Developing students’ leadership skills
The Afrox Leadership Academy, an initiative of Afrox Namibia said it has committed itself to serve students’ needs in terms of developing their leadership skills despite Covid-19.
Currently in its third year of operation and waxing strong, what started as a dream has developed into a fully-fledged, value- adding, leadership development programme that is investing in the lives of young people from various regions, races, cultures and backgrounds, in Namibia. This initiative which was piloted with 16 Grade 10 learners has to date trained a total of 41 students.
The academy hosted their annual leadership training camp at Hodygos in Okahandja which was facilitated by the African Leadership Institute. The discourse centred around transformational issues such as; how to lead yourself and others, perseverance and endurance through tough times, realizing one’s full potential, and maintaining a healthy mind.
Delta School Windhoek’s Tanyaradzwa Master and Ama Geingos said the camp was astonishing and reignited a spark in them in what they thought had long died out. “We were made to realise how great our potential is as young leaders,” the duo expressed excitedly.
The same sentiments were echoed Eva-Rakel Johannes from Concordia College. “We created lifelong memories and acquired life-changing information.”
Managing Director of Afrox Namibia, Eckhardt Vorster said the programme aims to make a meaningful contribution to the national developmental goals by inspiring young people to take active leadership roles and make a difference in the communities in which they live.
“Despite the challenges posed by Covid- 19 to the socioeconomic fabric of our nation, Afrox Namibia took a bold stand to maintain the operation of the Afrox Leadership Academy. Although the lockdown presented an extended period of uncertainty for the ALA programme. We had to learn and imbibe a lot of patience and flexibility, understanding that mentorship and continuous development are key ingredients for the sustenance of the programme,” explained Vorster.
He said: “The investment into the development of leadership amongst our talented youth is important, and one we deem
necessary to make as a company. During hard times like this, it is even more important that we create and tell the credible news stories about ordinary Namibians doing extraordinary things and we believe the ALA can be the incubator for these stories.”
Vorster highlighted that due to all the uncertainty brought about by Covid-19, it is difficult to make any concrete projections regardingthemake-upoftheALA programme in the immediate future, but they still believe in the concept and they are convinced that the programme will carry on from strength to strength. This is reflected in the success stories emanating from previous participants of the ALA programme.