Chinese and Namibian officials pose with the learners who receives Chinese-donated bags under the Panda Pack Project at Tobias Hainyeko Primary School in Windhoek, capital of Namibia, on Sept. 24, 2019. (Xinhua/Musa C Kaseke)

The China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation donates 40, 000 Panda Packs with stationery in Namibia. The donation helps the students who used to carry learning materials in plastic bags, conveys the Chinese people's kindness and will deepen the friendship between the two nations.

by Ndalimpinga Iita

WINDHOEK, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Over the years, Selma Nelago, a learner at Tobias Hainyeko Primary School in Namibia's capital, Windhoek faced challenges carrying books when walking to school. She carried school books in a plastic bag.

"I used plastic bags throughout the year to carry my books and other items, which is hard. The plastic bag may not be solid and tears often, so the books can fall out and be damaged," Selma said.

This thwarted the learner.

Luckily for her, she received a full-equipped school bag this year after the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) donated 40, 000 Panda Packs to the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture in September.

Following the successful pilot project in 2018, which saw 10, 000 Panda Packs donated to Namibian schools, the CFPA in September 2019, launched the second phase of Panda Pack project in Windhoek.

The 40, 000 Panda Packs are destined for schools in five regions. Tobias Hainyeko was the first school to receive the Panda Packs.

China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation Vice President Wang Xingzui (R), Namibia's Deputy Minister of Education, Arts and Culture Anna Nghipondoka (L), and Chinese Ambassador to Namibia Zhang Yiming (C) pose for a photo during the launch ceremony of the Panda Pack Project at the Tobias Hainyeko Primary School in Windhoek, capital of Namibia, on Sept. 24, 2019. (Xinhua/Musa C Kaseke)

As a result, today, Selma's walk between home (in shanty Okuryangava, a residential area in Namibia's capital Windhoek) and the school has been eased.

The bags, filled with essential goods, including a lunchbox, color pencils, eraser, sharpener, and puzzle amongst other stationeries, have since been instrumental in addressing poverty-driven social challenges.

Martha Amundi, head girl at Tobias Hainyeko Primary School, said that the donation has not only eased the financial burden of most parents but has also inspired inclusive, active participation of learners and interest in school.

"In the past, many students would be reluctant to take part in some class activities because they didn't have the appropriate stationery and would look to others to share because their parents couldn't afford it," Amundi said Thursday, adding that the bags have inspired academic excellence and hope amongst learners to reach their goals.

The donation has also had a snowball effect on the social fabric and gave hope to some children, not only at school but as members of a wider community.

China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation Vice President Wang Xingzui shows the stationery in the bag at Tobias Hainyeko Primary School in Windhoek, capital of Namibia, on Sept. 24, 2019. (Xinhua/Musa C Kaseke)

Meanwhile, Paulus Lewin, an official at the Regional Directorate of Education, said that such an investment in learning resources creates a conducive teaching and learning environment for both teachers and learners.

According to Lewin, most learners also come from communities faced by significant challenges such as poverty and unemployment.

"The donation thus adds value to the learners' lives and transforms the community through the producing of skilled professionals and entrepreneurs who will, in turn, develop the informal settlements into suburbs," Lewin said.

Not only is that. In the academic space, the panda packs further assist the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture to prolong the utilization span of textbooks.

The Ministry's Textbook Policy stipulates that books should be used for five years. This, however, has not been the case as the current textbook utilization span is averaged to one and three years due to damaged books.

Students from Tobias Hainyeko Primary School sit with their new bags in Windhoek, capital of Namibia, on Sept. 24, 2019. (Xinhua/Musa C Kaseke)

Ester Nghipondoka, deputy minister of education, said that the donation of the schoolbags to learners who would have used plastic bags to carry books, therefore, goes a long way in ensuring that textbooks are carried safely.

According to Nghipondoka, damaged textbooks compromised the quality of education and caused the Ministry to budget more for the provision of textbooks.

"The donation will therefore in return help reduce textbook expenditure to a margin and enable the Ministry to realize the ratio of one textbook per learner," Nghipondoka said.

In the interim, the Panda Packs donation is also a symbol of friendship from the Chinese to Namibian people, said Wang Xingzui, vice president of CFPA. ■