Namibia is home to more than 38,000 San with 7 distinct languages.  They are the most disadvantaged group in Namibia in nearly all social and economic indicators including education - very few San children do well in the education system.   According to recent Namibian Ministry of Education estimates there were 7,000 San children enrolled in Namibian schools in 2008 – but that leaves an estimated 10,000 San children of a school going age who are not attending schools.

For those San children who do manage to enter schools the drop out rates are severe - on average only 1.8% of San learners enrolling in grade 1 make it through to senior secondary school.  This is 7 times lower than the Namibian average and consequently only a handful San make it to tertiary education.  Specific challenges include bullying, poverty, child labour, teenage pregnancy and language issues.

WIMSA’s education programme focuses on bringing together government, communities and other stakeholders to find solutions to San education problems.  One of our most essential tasks is providing the financial means for those few San students who qualify to enter tertiary education – at Windhoek College of Education, University of Namibia and Polytech.   We believe that these young San students represent and will help create a better future for the San as teachers, community workers, lawyers and nurses.

Increased numbers of San in tertiary education has a number of positive effects: for poverty it means more San in higher paid jobs; for San youth it means more role models in communities; for education it means more San teachers which is likely to reduce drop out rates; and employment in Government gives more San people access and understanding of Government services.

The Namibia Support Unit currently assists 16 full time students in Windhoek and Rundu.  Last year 7 WIMSA students qualified as teachers and are now teaching in San majority schools in Namibia.  We need N$200,000 (about US$23,000)  to cover sponsorship to support for all our current students in 2010 and assist the ones we were unable to help this year.

If you think it is crucial that those who can study have the financial means to do so then please consider a one off donation to our student programme, or think about sponsoring a student through their studies.  Contact Tharacky or Victoria at the WIMSA office for further details.