Influential youth of 2020
Numerous, memorable activities took place this year with Namibian youths at the forefront – be it from an influential point of view, certain movements that gained prominence and momentum – and overall, young Namibians taking space in making a difference in people’s lives. Youth Corner reflected on some of these individuals and activities that some would say shook the country.
#ShutItAllDown
Although the series of protests were faceless, youth leader Bertha Tobias (BT) is one of the many young women who took part in the #ShutItAllDown protest to rally against sexual and gender-based violence in society.
The protests were carried out by youths all over the country, including the coastal towns of Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Kuisebmund. Other notable places were Ongwediva and the capital.
Asked why the private sector was targeted, Tobias said demands expected from the sector include immediate agreements between sector players and police to fund and enhance the capacity of security apparatus to have 24/7 armed patrols, review of sexual harassment and assault policies in all businesses to enhance the ability first, survivors to report incidents without fear and silencing – and secondly, for perpetrators to face appropriate repercussions for acts of sexual assault and harassment.
“The private sector is expected to review HR policies to disallow any employee from having sexual relations with any subordinate employee, prioritisation of gender and SGBV sensitivity training workshops in all businesses. Prioritise annual budget allocations to fight against SGBV in workplaces both internally, and with outside anti-SGBV civil society organisations and/or government,” she stated.
SGBV gained momentum in the country to a point where protesters called on gender minister Doreen Sioka to resign for her alleged lack of competence in running the ministry in a willy-nilly way, saying women who withdraw genderbased violence-related cases should be jailed.
Nanso
The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) launched a food aid programme for destitute students, learners and child-headed households to curb the burden of Covid-19 that has ravaged not only Namibia but the world.
“Nanso has noted that learners from vulnerable and childheaded homes who, in normal circumstances, relied on school feeding programmes that are left with barely much to consume due to the closure of schools,” said Dylan Mukoroli, Nanso’s chairperson.
The acting secretary general of Nanso, Patience Masua, assured the process of making sure the food parcels reach the right beneficiaries were thoroughly thought and extra measures were taken into consideration to ensure that people don’t receive duplicates.
“We will personally be delivering these parcels to the students and we will be distributing them according to the data we have collected. We have made sure that these current students haven’t been recipients of any other food donation programmes,” assured Masua.
Nanso’s president Simon Taapopi said they mobilised the business community, including members of the organisation’s different branches and procured the food items.
“We have several students who are heading these houses because there is no parental guidance at home. We feel they might have been overlooked by other programmes that are officiated by the government or other non- governmental organisations (NGOs), as most of them are focusing on households – and in the process, they might have been neglecting the child-headed households,” believed Taapopi.