Peace descends on Shalom education
B2 Gold, the operator of the Oshikoto gold mine near Otjiwarongo built four new classrooms in two buildings for the Shalom Primary School in Otavi. Each building houses two classrooms.
Otavi – The need for primary education in Otavi is so big, all the learners at the Shalom Primary School could only be accommodated by running a second school session during the afternoons. That is now something of the past thanks to four new classrooms added to the school’s infrastructure through the generosity of the operator of the Oshikoto gold mine near Otjiwarongo, B2Gold Namibia.
A fortnight ago B2Gold Namibia officially handed four classrooms to the Shalom Primary School through B2Gold’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme at a cost of N$500,000.
Shalom Primary School, established 78 years ago, is one of the oldest schools in Otavi and has had a learner population of 1200 in recent years. The acting Principal said “it has been such a relief both for teachers and learners who no longer have do afternoon sessions and Shalom looks forward to performing exceptionally well this year, thanks to the new classrooms”.
B2Gold Corp.’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Clive Johnson, said “B2Gold is fully committed to helping the government improve the lives of its people, and education is one way to everlasting development”. The event was also attended by the Otjozondjupa Regional Council’s Chief Regional Officer, Ms. Jane Kuhanga, B2Gold executives, the Mayor of Otavi, local councillors, as well as various local leaders.
In preparation for the inauguration of the new classrooms, the Town Council held a clean-up campaign and Shalom learners cleaned their area using garbish bags donated by the Recycle Namibia Forum and Plastic Packaging. B2 Gold said its Corporate Social Responsibility programme promotes responsible mining and sustainable initiatives with long-term impact in its four focal areas of Education, Environmental Conservation, Livelihood Development and Health.
