Africa-Press – Namibia. SOME young people from Walvis Bay believe a culture of volunteerism could be the answer to solving youth-related issues and building character.
Some say although the town’s youth has a bad reputation, some youth groups are making a difference in their communities.
Kundja Kavari, a second-year accounting student at the University of Namibia (Unam) started volunteering while he was in high school, and says he has learnt a lot in the process.
“It is fulfilling and I learn a lot from the individuals where I volunteer. It has helped my friends and me to build our characters throughout high school. I have learnt how to handle different people, work under difficult circumstances and manage with few resources.
“This will be beneficial in my future. I met people through my volunteering journey who have helped me to add value to my life. Some have created opportunities for me, and others have become mentors in different areas. I always remind myself of the saying: ‘I am because you are’,” he says.
Kavari urges other young people to try and find volunteer work to stay out of trouble.
“It is fun and gives you a platform to understand yourself and to learn what you are passionate about. You never know what opportunity could arise through volunteering. Idleness is what brings many thoughts of social evils. It is more fulfilling to touch lives before money,” he says.
Anna Ndara is a first-year social work student at Unam.
She says: “Helping people fills me with so much gratitude that God uses me to help his people. People do not realise that volunteering is a two-way stream. It benefits you as much as it benefits the needy people . . . I have learnt to engage with various people from different backgrounds. I have met most of my closest friends where I was volunteering.”
Kristine Shetunyenga, a first-year accounting student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) says young people should be taught from a young age to care for the needy without compensation.
“Put yourself in others’ shoes and ask yourself how it would feel if no one ever came to help you. Whoever you help today will see the good in you and help someone out tomorrow,” she says.
Barbra Kavita is the initiator of the Walvis Bay ‘Pap Mansion’, a soup kitchen which feeds about 200 children.
Kavita says high school pupils often show up at her house to help with cooking and feeding children.
“I am really relieved when I see young people walking through that gate. It shows they are developing a sense of unity . . . they are moving away from the streets to spend time at places where they can become better citizens,” she says.
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