Trophy hunting funds education

The Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) through it’s administrative body that supports education has donated more than N$ 1 million in financial aid and other goods over the last few years.

The recent donation of N$30,000 to Nau -Aib Primary School’s 1,260 children living on the outskirts of Okahandja saw a large number of people from the community attend the ceremony which was held in Okahandja.
The association has been collecting funds generated through trophy medal sales as well as donations from mostly international hunts and hunters’ organisations like Dallas Safari Club and Safari Club International including their different ‘Chapters’ and other donors.
The Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Hon. Tommy Nambahu stressed the need to care for wildlife by preserving it and this can only happen if there are financial motivations in place.
Nambahu said that the sustainable use of natural resources is protected by the constitution. He urged for continuous partnership between Government and NAPHA and other stakeholders in tourism as the industry plays a big role in the economy and in the eradication of poverty.
“Professional hunting is not poaching. There are only terrible results from poaching and this is classified as organised crime. Professional hunting has positive results for Namibia’s economy,”said Nambahu.
The Hunting Industry in its diversity is contributing to the Namibian welfare through basic nutrition (game meat from trophy hunting), job creation and education through skills training.
In attendance among others were the Constituency Councillor of Okahandja Councillor Steve Biko Booys, the Mayor of Okahandja, Councillor, Valery Aron, the Director of Education in the Otjozondjupa Region, Madam Selma Nangolo and the Circuit Inspector of Okahandja, Robert September and Namibia Professional Hunting Association CEO, Tanja Dahl.
The school was opened in January 1988 to serve a multi-cultural community from the surrounding farms workers children. Many challenges have been over come over the years as the school’s mission is to raise quality of life for every child regardless of their circumstances to reach their full potential.
Hunters Support Education sub-committee chairperson, Gudrun Heger said that the initiative to reward individual students from these schools were selected for their academic excellence and model citizenship.
Since 2008; the winning students are honoured with NAPHA Certificates as well as N$250 cash prizes. At the ceremony the rewards were a highlight of the annual award-giving ceremonies at the schools that are supported by NAPHA’s ‘Hunters Support Education’ project.
Heger said that faith, respect, responsibility and discipline were the cornerstones of any successful education. “Keep on going the extra mile with a smile,” she passionately said.
NAPHA’s CEO, Tanja Dahl in her address said that it is important to ensure and promote ethical conduct and the sustainable use of natural resources to secure the industry’s future.
The association insists that its members provide the highest standard of professional service to international hunting guests who are expected to hunt strictly in accordance with the ethical principles as stipulated in NAPHA’s Hunting Code.
Dahl said that the hunting professional is at all times encouraged to act responsibly towards nature, wildlife and the local population. NAPHA also supports basic education through its ‘Hunters Support Education’ project that was founded some 11 years ago to support school going children from the hunting communities.
Since 2004, 22 schools throughout Namibia have received donations worth more than a million dollars. This does not include the independent donations – of funds, learning materials, supplies and meat from the hunt – made by many hunting operators and their guests to schools throughout the country such as the Hunters support Education which donated 100 new mattresses to Nau-Aib Primary Hostel last year.
The Regional Director of Education, Selma Nangolo said that their goal is to provide holistic education for the learners focusing on primary school education. She said that the directorate is on a mission to establish a resource centre at the primary school and she challenged business people to stand up and emulate what NAPHA has done at the occasion. Councillor Booys said people must preserve the environment of present and future generations in becoming active players in the economy by supporting and building an education system to build industry and professional members of society.