Windhoek: The SOS Children's Villages, in collaboration with The Foschini Group (TFG), on Wednesday handed over educational materials to the Tsumeb Primary School in the Oshikoto Region, valued at over N.dollars 74,000. The donated items included school uniforms, dictionaries, hygiene kits, solar lights, and additional essential materials to support teaching and learning such as pens, erasers, pencils, and copy paper. Other donated items include a fridge for the school's soup kitchen initiative, soup packets, and bags of rice, among others.

According to Namibia Press Agency, in a speech shared on Thursday, Tsumeb SOS community empowerment officer Rachel Shipoke explained that the donation is not just about providing support but about celebrating partnership, care, and a shared commitment to empowering children and strengthening the community. "We are working to ensure that learners, especially those from vulnerable backgrounds, are supported and given equal opportunities to succeed. This support reflects our belief that education is not only about books, but about creating an environment where learners are supported academically, physically, and emotionally," she said.

Shipoke highlighted that the donated items would strengthen academic performance, saying that the hygiene kits would promote self-care, while the solar lights would assist learners in studying in areas with limited access to electricity. 'The SOS Children's Villages remains committed to ensuring every child grows up with the care, support, and opportunities they need to succeed,' she stressed.

Tsumeb Primary School principal Petrina Shafewa noted that the donation had enabled the school to procure much-needed educational materials and other vital items that would profoundly change the lives of vulnerable learners. She added that since its establishment in 2018, the school population has grown rapidly, with the current enrolment of 1,126 learners. However, she mentioned that the school faces serious infrastructure constraints, noting the need for an administration block as its offices are currently operating from storerooms.

"The school does not have sports facilities, making it very difficult to carry out extramural activities. The school grounds are very rocky and uneven, posing safety risks to our learners. We are also faced with a shortage of textbooks, which directly impacts the quality of teaching and learning," Shafewa said. Despite these challenges, she maintained that the school remains committed to providing quality education and a nurturing environment for every child entrusted to its care.