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PAY strives to uplift deprived youth

PAY strives to uplift deprived youth

Namibia has made great strides in achieving education for all and has set national development priorities that impact on the education sector through a number of policies and legislations, in particular the Education Act, Act 16 of 2001, National Development Plan (NDP4) and Vision 2030 said Dr. Peter Katjavivi, Speaker of the National Assembly who is also the Chairperson of PAY Board of Directors
“The fact that young people who were largely perceived as underachievers even within their own communities are now able to thrive in skills and settings normally reserved for the fortunate few mean that Physically Active Youth (PAY) model facilitates social mobility for its young participants,” Katjavivi added.
“In today’s rapidly-changing, knowledge based society where social and political participation takes place both physically and virtually, acquisition of basic literacy skills and the advancement and application of such skills throughout life is crucial. It is therefore paramount that children stay in school and complete the full cycle of schooling,” Katjavivi said in a speech.
Since 2003, the non-governmental organisation, PAY, has been at the forefront of the efforts to close the gap between the rich and the poor, by working from within the Katutura community. Since then, PAY has helped over 1300 learners and propped up their Math and English foundations by working with over 100 staff members and volunteers over the course of 13 years.
Katjavivi said that PAY’s holistic model is derived from the notion of integrated education which is based on the idea that classroom experience must reflect a fundamental but often overlooked fact: a learner is a whole person.
“Accordingly, the aim of education is not only to teach Math and languages but also to equip students with skills that will enable them to earn a living. The first and foremost aim of education is to develop a complete human being,” he said. In view of this, from 2012 onward new programming components have been progressively introduced through partnership with the organization’s stakeholders: e-Learning in partnership with the Global Diploma, Coding Classes in partnership with The Tech Guys and road and mountain cycling in partnership with Rand Merchant Bank and NEDBANK. According to Katjavivi, the new programme elements strengthened and streamlined programme model and became its signature mark, creating visibility. “It is our valued partners and friends that we wish today to once again express our heartfelt, thanks to those who are today with us and those who tendered apologies for rendering their support to PAY and helping us help young people of Namibia realise their full potential,” he said.

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