Maltas Club reaches out

Ester Kamati

In conjunction with First National Bank (FNB) Namibia, the University Centre for Studies in Namibia (Tucsin) and Dinapama Manufacturing and Supplies, the Maltas Club embarked on a trip to Tsumkwe Secondary School from 25 until 28 July.

They offered not only academic support to the learners, but also social and emotional support, focus groups and one-on-one sessions. The Maltas Club has since 2013 established a relationship with pupils from Tsumkwe, specifically those in grades 10 and 12, through preparing them for their final examinations. Evidently, this relationship is growing.

Over 100 learners were tutored in various subjects including mathematics, geography, English and entrepreneurship by Maltas Club members and students from the University of Namibia (Unam) and the International University of Management (IUM) during the four days.

School principal Ben Kaumbungu expressed his gratitude to the Maltas Club for their efforts in reaching out and assisting the learners.

According to Maltas Club founder, Dr Wilfred April, most of the current grade 12 learners were coached when they were in grade 10 two years ago and have showed significant improvement since then.

The club undertook the initiative with three goals in mind: To reassure the learners that they can achieve even their wildest dreams, to ensure that they are confident enough with the curriculum to make a success of the examinations, and lastly, to instil self-confidence in them to enter the world of work and university and plough back into their community. Additionally, they intend to work with the learners for at least four weeks in 2020, to ensure that their grades are improved and maintained.

With the aim of the learners becoming changemakers, the Maltas Club facilitated a conversation in which the pupils were encouraged to speak about the changes that they would like to see at their school and in the Tsumkwe community as a whole.

Karu Njarakana, a member of the Maltas Club was impressed with the culture and way of living of the San, and even traded his Maltas gear for San leather at the end of an excursion that was undertaken by the team in the hope of gaining a better understanding of the community.