Zadang Primary School is celebrating a major milestone by opening three new classrooms, thanks to a collaborative effort between MTC and the MVA Fund.
The school’s 31 students will now have a safer and more conducive learning environment. The new classrooms will support the school’s unique multi-grading teaching approach, combining Grades 1, 2, and 3.
In addition to the classrooms, the donation included 90 desks and chairs for students, as well as desks and chairs for teachers. Toiletry and school bags filled with essential stationery were also provided to enhance the learning experience.
In a speech delivered by the Kavango East Education Director, Mrs. Christine Shilima, on behalf of the Deputy Minister of Education, Faustina Caley, she stated, “These classrooms are more than just bricks and mortar; they are spaces where dreams will be nurtured, where knowledge will be shared, and where young minds will be shaped.” She added, “The true wealth of a nation is not its natural resources but in the capacity of its people to transform those resources into prosperity.”
Chief ExecuExecutivehe MVA Fund, Rosalia Martins Hausiku, highlighted the power of storytelling to foster empathy and support, saying, “Everyone has a story to tell, and it is through these stories that we learn what others need for us to support them.” She also underscored the importance of sustainable development in rural areas, noting, “There is no way we can sustain cities if we do not start with sustainable villages.”
Tim Ekandjo, Chief Human Capital, Corporate Affairs, and Marketing Officer at MTC, encouraged community outreach, stating, “We urge the community to inform the neighbouring farms about the school and its infrastructure…, for more children to attend school, which may eventually lead to the construction of a school hostel.” Ekandjo also highlighted the role of corporate partnerships in uplifting rural communities, adding, “Today, we see how a simple act of collaboration can change the future of our youth. We encourage more companies to join hands and contribute to the development of our nation, especially in areas that need it the most.”
Since its inception in 2019, the MTC Rural Schools Project has constructed 52 classrooms benefiting regions such as Kunene, Kavango West, Oshana, Otjozondjupa, Karas, Hardap, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Zambezi, and Kavango East. With a N$1.5 million investment in the block of classrooms at Zadang Primary School, MTC, and the MVA Fund continue their mission to bridge educational gaps in rural areas. The regions of Erongo, Khomas, Omaheke, and Omusati are next in line to benefit from this initiative.