Student Clenda tells how, as a small child, she began at the steps for children kindergarten in Okakarara and can now pursue her own path in life independently. She explains how the support and encouragement in her early childhood helped her continue with school and move closer to her goals. Today, Clenda is a student, and she reflects on how her experiences and the help she received back then have positively shaped her life.
“When I finished my kindergarten and pre-school time at steps in Okakarara, I was selected by steps for children as one of the first children for the guardian angel program. steps paid my school fees, bought me the school uniform I needed to attend school, and stationery and other school materials. At the education center, we also had afternoon classes, where we did our homework and also took part in some extracurricular activities with other children from steps. We received lunch every day after school before we started afternoon classes. I attended primary school in Okakarara from first to seventh grade and was supported by steps for children throughout my entire school time.
When I finished primary school, I attended a secondary school in Otjiwarongo, a small town — not really small, but it is an up-and-coming town near Okakarara.
There I completed my secondary school years because steps knew that I would get a good education there, better than at a school in Okakarara. We have only one secondary school in Okakarara, but in Otjiwarongo there are more and also better secondary schools. steps also took care of me here: school uniforms, stationery and food were bought for me, since I lived in a hostel during the week. And my school fees were also covered.
When I finished secondary school, I did not have the grades I wanted to begin the course of study I wanted. So steps for children paid for my NAMCOL again. NAMCOL is a school where you can improve your matric (Abitur) so that you can begin a certain course of study. It is a school where, through repeated exams and previous lessons, you can obtain the grades you need to be admitted to the degree program you want.
In 2020, I then achieved the score I wanted. So my path led me to Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, where I am pursuing my bachelor’s degree in education. I will become a teacher of mathematics and science for grades four to seven.
I am also in a choir — sometimes we sing in other towns, for example in Okahandja. In addition, I did an internship in my second and third year in Okakarara a school and will also do one in my final year.
At the moment I am a final-year student — thanks to steps for children! I know I would not be doing this without steps, because my parents cannot afford it.
I am a role model for my younger siblings — they want to become like me too; they have learned so much. I know it will be hard for them to finish their school careers. My parents are really proud of me because I am the first child in my family to complete school. And I am the first to make it to university.”
Together for educational opportunities.
