Africa-Press – Namibia. Hardap governor Riaan McNab, now former, partnered with Teviva Trading CC to expand the Hardap //Uib Kindergarten situated in the Withuis informal settlement on the outskirts of Mariental, and officially handed it over to its founder, Lena Garoes, on Monday.
In his remarks during the handover, McNab emphasised the importance of ECD centres, particularly in informal communities.
“It is important that every child has access to ECD. This is where the foundation of learning is laid. When I visited Withuis and saw what Ms Garoes was doing despite the challenges, I was deeply impressed. A strong foundation in early education has the potential to uplift entire communities,” McNab said.
The handover marked a significant milestone for Lena Garoes, who began her journey as a self-taught caregiver, teaching children from zero to six years old how to read and write in her community.
In an interview with Nampa, Garoes shared that she started her journey in 2014 when she identified the need for a learning space in her community.
“I started with what I had, building a small shack to shelter the children,” she said. In 2017, the number of children grew to 31, and the limited space became a challenge.
“Some of the children had to sit outside during lessons. I charged between five to ten rands, sometimes N$100, but many parents could not afford even that. Still, I continued teaching.”
Despite limited resources, Garoes continued her work until she received support from the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare in the form of a monthly N$1 500 allowance. However, the growing demand for space remained a challenge until the recent expansion.
Teviva Trading CC funded the project with approximately N$36 000 and completed the construction of the new facility within two days.
Recognised as an ECD centre, the kindergarten was initially a modest shack, but it has since been rebuilt into a larger one-room classroom made from concreted iron, providing a safer and more suitable environment for early learning. The newly upgraded centre currently accommodates 26 children.
For More News And Analysis About Namibia Follow Africa-Press
