SWAN trust equips 86 Walvis Bay residents skills to earn a living

The SWAN Assembly Trust has equipped 86 Walvis Bay residents with practical skills in computer literacy, entrepreneurship, carpentry, needlework and environmental health and safety, opening up opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.

The graduates celebrated completing the skills development programmes at the SWAN Assembly Trust’s annual community graduation ceremony on Monday at the Immanuel Ruiters in Walvis Bay. The ceremony was attended by Erongo governor Nathalia /Goagoses.

The SWAN Assembly Trust, which stands for Supporting Orphans and Vulnerable Kids at School, is a non-profit initiative operated by staff members of Kuisebmond Secondary School in Walvis Bay.

Established in 2012, the initiative focuses on supporting learners from disadvantaged backgrounds through educational and financial assistance while also extending its work to the wider community through free annual skills development seminars.

With support from the Flamingo Group in Sweden, the trust provides opportunities for individuals to acquire practical skills and improve their prospects for self-reliance and economic independence.

The ceremony, hosted in collaboration with Kuisebmond Secondary School, recognised community members who completed practical training programmes of five weeks aimed at equipping residents with skills that can improve their livelihoods, promote self-reliance and create opportunities for economic participation.

Making dreams real

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Shilumbi Johannes thanked the organisers and partners for investing in their development and providing them with an opportunity to acquire valuable skills.

He said the training had brought participants closer to their aspirations while building their confidence to identify and pursue opportunities.

"By believing in us and investing in our future, you have provided us with invaluable skills, opened doors and brought us one step closer to our dreams," Johannes said.

He added that for some participants, the opportunity could mark the beginning of a life-changing journey, assuring the organisers that their generosity and commitment were not taken for granted.

/Goagoses, emphasised the need for educational institutions to place greater focus on practical skills development rather than producing graduates whose education is limited to theoretical knowledge and passing examinations.

She stressed that education should equip individuals with the ability to apply what they have learnt in real-life situations and contribute meaningfully to society.

"We believe that education should not be confined to formal classrooms or traditional academic qualifications. Learning should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, background or previous educational opportunities," /Goagoses said.

She highlighted that this year's community seminars covered five training areas: basic computer training, basic environmental health and safety, needlework, basic entrepreneurship and basic carpentry.

According to /Goagoses, the programmes were deliberately selected to address practical community needs while equipping participants with skills that can be applied in their everyday lives.

Make your mark

The governor challenged graduates not to regard their certificates as the end of their learning journey but rather as the beginning of new opportunities.

"Receiving a certificate is an achievement, but what you do with the knowledge and skills you have acquired is even more important," she said.

The governor encouraged graduates to put their newly acquired skills into practice, particularly by exploring self-employment and income-generating opportunities.

"The development of a nation does not depend solely on major investments or government initiatives. It also depends on the knowledge, abilities, creativity and productivity of its people," she said.

She also acknowledged the contribution of the Flamingo Group (Sweden), SWAN Assembly Trust, Kuisebmond Secondary School and the programme's facilitators, saying partnerships of this nature play an important role in expanding access to skills development opportunities.