Lose your innocence without losing your virginity

Dealing with teenage pregnancies needs a multi-sectorial approach since the causes are multi-faceted. One of the underlying factors related to teenage pregnancy is poverty. Poverty has been described as the cumulative effect of a number of “social shortfalls,” that include inadequate education and housing, unemployment, poor working conditions and a lack of political voice. Poverty does not only affect the physical and mental aspects of an individual but it also limit personal choices and motivation for change (Raphael, 2002). Living in poverty leads to abuse, increased stress and anxiety. Poverty leads a father to sell his daughter’s virginity for a cup of alcohol.

A sense of personal worth, hope and a feeling of having control over one’s life, are important aspects for positive living. This can only be accomplished when people are informed and are equipped with the right information to make informed decisions in life. In Ohangwena, a region of more than 245,446 people only 38,342 people are formally employed and 86% are living below the poverty line (National Planning Commission, 2015). Majority of the unemployed are women who have no choice but to sell their bodies to gain a living. We thank the government for old age pensions because older women gain income through it. If it were not of that, one wonders how they were going to survive.

Therefore, sending a child to school or providing him/her with information is the only way of eradicating poverty now and for the generations to come. It is not a secret that those who are more privileged benefit from societal support and resources, just as those who are disadvantaged suffer from lack of support and resources. The community in which one grows up plays an important role in one’s success or failure. It is this realization that lead Namibia Library and Archives Services (NLAS) through the support of the Millennium Challenge Account – Namibia to build state a of the art library at Helao Nafid in Ohangwena.

The library is playing a very important role in the lives of young people. It serves as a regional information hub to empower the community members.  A realistic approach to pregnancy prevention recognizes the complexity of personal, social, and cultural issues that affect youth. Combining programs that provide information services and skills is what the library is doing as a way of rescuing our children from the jaws of the lion ‘poverty’. We know very well that when one does not have something to do, they can do anything including sex as a time killer. We always have something constructive for our library users. In May 2015 we started a program of training women with advanced computer skills. These skills will not only empower women to look for jobs but also to start their own businesses. Girls in Ohangwena we urge you to come in numbers to the library where you will lose your innocence (gain information) without losing your virginity.

If anyone is writing a thesis and would want someone to type it for him/her we have ladies in Ohangwena who can do it for you.

The World of Work

           

           

                  The purview of the Ohangwena Regional Resource Center is to facilitate the growth of the young people in our community. A very important way to meet this imperative is by anticipating the future needs of students, and giving them the skills they will need to enter the professional world of work. Students nearing the end of their time in high school will soon leave the comfortable cloister of their familiar surroundings. Unless they are fortunate enough to proceed to university, they must now seek jobs and gainful employment. At first this daunting prospect can make young people feel like a small fish in a large ocean. The subjects studied in school may seem remote from the skills necessary to secure a job.

           To meet this need, the Business Desk of the Ohangwena Resource Center has recently undertaken a series of workshops teaching career skills to students from across the region. Each day for a week, a large groups of approximately 60 older learners received training on the cardinal aspects of their upcoming job search. Even those out of school for some time can need instruction on ways to build career skills, so the final day of the workshop was designated for older learners from the community. Taught by the four Business Librarians, the learners were first taught on how to approach the task of searching for and securing a job. It is imperative that they do a critical self assessment; to think of what skills they have and what where their strengths lie, because this will allow them to hone-in on the field where they will gain the greatest satisfaction. The skills for working as a manager are very different from those needed for working in a bank. Next, they must learn as much as they can about the type of career they want to follow; the highs and lows, the potential for advancement, and of of course different businesses where they can find jobs in that field.

           Once they have determined where they would like to work, the job seeker must then create the two most important documents to help them accede to employment. The workshop took every pain to teach the learners how to write an exemplary CV and cover letter. Special emphasis was given to the idea that both documents are to be thought of as representations of the author, used by employers to judge job applicants before they are met in person. Therefore it is necessary to craft a superb CV to relate one's skills, professional history and how cumulative work experience has made them prepared for the job. The learners were shown how an effective cover letter can convey why they want a position, and how they can articulate their aptitudes to make employers realize that they are a candidate worthy of consideration. Both pieces can be used to demonstrate one's written communication skills, and serious interest in the job in question.

            The last critical piece of the puzzle learners were taught was how to have a successful job interview. You only get one first impression, and a poor interview can eliminate any chance of getting the job you desire. Preparation and practice are vital for any successful interview. The workshop participants were told pointers on how to dress for success and appear presentable in a work environment. The most common and deceptively simple question an interview might ask were covered, such as “tell me about yourself?,” “why do you want to work here?,” and ”what are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?” Most of all, the importance of being professional and confident were stressed. Nothing can kill an interview like shyness or being lackadaisical. Also the strategy of asking insightful question to the interview were covered, and why the interviewee is interviewing the employer as much as the inverse.     

          Armed with this impressive set of knowledge, the learners and job seekers who attended the workshop are well equipped to pursue their professional passions. A vital closing lesson was imparted: nobody said a job search would be easy. There will be highs and lows on the road to a gratifying career, but despite the adversity and setbacks, perseverance and dedication are necessary to achieve success.

           

Awarding Academic Achievement in Ohangwena

            Extraordinary academic achievement deserves to be rewarded and recognized by the community. Last Friday, hundreds of teachers, administrators and students from across Ohangwena Region had the pleasure of gathering at the Dr. Abraham Iiyambo Senior Secondary School for the 2014 Academic Year Awards Ceremony. Entering the campus, there was a palpable air of excitement and mirth as visiting dignitaries from across the region arrived and old friends saw each other again. The school's boys and girls choir welcomed everyone with traditional songs and brought up everyone's energy. Befitting the occasion, the school had set up four massive tents around a large green field to make the gathered guests comfortable and shade us a from the beating sun. Music played over loudspeakers and everyone knew this was a day to celebrate all of the progress over the past year.

            When the program began, everyone stood to say a prayer and to sing the Namibian national anthem and the anthem of the African Union. The feelings of pride and achievement which the day's ceremony was to honor could be felt in the enthusiastic singing of all those assembled. We heard speeches espousing the supreme importance of education and the role of the schools in their communities across Ohangwena Region. But the most moving speech was given by the invited motivational speaker. She had grown up in very adverse circumstances in a remote village, facing great challenges as she grew up and had to work extremely hard to support her family and continue her education. But through perseverance she was able to gain a quality education and went on to great successes in life because of her sedulous persistence in pursuing her dreams. When she finished, all of the teachers and students cheered, knowing that her words were a true testament of what is possible. Each young person was given a true example before their very eyes of someone who has achieved success despite great odds, and they knew they could do the same.

            After the speeches, it was time to give the coveted awards, awards that represented a year of hard work on the part of everyone in Ohangwena Regions's education system. Recognizing that life at school is a holistic experience, there were awards for the Best Hostel, the Best Counseling and Support Services, and the Best HIV and AIDS Activities. But the most important awards were those recognizing academic achievement and improvement. The top teachers in every subject were given certificates recognizing their achievement, receiving cash prizes, books, and even electronic tablets. Some even had percentages of 100% which elicited huge cheers from the audience. Those learners who had earned exemplary grades were honored in front of their peers with certificates, school supplies, and scholarships, with many of the top learners coming from the H.Haufiku SS, Mwadikange KSS, Ponhofi SS, Ongha SS, and Eegendjo SS, among other schools. Understanding that improvement over time is as honorable an achievement as consistent high performance, there was an award for the Most Improved School, Oshandi CS, and the Most Sustained Improvement, Oshamono CS. Throughout the ceremony teachers and students cheered and applauded their peers and colleagues who were called up to the podium to receive their awards in public recognition of their hard work. The ceremony was a very visible affirmation that perseverance and determination in school pays off and that the most important kinds of success is honored in the best kind of way. Most of all it was a hugely encouraging day for all of those who tried but were not able to reach the highest levels of academic achievement. They saw that with hard work they too can succeed and reach great heights.  

          As professional librarians, the staff of the Ohangwena Regional Library is thrilled at the dramatic strides forward taken by the schools, teachers, and pupils of our region. But we know that such successes must be sustained and further growth enabled. Earlier in the year, the library was very proud to host a Read-A-Thon to encourage pleasure reading in young people. Schools which excelled in Read-A-Thon activities were Mirjam Shihepo P and Hamutenya PS of the Eenhana circuit, and they were publicly applauded and honored at the Award Ceremony. This recognition is a positive initial step, but we envision so much more. Next year we intend to see entire new award categories created: for the Best Community Library within Ohangwena, the Best Community Librarian, and perhaps most importantly, Best School Library and Best School Librarian. Also, learners and adult patrons who most fully utilize the libraries should be praised and rewarded for their alacrity to seize the opportunities around them. The librarians across Ohangwena play a critical role in promoting education for adult and young learners, and their hard work should be publicly recognized and their contributions promulgated to build an increased appreciation for school and community libraries, librarians, and their place in the educational constellation.       

English Classes For Everyone

          

          The Ohangwena Regional Library and Resource Center is responsible for catering to the academic and research needs of the people of the entire community where we call home. Adults come to make use of our collection and the free internet, and many educational workshops and business conferences are held in the assembly halls. But the most important demographic we serve are the young boys and girls of Ohangwena. It is our goal to introduce the young students of our community to the world at their fingertips. The local schools provide the bedrock of their academic growth, but it is our purpose and passion to take their development to the next level. In order to do this most efficiently, while advancing their scholastic proficiency across the board, the Library is now partnering with local schools to offer targeted classes in English language and test preparation. English is the medium of instruction in all local schools for all classes, and in order to comprehend and succeed in all of their subjects it is vital for students to be proficient in the language. Beyond school, those who can communicate effectively in English will enjoy vastly expanded career opportunities and greater functional ability in an increasingly international and interconnected world. This makes it all the more important to positively engage, encourage and educate students in English at a young age.

           Embracing this objective, twice a week learners come to the library for free English and test prep classes. While the students of the local Ponhofi School are the primary attendees of the classes given their proximity, the classes are open to the public and any community members are welcome to attend. Thus far the classes ave primarily focussed on preparing the learners for the important tests they will have to take at the end of the 10^th and 12^th grades. These tests are critical for the learners and determine their advancement forward to higher levels of education. Unfortunately in recent years the performance of local learners has been poor, primarily because of their struggles to master and understand English. The challenge in addressing this problem is two-fold. First students must have a solid grasp of the English language, and this is primarily the responsibility of their teachers. But secondly, the test is like any other monolithic examination, in that to succeed one must also know the ways to approach the test questions, the tips and tricks to understanding what the examiners are asking, and how to answer the questions in the most thorough manner. This is the objective of the test preparation classes. Using the exams from previous years as the basis for the class, each style of question the learners will face at the end of this academic year is explored and analyzed in depth. Examples are done together as a class so that when they sit down on exam day they will have no surprises and will feel confident. As the classes have progressed, the learners have begun to grasp the methods for approaching and besting the seemingly daunting exam. It is very encouraging to witness their growing enthusiasm and confidence, feeling that will only grow the more we practice together. The classes are currently running and will continue to be offered until it is time for the learners to take the test.

         Classes are held on Tuesday and Wednesday, from 2:30-3:30 focussing on the grade 10 exam, and from 4:00-5:00 focussing on the grade 12 exam. There is no registration necessary to attend the classes, they are open to the public and everyone is welcome to join.

 

Assisting school libraries across Ohangwena.

         

Meaningful education cannot happen in a vacuum. Libraries and schools that work together to share their knowledge, expertise and resources between teachers and librarians will be able to reap the benefits of the aggregate's collective experience. While the Ohangwena Regional Library is the flagship resource center of the region, it is by no means the only educational institution and seeks to work in concert with the numerous school and small community libraries across the area. Our imperative is to help build the capacity of these fellow institutions so as to empower the teachers and help give the learners access to quality education resources. This mission is an integral part of the Regional Library's charter and on our staff is a dedicated Schools Librarian, who's sole purview is to work with the librarians of local schools.

          Over the past few weeks she and several colleagues have gone out each day to every corner of Ohangwena region, meeting with principals, and school and community librarians. When the team arrives at a school, the first step is to meet with the staff, to learn about the state of their library and to what extent the available resources are used in the classes to support the curriculum. Next, the sleeves get rolled up and the library is assessed, reorganized, old books are cleaned out, and an updated book catalogue is made. Many school libraries suffer from the lack of a full time a librarian, and when multiple teachers share the work, the diffusion of responsibility can lead to no one taking charge of the library and the resources gong unused. Also many of the smaller school libraries suffer from large gaps in their collection, making the library only useful to some subject teachers, but not others. It is our responsibility as professional full-time librarians to help bring these libraries up to their full potential and instruct the school's faculty on how to fully utilize the resources at their fingertips. We come prepared with a projector and screen to deliver a workshop to teachers on ways to incorporate the books into the curriculum, effectively manage the school library, and encourage their students to take up pleasure reading. The response has been very positive and the teachers are highly appreciative; with a better understanding of the their own libraries, they know they can make their classes more dynamic and engaging for their learners. Over the coming months we hope to continue this rewarding endeavor, reaching out to schools to improve the quality of the education across Ohangwena.    

Welcome to the Ohangwena Regional Library

"If you want to plan for 1 year, plant rice. If you want to plan for 10 years, plant trees. If you want to plan for 100 years, educate children" - Confucius. 

          This ethos has been taken to heart in Namibia. 25 years after becoming an independent nation and emerging from the shadow of decades of South African rule, Namibia has steadily grown, but there are many challenges still ahead. As this nation recognizes the supreme importance of education in lifting its people up and setting the foundations for a meaningful future, huge portions of the government's budget have been allocated for schools and educational resources. To compliment and support this endeavor, The Millennium Challenge Account Namibia has partnered with The Ministry of Education and the Namibia Library and Archives Service. Together they have created three of the brightest new stars in the constellation of Namibia's educational resources: three massive regional libraries and resource centers. Inaugurated in November of 2014, these facilities are located in Gobabis, Oshakati and Helao Nafidi. Empowered with these incredible new tools, the librarians and educators of Namibia have the means to chart their own course forward and offer vastly expanded opportunities for the learners in their communities.    

          I have the distinct pleasure of serving as a librarian at the Ohangwena Regional Library and Resource Center in Helao Nafidi. When I first came to work at the center, I was struck by its two immediately recognizable and remarkable assets. Entering through the main door past the trellises of ivy, visitors are instantly aware they are in a top-tier educational institution. The library consists of two main floors connected by a gracefully curving ramp that creates a spacious open environment. Both levels house the library's collection of thousands of book on all topics; literature for all ages, an extensive reference section, applied sciences and academic textbooks, and everything in between. One can get lost for hours wandering through the stacks perusing titles. The three Namibian national newspapers are always available, as well as a range of popular magazines and periodicals. Gracious furniture and work tables make it easy to spend the day lost in a compelling book, and massive windows create a welcoming bright atmosphere. Fast wireless internet means the world is at your fingertips, and 20 free public computers make technology accessible to everyone. Young students make use of the quiet study halls, and AV equipped conference rooms host community functions. The ICT center's trained staff offers free computer training classes to adult learners. Perhaps the Resource Center's most heartening feature is the extensive children's library, with 16 computers, books and games for all young ages, educational video games, and a large outdoor play yard. The library's air conditioning also offers a welcome respite from the heat of northern Namibia, powered in part by the massive solar panels covering the roof. Being in only its fourth month of operation, the Regional Library will only continue to grow from its auspicious beginning and build the resources it can offer to the public.         

        While the facilities of the library are highly impressive, the center's most valuable asset is unquestionably its staff. The 23 full time professional librarians and ICT technicians are what turns the facility from an edifice of concrete, glass and steel, into an dynamic institution, humming with potential energy. Behind the main circulation desk 4 librarians monitor the in and outflow of materials and guide patrons. The business center's staff facilitate the needs and provides direction for the energies of young entrepreneurs. For those beginning to learn how to use computers, the ICT staff are always there to assist. Three dedicated children's librarians work with dozens of young learners every day, fostering a love of learning and reading. For older students, there is a librarian solely to help with homework and school projects. No matter a guest's needs, there is a librarian to support and assist them. There is even a designated schools librarian, who helps build the capacity of school libraries within the region. All of the staff share the conviction that the Resource Center is an incredible new asset for the community offering tremendous opportunities, to be grown and shared. From my first day working with the team, I knew I was very fortunate to have colleagues who feel not that they have to go to work, but that they get to come to the library each day. From this early stage, it is very encouraging and exciting to imagine and work towards future goals and possibilities.