Welcome
The Ju/'hoansi Development Fund is a grassroots organization supporting the indigenous Ju/'hoansi (San) Bushmen in the Nyae Nyae Conservancy, Namibia. Our mission is empowering Ju/'hoan communities towards a sustainable future.
Promoting Education
Education offers the Ju/'hoansi Bushmen one of the most effective means to protect cultural traditions, allowing them to evolve their own culture without loosing the heart of it. The value and significance of education is not limited to inheriting culture, investment in education is the most effective way to enhance the socio-economic structure of San communities.
Ju/'hoan elders believe their children must combine formal education with cultural traditions to meet the challenges that surround them.
We have the ability to be doctors and lawyers.
Tsamkxao =Oma (Ju/'hoansi Traditional Councilor)
Supporting text books and learning materials
In October 2009 the Ju/'hoansi Development Fund delivered its first consignment of text books and learning materials to Tsumkwe Secondary School. In partnership with Gamsberg Macmillan and Longman Namibia, fund director David Bruce and partner Nicolette, delivered 200 text books, 600 exercise books, 600 pens, 20 boxes of photo copy paper and 2000 sticks of chalk to the school.
The shortage of text books and learning materials is widespread at schools in the Nyae Nyae region, particularly Tsumkwe Secondary School. Many teachers teach without text books and the ratio of learners to text books is far too high for effective learning to take place. The fund is committed to providing text books for all learners in the region.
School Support Program
The fund is undertaking an ambitious project in supporting the proposed development of Tsumkwe Secondary School, a rural hostel school with an enrollment of 700 learners, the majority of which are Ju/'hoansi, Khwe and Kung Bushmen. The school has a great need of many things, secure buildings, working toilets, mother tongue teachers and much more. It cannot be underestimated how the lack of basic education facilities at Tsumkwe Secondary School completely negates the learning process, creating a downward spiral with few opportunities for San learners to complete formal education.
Tertiary Education
The Ju/'hoansi Development Fund has successfully enrolled its first student in tertiary education. Calvin Kazibe, a Khwe San from Tsumkwe will begin teachers training at the Windhoek College of Education in January 2010. Calvin aims to become the first secondary San teacher in Namibia, and return to Tsumkwe Secondary School.
Tertiary education provides a critical link in producing teachers, nurses, health care workers and leadership skills to rural San communities. The fund has adopted a long term strategy in both identifying and supporting San students through senior secondary education, tertiary education and well into their chosen professions. It is imperative newly qualified professionals are supported in their field in order to provide a lasting influence within their chosen professions, supporting their local communities.
School books news
7th August, 2009:
For the school books 2010 action we collected £ 1961,-(about € 2250,- or R 25000,-) so far. Thank you for your donation!
7th October, 2009:
First delivery of text books arrived in Tsumkwe.
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