Former Walvis Bay councillor Ryan Gordon and his team, Paul Melani, Brayn Gordon, and Trevor Mokhatu, pictured with some of the school chairs they’ve repaired
In response to rising unemployment and a growing shortage of functional school furniture, former Walvis Bay councillor Ryan Gordon and his team have launched a community-driven initiative aimed at repairing broken desks and chairs at government schools in and around Walvis Bay.
The project, which began in December last year, involves collecting damaged school furniture and restoring it, using personal funds and voluntary labour. With many schools facing financial constraints, learners are often forced to share desks or sit on unsafe furniture, conditions that negatively affect learning and dignity in the classroom.
Gordon and his team, Brayn Gordon, Trevor Mokhatu, and Paul Melani already assisted Flamingo Primary School in the Walvis Bay town area and High Hope School in Kuisebmond. The team is currently working with a third school as demand for assistance continues to grow. To date, the group has repaired and delivered 60 chairs during January, with an additional 20 chairs ready for delivery. Their work includes welding broken backrests, replacing rubber stoppers, repainting, and varnishing desks and chairs to extend their lifespan. In some cases, the team has also built desks and chairs from scratch and donated them to schools. “We are currently funding these repairs from our own pockets,” Gordon said. “While the impact is meaningful, the costs are significant. We would love to extend this initiative to more schools, but we need the support of our community and local businesses to do so.”
Beyond restoring furniture, the initiative also serves as a skills-development platform for unemployed youth, offering hands-on training in woodwork, steelwork, welding, and painting. “At the moment there is no work,” Gordon explained. “Young people are sitting at home. So, we decided to use our skills and equipment to help schools while keeping the youth busy.” Gordon said the project was motivated by the poor conditions he witnessed at several schools, where learners were reportedly sitting two or three to a desk. “We never had education like this when we were at school. Seeing children sitting on desks instead of chairs pushed us to act, even if it meant paying from our own pockets,” he said. He has called on businesses, fishing companies, and the Ministry of Education to partner with the initiative, noting that sponsorships – whether through funding, materials, or equipment – could help address the problem on a larger scale. “If businesses can sponsor repairs or donate materials, everyone benefits: the schools, the learners, the teachers, and the community,” Gordon said. “These are their children sitting in those classrooms.”
Team members Mokhatu and Melani said the work has given them a renewed sense of purpose. “We enjoy doing this. It’s fun, and it feels good to give back to the community,” they said. They also encouraged learners to respect school property. “Do not bend chairs or write on desks. Sit properly and take care of the furniture, because it takes time, money, and effort to repair.” Gordon concluded by inviting individuals and companies interested in supporting the initiative to make contact. “If you would like to help a school or support a child, please inbox us. We are also happy to acknowledge sponsors during the maintenance process where possible.”
By Rudi Bowe
