Universities join forces to improve learners’ lives
Approximately 40 learners from the JA Nel Senior Secondary School in Keetmanshoop have been selected for an intensive UniCamp organised by the Wales Cardiff University and the University of Namibia (UNAM).
The UniCamp will run from 21 August to 1 September at the UNAM Southern Campus in Keetmanshoop and Student ambassadors from Cardiff and UNAM will support and mentors these learners.
According to the organisers, workshops, activities, games and sports will be used to improve the self-esteem, communications skills and literacy of those taking part and organisers hope that the experience will be transformative for learners, with some progressing to university.
After the UniCamp, learners will have to devise and launch a national public health campaign using the skills and knowledge they have acquired.
Elizabeth Beukes, Head Teacher at JA Nel School said the learners are coming from very poor backgrounds and sometimes their self-esteem is not there, which makes them not know where they are heading in life.
“It is our duty as a school to try to guide the learners into a direction where they know they are going to have a future, therefore they will participate in four main subject areas which are healthcare, computer science, journalism and media, and business and entrepreneurship,” she added.
The initiative is part of Cardiff University’s Phoenix Project in partnership with UNAM to improve health and reduce poverty in Namibia and will be led Scott McKenzie, Head of Widening Participation and Community Outreach from Cardiff University and will involve up to 10 students each from Cardiff and UNAM.
