Marthina Mutanga
A GROUP of Ovahimba and Ovazimba children from the Otjizongo Tjongava village in the Kunene Region who previously walked close to 30 kilometres daily to attend school at a neighbouring village have been provided with relief after a good Samaritan opened a pre-school in their village.
The new pre-primary will also allow the children to attend school in their indigenous attire to unburden parents who cannot afford school uniform.
Mandoo Hepute, a young woman who was born and raised in Opuwo, after completing her studies in early Childhood Development decided to take education back to her community by giving Ovahimba and Ovazimba children an opportunity to better their education.
Hepute added that coming from a marginalised community like the Ovahimba in the Kunene Region ignited her passion and responsibility towards her community.
“During my December 2018 holiday I saw firsthand the impact that having no schools in some villages had on the parents. Some parents couldn’t send their children to school because of long distances and the lack of hostels at nearby schools. Those that were going to school had to walk close to 15 kilometres to and from school every day. These are children of ages between seven and 10,” explained Hepute.
According to Hepute, in 2019 she decided to open a cultural and indigenous school where learners aren’t subjected to western formal school uniform and allow them to wear their traditional attire with the aim of promoting African culture in school and keeping culture alive.
She also teaches learners dressed in her Ovahimba traditional attire.
“Formal education forced many learners to leave school because they could not afford uniform, and this is one reason why many parents from marginalised communities don’t want to send their children to school,” Hepute explained.
Due to financial constraints, Hepute started the school under a tree, but the school has since grown and now has two teachers, one staff member and 35 learners.
The school, which is registered with the Gender ministers, provides learners with meals to keep them in school.
She indicated that the school is in need of basic necessities such as chairs, desks, study materials, and classroom as classes are still being conducted under a tree.
Hepute is calling anyone who can assist the cultural and indigenous school with books, chairs, food and building material to reach out to her.
