The Walvis Bay Urban Constituency Councillor, Albertina Nkoshi has donated food parcels to six schools in an effort to address food insecurity and support vulnerable learners in the community.
The beneficiary schools: Seaside Primary School, Narraville Secondary School, Flamingo Primary School, Kuisebmund Primary School, Sunshine Centre, and Immanuel Ruiters Primary School, each received 10 food parcels during the official handover. Speaking at the handover, Nkoshi emphasised that schools are more than institutions of learning. “Schools are not just places of learning, they are centres of hope, development, and opportunity for our children and for the future of Namibia,” she said. She described education as one of the most powerful tools to combat poverty, unemployment and inequality, stressing that meaningful learning requires cooperation between the Councillor’s Office, school management, teachers, parents and the broader community.
“Learning and development do not happen in isolation. They require cooperation,” she said, adding that the visit marked the beginning and strengthening of partnerships with schools across Walvis Bay. Nkoshi identified food insecurity as one of the pressing challenges in the constituency, noting that many households are facing economic hardship. “When a child comes to school hungry, it becomes difficult to concentrate, to participate, and to perform well academically.
Hunger directly affects learning outcomes,” she said. The food parcels are intended to assist the most vulnerable households and ensure learners do not attend school on an empty stomach. She urged principals and teachers to help identify families most in need to ensure fair and transparent distribution. “This initiative is not about charity; it is about partnership and responsibility,” Nkoshi stressed. Principal of Seaside Primary School, Marianne Uiras, expressed gratitude on behalf of the school board, parents and the broader community. “To teach a child on an empty stomach is not easy. A child’s focus is not on what is taught in class,” she said, noting that the school provides maize blend to learners during break time and sometimes after school to support vulnerable families. Similarly, Principal of Narraville Secondary School, Eveline Nambala, thanked the councillor for prioritising the well-being of learners.
“The future belongs to these children, and if we do not take care of them now, we might lose them,” she said, adding that while only ten households could benefit, the need in the community remains significant. The principals assured that the assistance would reach the most vulnerable families, reinforcing a shared commitment to supporting learners and strengthening the future of Walvis Bay.
By Rudi Bowe
