Omapitiro Weyuva: Himba Children

Metaha

These are some of the boys from the himba community who joined the Omapitiro wejuva class. Their vulnerability is different from most of the other children in the group.

Why are these children vulnerable?

The government established schools in the rural areas to encourage himbas to send their children to school. While in these schools, children remain in their traditional attires and are not required to pay school fees. The school career of many children ends at the forth year which is the last grade at these schools. The next year is in a formal school where fees need to be paid, toiletries and school wear need to be purchased.

Some parents are not sending their kids to school at all and when some of them are getting older, they decide to go to school by themselves.

The life in school is good until they start in the formal schools.

Most of them will hear the following comment from their parents: 'You decided to go to school on your own, then pay for yourself.'

On the other hand, there are some parents who can hardly afford to pay for school fees.

Some children find casual jobs to help them pay the fees or buy other necessities. Jobs are not always available and so they arrive at the Red Cross office.

For the past 4 years, school fees for almost 25 children were paid with the help of private individuals who made one time donations for the children. As for the donations already received, only next term's fees will be paid and nothing will be left for later terms.

Still hesitating to join the activities.

A committed participant of the Omapitiro weyuva class.

This young man is an orphan. Unfortunately there was no space in the hostel for him, so he is struggling to survive at a good Samaritan's house. The people who took him in are members of the community who didn't want to see him out on the street. He has no family to take him in or to help him go to school.

A letter of appreciation, written by four young men after they were paid for working in the garden. The money will go towards paying their school fees.