Katuka Mentorship Programme wraps up for 2017, new 2018 intake announced
This year’s Katuka Mentorship Programme came to a very successful conclusion this week Wednesday when 22 mentors and mentees came together for the last time in 2017. After submission of all the mentoring reports in the four weeks leading to the final meeting, each participant received a certificate this week for her contribution to the programme’s outcome.
At the same certificate ceremony, the bumper intake for 2018 was introduced with 19 mentors and 19 eager mentees meeting face to face for the first time. Next year will be the 17th consecutive year for the programme, having run uninterrupted since 2001 when the founder, the late Lena Markus started the mentoring school as her dedicated project during the year in which she was the Namibian Businesswoman of the Year.
At Wednesday evening’s certificate ceremony, the new Namibian Businesswoman of the Year, Nangula Kauluma, the Managing Director of Old Mutual Short-term Insurance, made a surprise visit when she briefly attended the opening for a quick introduction to the 2017 participants and to the 2018 new intake. Nangula has joined the programme for 2018 as a mentor.
Addressing the mentors and mentees for both 2017 and 2018, Desere Lundon-Muller from the Economist, congratulated the graduate mentees for a fruitful year.
“Tonight’s ceremony is not the end of the journey but rather the start of greater things to come. There are many opportunities out there but only those well equipped to spot and take full advantage of them will reap the benefits of their labours. We owe it to Katuka and the mentors that you go out and make a difference in your institutions and in the lives of those you interact with on your path to greater heights,” she said.
Acknowledging the hard work and dedication of the mentors, Lundon-Muller said that the role they play continues to create an enabling environment for self-empowerment and skills acquisition.
“It is a nurturing role, which requires dedication and commitment underpinned by the following key aspects; igniting a spark in other individuals, building leadership and management skills and a way to give back to respective associations and professions,” she added.
Telecom Namibia, who is the main and only sponsor of the programme was praised for its continued and highly appreciated support to the development of Namibian women.
Reaffirming its commitment to women empowerment, Telecom Namibia paid tribute to the foresight of Lena Markus for recognising the need already in 2001 to provide mentorship to women so that they will make their contribution to enterprise development, job creation and improvement in the standard of living of all Namibians.
“Mentorship, education, partnering and professional development will promote women’s entrepreneurship to strengthen the business sector, create jobs and advance women’s economic rights. History shows that when women and girls have access to opportunities, societies are more just, economies are more likely to prosper and governments are more likely to serve the needs of all their people,” Oiva Angula, Head: Corporate Communications and Public Relations at Telecom Namibia said at the ceremony.
An outstanding feature of the programme is the long involvement of many of the mentors. Thirteen of the nineteen 2018 mentors have been mentoring for many years. Annemarie van der Riet who has been a mentor for 13 years, spoke on behalf of all the mentors about the advantages of mentoring and its impact on the mentees’ personal and professional growth.
Mentors and Mentees
The Mentors for the 2017 mentorship programme were: Annemarie van der Riet (General Manager, Avis Fleet Services), Naita Awene (Commercial Manager, Telecom Namibia), Dantagos Garosas (HR Manager, The Namibian), Elke Hanstein (HR Manager, De Beers), Matilda Ishitile (Owner, White Feather Creations), Gloria Kapingana (Acc. Ex: Corporate Banking, Bank Windhoek), Natasja Byleveld (MD, Namedia), Olivia Ngaamwa (Snr Manager: Tax Consultant, Deloitte), Sylvia Nsinano (Head: Financial Accounting, Namwater), Barbara Nyathi (Psychologist, Maerua Medial Centre), Ansie Rossouw (Partner/Auditor, Walvis Bay PwC), Paichon Sheya (Practice Manager, Khomas Medical Centre), Simonee Shihepo (Programme Director, SOS Namibia), Sigrid Tjijorokisa Sigrid (Legal Practitioner, Head: Gov & CSI, Standard Bank), and Maria Immanuel (Snr Trade & Investment Analyst, Namibia Trade Forum.)
The 2017 Mentees were; Erna Aisindi (Property Admin Clerk, RFA), Magdalena David (Youth Coordinator, SOS Namibia), Diniz De Moura (Manager, Owner HDM Electronics), Teopolina Fillemon (Accounts Clerk, Letshego Bank), Elizabeth Haingura, (IDS Coordinator, SOS Namibia), Lovisa Indongo-Namandje (GM, Supervisory Support, NAMFISA), Georgia Kauapirura (HR Practitioner, NamibRe), Hileni Natanael (Trainee, Telecom Namibia), Tulonga Neputa (Snr. Internal Auditor, RFA), Hileni Rijnen (Manager, PC Support, NUST) and Anna-Abia Shigweda (Wellness Officer, City of Windhoek.)
Mentors for 2018 are; Annemarie van der Riet, Anita Awene, Dantagos Garosas, Matilda Ishitile, Esmerelda Katjaerua (Legal Practioner, Katjaerua Legal Practitioners), Olivia Ngaamwa Olivia, Barbara Nyathi, Ansie Rossouw, Simonee Shihepo, Aletta Eises (Deputy Dir. Education), Lydia Horn (Scientific Officer, Min. Agriculture), Nabukenya Muwonge (Manager: HR, Truimphant College), Erna Motinga (ACEO: Supervision, NAMFISA), Erika Preuss (Owner, Ark Trading), Nangula Kauluma (MD, Old Mutual Short Term Insurance), Louise Shixwameni (Deputy Director: MPE), Kobie du Preez (Financial Advisor, FullCrum Bluestart), Tanya Stroh (Turipamwe Design Studio) and Sigrid Tjijorokisa.
Mentees in the 2018 programme are; Memory Garises (Legal Practitioner, NAMFISA), Adelheid Kanalelo (Asst. Accountant, Guan’s Packaging, Walvis Bay), Ongame Mutorwa (Electronic Media Practitioner, Bank Windhoek), Pehovelo Ngaamwa (Culture Change Strategy Consultant, Capricorn Group), Nangombe Negumbo (PR Officer, Namcor), Saima Nghihalwa (Legal Practioner, NAMFISA), Valentine Nghipandua (Financial Analyst, NAMFISA), Nelago Shitemba (Entrepreneur/Managing Member, Nels Investment), Linea Shitemba (Financial Analyst, NAMFISA), Norma Uazengiza (Entrepreneur, Modern World Design), Marijke Viljoen (Marketing Manager, Pupkewitz Toyota), Hilka Timoteus (Stanfin/Executive Secretary, Northern Regions, Standard Bank), Emmanuela Jossob (Personal Financial Advisor, Old Mutual), Gesche Pinsenschaum (Entrepreneur, Xami Power), Carla So-Oabes (Admin/Cashier, Eros Family Practice), Adelina Hiskia (Teacher, Min, Education) and Anna Itengula (Bank Consultant, Standard Bank).
All photographs by Donald Matthys.
