Strong-minded, bold and driven

Nadia Blessing Araës, introduces herself as a young black girl born and raised in Swakopmund by a single mother.

She is a strong-minded woman who believes that her dreams are on the other side of hard work.

Nadia is purpose-driven and sees value in everything she does. Ambition is her second name, and she harbours a constant thirst for personal and shared growth and development.

"Friends and family know me as talkative, but I always say it is just a strong sense of inquisitiveness that leads to always talking and asking, and gratefully, that has positively enhanced my public speaking skills and leadership abilities," she says.

Araës serves as the chairperson of the National Namibian Students Organisation (Nanso) Erongo Region executive committee; is the founder and president of a youth organisation called The Bridge; and is a member of the Red Cross Namibia Society.

Nadia works in community crime prevention and also founded a poetry blog called her_.mentality.

NANSO

Araës' passion and commitment to students, trainees, and learners inspired and motivated her to join Nanso this year, and she remains unshakeable.

She says her Nanso journey has been a beautiful one, full of growth and privileged awareness and exposure to greater opportunities and networking.

"I learned about the organisation as their representatives reopened a branch at our school in 2022, and their mandate immediately resonated with my personal goals. I took the liberty to join and see what it entailed; right after the opening, I became the chairperson of the branch of Westside High School."

At the regional conference that followed, she was elected and appointed as the vice chairperson for the Erongo Region, which quickly changed in May 2022 as she filled the position as the chairperson for the Erongo Region after the national students’ congress.

"Under my leadership we have initiated projects like the AS level cluster competition that platforms a fun way in which learners can learn among others – one of the big initiatives was also the IECD awareness campaign that involved community liaison officers from the ministry of gender as we conducted interviews on the pertinent issues facing young children and as well investigated the solutions as how we as a collective could best advocate and resolute the issues," she explains.

The Bridge

In 2021, Araës started a youth-focused organisation called The Bridge that not only works on advocacy but also on social progress as it spearheads operative radicalism. The four pillars include security and well-being, prison and justice reform, poverty, and climate change, which focus and drive proactive advocacy towards social progress and development.

"Making sure that as tomorrow’s leaders we craft the future in every space and capacity that we can," she says.

"Through our pro-activeness, we create a platform through honest, transparent, and non-judgmental dialogues to address socio-economic issues that pertain to the youth. Other than our mandate and pillars, the purpose of The Bridge is to develop and create opportunities to address and solve issues that might not draw the interest of the youth but are of imperative concern," she says.

The organisation is currently busy with the drafting of motions and developing relationships with the community, local government, and private stakeholders.

What to expect from Nadia

A youth leader says Araës has shown that failure is not an option for her as a young, hard-working, goal-driven woman who sets out to achieve the best in everything she takes on; and that she is bound to reach great heights.

"I wouldn’t want to jinx anything, but the future is left in the hands of God; however, my prayers are that my hands stretch more into the community. With the opportunities I have received, it is also an aspiration to mentor and assist those in their personal goals and aspirations in life," Araës says.

The Bridge will open in the Khomas Region next year; in addition, she will launch school debate clubs in the Erongo Region and a book based on her blog.

She also intends to be more visible in youth and social development initiatives.

Motivation

With all that she has achieved and is destined to achieve, Araës shares words of encouragement for young individuals.

She says if someone is is truly passionate "then some part of that passion has to do with your purpose and to fulfill your purpose you have to dive deep into your passion, because no one else can do what you do and can do.

"And if you don’t have a passion and can’t seem to find it, then get involved in anything and everything that might catch your attention. Grab every opportunity you get to develop yourself and learn something new. Do some introspection and get to know yourself. Because there is beauty in the person you are. Ask questions and seek answers and solutions. Find mentorship and guidance, and above all, pray!"