Renthia Kaimbi
Tutaleni Primary School principal, Neville Visagie, walked 35 kilometres from Swakopmund to Walvis Bay over the weekend to raise funds to improve the school’s feeding programme.
His goal is to make sure every learner receives not just food, but nutritious meals that support their learning.
Visagie said while the government provides basic food items like maize meal and bread for underprivileged learners, he wants to expand the menu and improve the school kitchen.
“The main reason is to upgrade the menu so that once a week, we divert from the maize and bread,” he said. “Like tomorrow (today), I already got a voucher from one of our sponsors and will feed them rice and mince, which they never had at the school.”
He said the fundraising walk was not a one time event but the start of an annual campaign to ensure long-term support for the feeding programme.
“Getting a N$10 000 now doesn’t solve the problem. It’s supposed to be a continuous thing,” Visagie said.
The principal has already received backing from several companies, including Manica, which pledged N$30 000 over a six-month period, and Carlo’s Shuttle, which pledged N$24 000 over a similar period. Parents of the beneficiaries raised N$20 000 through N$20 contributions, whereas Namport committed to a once off N$15 000.
Other donations and pledges range between N$1 000 and N$5 000.
He said while any donation is welcome, consistent sponsorships are key to keeping the programme running.
Tutaleni Primary also benefits from a vegetable garden located on the school grounds.
The garden, managed by a local feeding initiative with the school’s permission, supplies fresh produce for the meals.
“There is a school garden. The vegetables that are produced there are going straight to the soup kitchen, and our learners, plus other kids, are benefiting from the garden. They are running the garden on our premises with our permission,” Visagie said.
The school has around 1 680 learners, with about a quarter officially registered under the feeding scheme.
However, Visagie noted that the number of children attending meals fluctuates based on the type of food offered.
“You see, even those learners who are not recorded to benefit in terms of data, they also benefit. On days we serve bread with the fish spread, you’ll find a child with a lunch box queueing up, as compared to days when we serve porridge,” he said.
Beyond feeding learners, the school also operates a clothing bank that collects uniforms, shoes and toiletries for pupils in need.
Visagie said he plans to continue using creative ways to raise funds and awareness for the feeding programme, showing that improving children’s wellbeing starts with ensuring they have proper meals each day.
