By:Annakleta Haikera
17-year-old Selma Makoke, the recipient of a bursary to study nursing that OK Foods in Rundu awarded on Saturday, encouraged all parents not to give up on their children because of their poor backgrounds, but to show them love and encourage them.
The event attracted many residents in the Rundu area who came to witness the gesture by the retail store which has a commitment to give back to the community of the Kavango East through education.
Makoke was a learner at the Matumbo Ribebe Secondary School and gained 38 points in her five AS subjects and 42 points in 6.
She told The Villager the gesture came as a surprise and that she felt overwhelmed.
“I never imagined that one day I will be sponsored by anyone but my hard work paid off. I want to encourage every girl child out there that let us put our books first and leave the rest to God to solve. Even if you are from a poor family somewhere, something will be made possible for you. I am so grateful that the ministry of education in the Kavango East gave me the privilege to be able to further my studies.”
The Kavango East regionale education director Fanuel Kapapero told The Villager that he welcomed the gesture from the OK Foods management, saying they were requested by the company to identify the best learner in the secondary schools for the bursary.
“She was not admitted to study nursing, but the Director of Education was again requested to engage the University of Namibia’s Rundu campus management for a possible space. In the end, Selma was given the opportunity to study nursing at the campus.”
OK Foods store manager Ana Paula Machado told The Villager that giving to vulnerable learners from poor backgrounds bursaries enable them to further their studies at higher institutes so they can support their families. The store is known for giving back to the local communities and schools in the two Kavango regions.
Machado also added that Makoke is not the only learner that was awarded a bursary.
“The first one we have given to has already completed her studies last year. My dream is to give to as many as I can but I am also a mother and the business is not doing so well after the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
Makoke’s mother Helena Kalengesa said she feel honoured that her daughter was selected for the bursary.”I want to thank them for their generosity which has allowed her to enter a higher institution of learning.”