Namdia Foundationfunds education

The Namdia Foundation has allocated N$2,8 million towards bursaries for its 2024 intake.

The foundation revealed this during a bursary recipient announcement in Windhoek yesterday.

Speaking at the event, chairperson Alisa Amupolo emphasised the rigorous selection criteria, stating that to ensure a fair and impartial assessment, the committee placed significant emphasis on key selection criteria.

“Academic performance carried the greatest weight, constituting 50% of the total score. Furthermore, attention was given to the economic background of applicants, with 20% weight assigned to individuals from previously disadvantaged or marginalised communities,” said Amupolo.

Preference was given to students pursuing studies in the diamond industry value chain, as a reflection of Namdia’s commitment to fostering growth and development in the sector, she added.

The bursary scheme was officially launched in August 2022 and with the announcement of inaugural recipients in January 2023, the foundation has now selected a second cohort of deserving candidates, each representing one of the 14 regions across the country.

Namdia board of directors chairperson Bryan Eiseb said when the foundation established the bursary scheme in 2022, the vision was to drive meaningful and sustainable change within society.

“Today, as we announce the class of 2024, we are already witnessing first-hand the realisation of this vision.

I am proud to announce that we have achieved an impressive 86% success rate, with 12 out of our 14 students showcasing outstanding academic performance,” said Eiseb.

Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises deputy executive director Louise Shixwameni encouraged the students to take up space in society and be relevant.

“A lot of young people are irrelevant, but you should strive to be relevant and make an impact in the community,” said Shixwameni.

To date, the foundation has channelled over N$41 million into diverse programmes and initiatives.