Africa-Press – Namibia. AN estimated 32,000 children in Namibia currently go to school without shoes due to extreme poverty. Based on the current statistics, the Kunene Region is leading with 4 813, followed by the //Karas Region with 4 154, the Otjozondjupa Region with 3 996, the Zambezi Region with 3 476 and the Hardap Region with 3 055 going to school without shoes.
This is according to research conducted by the Never Walk Alone Charity Programme, which aims to bring aid to children throughout the country living in vulnerable households. The organisation today announced that it will be making its first donation of 1 000 shoes to children in the Hardap Region this month.
Founder and CEO of Project Never Walk Alone, Tim Ekandjo, at a press conference held in Windhoek shared the statistics of barefooted children by region as provided by the Regional Education Directors, in consultation with their schools in the various regions.
“We wish to make it clear that the 32,000 figure is not the final one because some schools are still submitting their statistics and we therefore expect this number to grow,” said Ekandjo.
Ekandjo said that even though the project was only launched in August, the first handover of 1 000 brand new shoes is already scheduled for 17 and 18 September in Maltahohe and Kalkrand in the Hardap Region.
“The region indicated that it requires a total of 2 777 shoes, but for now we will only give them 1 000 pairs. As stated at the launch, we are committed to going to every region to help as many barefooted children as possible,” he added.
The MVA Fund of Namibia during the press conference announced a two-year commitment to the project, with an amount of N$100,000 that will be spread over those years.
The sponsorship was announced by Surihe Gaomas-Guchu, Chairperson of the MVA Fund CSI. Ekandjo also thanked all Namibians who made use of the sms line so far to make their N$50 donation.
To ramp up public contribution, Ekandjo stated that there will be a competition with immediate effect with two new iPhone 12 Pro’s that will be given away at the end of October.
Other prices include two spa vouchers from Soulstice for two people worth N$1500 each. The more one SMSes the word NWA or Never Walk Alone to the number 44844, the better their chance of winning the phone valued at N$20,000.
