preparation. • Transport cost for collecting the food at the caterers.
Total number of learners in the schools vs total number of beneficiaries for 2019
Schools
Total School Learners Total Beneficiaries Boys Girls Boys Girls TOTAL
Tsumeb English 451 410 129 97 226
Ondundu P.S. 209 177 209 177 386
Nomtsoub P.S. 404 413 103 71 174
Huigub P.S. 158 144 65 53 118 Ludwigshafen P.S. 58 57 58 57 115 Khomxa Khoeda 53 51 53 51 104
Ombili P.S. 113 90 113 90 203
Ondera P.S. 96 123 122 139 261 Kuvukiland P.S. 525 544 341 371 712
St Francis P.S. 372 368 372 362 734
Total 2439 2377 1565 1468 3033
Promoting a safety culture
In the first quarter of 2019, DPMT Trust, Tsumeb Municipality and Rubicon Fire Services partner to promote safety culture and how to respond to incidents or accidents at kindergartens
Safety is a core value of DPM and a safer and proactive community is a valuable social investment.
The Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb Community Trust partners with the Pre-Primary and Kindergartens Forum in Tsumeb to ensure quality Early Childhood Development interventions.
Based on discussions with the Forum for Kindergartens, basic firefighting and first aid training was identified as a priority initiative in 2019, to ensure a safe learning environment for students. Many of the kindergartens do not have proper structures and facilities, placing them at higher risk of fires and accidents.
Kindergarten Forum Teachers and Principal, First Aid and Basic Firefighting Training
—Ms. Aletta Bosch, Trustee
60 participants (two from each Tsumeb and surrounding kindergartens) took part in the training which was held at the Tsumeb Municipal Emergency Management Unit Fire Station in June 2019. The different kindergartens that participated in the training received the following items; • 30 x first aid kit boxes • 30x Fire extinguishers & signs • Certificates
The Trust sponsored a two-day basic firefighting & first aid training course in partnership with the Tsumeb Municipality for the Pre-Primary and Kindergarten Forum members. Rubicon sponsored the signs for the fire extinguishers and installed them at no cost in the 30 participating kindergartens.
Secondary Schools
Upgrading of Computer and Science Laboratories
Seven public and private schools in Tsumeb benefitted from the support in 2019.
These efforts contributed to enhancing the scientific and technological research and invention capacity of students. The DPMTCT worked together with the Secondary School Principals Cluster in order to identify critical areas of support. As part of its three year focus the cluster identified the need to improve the provision of appropriate educational facilities at secondary school. To enhance practical teaching, learning methods for better understanding and positive outcomes for both learners and the schools.
Opawa Junior Secondary School, Science Lab Tsintsabis Secondary School, Computer Lab
Etosha Secondary School, Computer Lab Redimere Academy, Science Lab
Tsumeb Gymnasium School, Science Lab Tsumeb Secondary School, Science Lab
Youth Development
Liberator Football Club, Salem Salmon Cup Tournament
Youth Sports Development
As a Community Trust it is important for us to support sports initiatives that are important to the people. Sports education and skills development support for in and out of school youth was identified as an important priority focus area and was incorporated in the 3-year CIDP. The Trust invested in various sports initiatives and programmes within the community during the course of 2019.
Liberator FC – Ondundu Myn Plaas
Oshikoto Regional Netball Team, participating in the 2019 Newspaper Cup Tsumeb Primary Schools Soccer League
The Maize Triangle Soccer League
Representatives of soccer teams from Tsumeb, Grootfontein and Otavi came together on 30th March 2019 in Tsumeb. The representatives jointly came up with a noble idea of forming a Social Soccer Development league for youth named ‘The Maize Triangle Soccer League’. The aim of the League is to promote youth football development, as the three towns are faced with rising unemployment and poverty especially amongst youth.
The league attracted twelve (12) teams, targeting about three hundred and sixty (360) youth players combined, approximately thirty (30) players per team. Eight (8) teams are from Tsumeb and two (2) teams each from Otavi and Grootfontein.
The active involvement of the youth in sporting activities have surely kept them motivated and off the streets, this has also helped against the fight of social ills such as crime, alcohol and drug abuse.
The Maize Triangle Soccer League is endorsed by the Namibia Football Association (NFA) through the Otjozondjupa Football League. This endorsement is given as the league plays a complementary role to the domestic leagues in the country by allowing the participation of teams from the two divisions and Football Academies. Participation of players in the league keeps players active during the off-season.
The Investment
The Trust invested a total of N$ 287,000. This money was used to cover transport costs, purchasing of soccer kits for the twelve (12) teams and training and match equipment.
Governance
Maize Triangle Soccer Foundation (Non-Profit Association Incorporated under Section 21) registered with the Business Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) with its registration number of Company as 21/2020/0488.
The foundation is governed by an eight (8) member Executive Committee. This committee comprises of a Chairman, Vice- Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and additional members. It is further guided by the constitution adopted during the first Annual General Meeting. The 2019 soccer season will be concluded in early 2020.
A soccer team from Otavi, participating in the Maize Triangle Soccer League
Trustees handing over Soccer Kits & Equipment for the 12 teams participating in the Maize Triangle Soccer League
Maize Triangle Representative with DPMT Community Trust Staff
Arts & Culture
Performing Arts to Promote Life
The vision and mission of the Arts Performance Centre (APC) is to keep children and youth away from the streets, drugs and crime through equipping them with artistic skills in music, dance, drawing and painting. This also includes pre-primary music education catering to children four to six years of age. The success of APC can be attributed to the selfless dedication and passion of its Founder and Director, Ms. Lis Hidber, who is a qualified music and arts professional who has a love for children.
The Arts Performance Center Board of Directors
APC actively works to develop Music, Arts and Culture amongst Namibian children. Learners attend after-school classes from Monday to Friday at the centre, which is based in Tsumeb. The APC is a not-for-profit organisation charging fees of only N$50 per semester, making it possible for all interested youth and adults irrespective of their background or economic status to have access. They register approximately 400 students annually from various backgrounds.
The centre has been operating for nearly 30 years developing “world class” artists and musicians. The centre depends on donations and goodwill of the teachers and the community to develop exceptional music and arts training in Namibia. The centre aims to create alternative career paths for students, stimulate employment opportunities and introduce options in the arts industry.
According to feedback received from schools, children who attend the APC after school program, generally achieve better academically, suggesting that the skills obtained at APC are assisting learners to concentrate and develop self-discipline. Schools have identified the value and need for music and arts training. Therefore, APC was requested to provide special classes regarding these subjects, which are not fully supported by all government schools. The APC management has responded and said that this request will be explored in the future.
Tsumeb Arts Performance Center
APC begun to experience financial difficulties due to the economic downturn and withdrawal of donor funding over the years. The passing of the founding father of the APC Hans Leu in 2019, who was solely responsible for the financial wellbeing of the organisation, left a big void for the center. The financial challenges faced by APC have them considering options such as closing the Oshikuku branch to reduce operational costs.
—Liz Hidber, Arts Performance Centre
The APC board recruited new members in 2019 and reached out to their long-term development partners to extend resources and help APC to continue. The Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb Community Trust has assisted the APC since 2012 on a needs basis and has invested for institutional and development support over N$340,000 in the centre by the end of 2018.
Chairperson of the APC Tsumeb Board, Ms. Diina Muatunga.
Arts & Culture Investment for 2019
In 2019, when approached by the Board of APC, the Trust provided N$ 246,000 to assist with the redevelopment and ensuring the sustainability of APC. The investment creates a cash flow for the organisation to ensure stability of teaching personnel and to sustain the organisation in these uncertain times.
In 2019 APC board, through the able leadership of its Director Ms. Lis Hidber and Managing Director Mr. Andre Neethling, has put in place strategies to ensure the future success of the APC:
1. Stabilize the cash flow by operating the centre based on business principles and establish a series of revenue streams.
Arts Performance Center Students practicing on musical instruments during class sessions with an instructor
2. Assess the position of international donors and encourage them to re-engage. 3. Integrate APC into the school curriculum in Namibia and the envisaged Tsumeb University. 4. Leverage the European support base and volunteers to continue making a huge difference in Namibia. 5. Create capacity to eventually establish an APC network in all regions, throughout Namibia.
The Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb Community Trust believes in the potential and value the APC brings to the communities in which it operates and would like to thank and encourage all the stakeholders involved in the management and through assisting the APC to continue with the impactful work.
Arts Performance Center’s Board members with their staff
I started the business with one employee in 2017 and with Dundee’s help, the business has since grown to 10 employees.
Sonja Du Toit Sonja’s Kitchen
2019
2019
