PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar)
In the heart of Namibia’s Otjozondjupa Region, some 30 km south of Otavi, rises a vision turned reality: Etunda Farm Primary School. Born from the foresight of Namibia’s founding president, Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, this institution stands not just as a school but as a testament to what leadership guided by purpose can achieve.
A vision beyond wealth
The land for the school was generously donated by President Nujoma, a gesture reflecting his unwavering commitment to the education of every Namibian child. This school was meant for the children of farm workers, for those whose potential had long been overlooked in rural landscapes, and for a community too often neglected.
Many have benefited from the richness of the farms, yet many still possess them today, but too often, these lands serve personal luxury rather than the nation’s collective interest. Against this backdrop, Etunda Farm Primary School shines as a symbol of selfless purpose, a place where resources are transformed into opportunity and where privilege is measured not by possession but by the good one creates for others.
Foundations of learning and care
Etunda Farm Primary School will serve Grades 1 through 7, providing a full primary education to children from surrounding communities. Its facilities – modern classrooms, boys’ and girls’ dormitories, teachers’ housing, a dining hall, kitchen, ablution, and recreational areas – have been designed to nurture not only minds but hearts. Adjacent to the school, a clinic ensures that learning and health walk hand in hand, cultivating a holistic environment for growth.
Progress forged by community
By mid-2024, construction had reached 70% completion, a mark of dedication by countless stakeholders over the years. Civil society, business partners, and international friends, including the Ambassador of China, have all contributed to bringing this vision to life. Yet even with these efforts, some facilities, like the hostel kitchen, still await completion, a reminder that every great vision requires continued commitment.
Handover and lasting impact
The school and its clinic will soon be handed over to the Namibian government, ensuring that these institutions serve generations to come. This handover is more than a ceremonial act; it is a pledge that hope, equity, and opportunity can endure.
A symbol for rural empowerment
Etunda Farm Primary School is a model for rural development. It demonstrates how strategic land donations, public-private partnerships, and community commitment can transform mere resources into instruments of national progress. In contrast to farms misused for private luxury, the school embodies a higher calling: turning wealth into knowledge, privilege into purpose, and land into a cradle for the nation’s future. Through this school, President Nujoma’s legacy continues to illuminate a path toward equity and empowerment. Etunda Farm Primary School is not only a building; it is a beacon of hope, a declaration that when vision meets action, even the most overlooked corners of a nation can flourish.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of our employers and this newspaper but solely our personal views as citizens and Pan-Africanists.
