Turning numbers into confidence

Shenmo Education Namibia has steadily grown into one of the country's inspiring educational initiatives, demonstrating how a simple tool – the abacus – can transform the way children learn, think and approach mathematics.

The organisation was founded by Evelina Amutenya, a mining value-chain and mineral economics expert who studied in China. While there, she was struck by how easily children use the abacus, solving mathematical problems faster than many adults.

The experience planted the seed for what would become Shenmo Education Namibia.

“During my time in China, I saw how children approached numbers with joy,” Amutenya says. “The organisation was inspired by a gap I identified in the learning experience of many primary school children in Namibia, particularly in numeracy, concentration, confidence and broader learning abilities.”

Shenmo was franchised in May 2021 and officially launched in September 2022.

Nationwide reach

Its beginnings were modest, with just four learners – Amutenya's nieces and nephews. From the outset, however, the goal was ambitious: to help children develop confidence in mathematics while strengthening their focus, memory and critical-thinking skills.

What began as a small family initiative has since developed into a nationwide programme reaching hundreds of learners.

“Our greatest milestone has been the growth of the programme and the number of children and families we have been able to reach,” Amutenya says.

As demand grew, Shenmo expanded beyond Windhoek to Ongwediva, Otjiwarongo, Rundu, Eenhana and Ondangwa. The organisation also began partnering with schools to incorporate Abacus Mental Math into extracurricular activities.

The expansion has changed the way the programme is delivered. Rather than relying solely on its own centres, Shenmo is increasingly empowering schools to offer the programme themselves.

“Our growth has also been organisational,” Amutenya says. “We have developed a team of trained instructors and administrative support, while establishing systems for instructor training, learner progression and programme delivery.”

For Amutenya, the impact is perhaps best reflected in the individual journeys of learners.

“One of our most meaningful success stories is that of one of our longest-serving learners, a boy who started the programme at a young age and is now in high school. Throughout his time with us, his mathematics performance has been exceptional,” she says.

For Shenmo, the ambition extends beyond improving mathematics marks. The organisation wants children to develop a positive relationship with numbers from an early age while building the cognitive skills they need to become confident, independent learners.