Girls have the right to say NO

Introduction

It has been a great three months since our last report in September 2022. Our journey on the GlobalGiving platform taught us a lot of experiences especially “How to fundraise online.” Our participation in the September #LittleByLittle campaign brought us one local donor from Namibia. Although it was not much in monetary value we got but we gain so much in experience and exposure. Our participation in the #MoveAMillion campaign on #GivingTuesday was also not so successful because we could not raise any funds during the campaign. However, we noticed that more and more visitors ‘peep’ into our project page and that is so exciting for us. A big thank you go to our first online donor and those visiting our project page.

Project Activities

Our project activities started off in two Primary Schools and three Senior Secondary Schools in two different towns - Rehoboth and Mariental. At the two Primary Schools about 140 learners enrolled and at the three Senior Secondary Schools about 80 learners enrolled with the clubs.

 At two of the three senior secondary schools we did our baseline survey and hope to complete the same survey early next year (2023) with participants of the third school who already started with activities. We also planned to expand operational activities next year to five more schools and simultaneously do the baseline survey at the newly identified schools.                                                               

Rise 2 Shine Project was honored to be part of the Prevention of Early and Unintended Pregnancy Campaign hosted by the Hardap Regional Directorate of Education, Arts and Culture’s HIV and AIDS Health and Wellness Department. Miss. Namibia 2022 graced us with her presence and she also delivered the keynote address during the proceedings. She stressed the importance ‘to take charge of one’s life in order to prevent falling prey to early unintended pregnancies.’ She also motivated the learners to talk with someone when someone else is trying to persuade them into sexual activities.

About 150 learners from different schools started the event with a march through Mariental to raise awareness against early and unintended pregnancies. All three Rise 2 Shine clubs in Mariental took part in the campaign and Rise 2 Shine members of the two high schools addressed the audience as well.

Challenges

 As mentioned in our previous report, we still experience some challenges to keep learners behind after school for program activities. Hunger pose a real challenge to keep and retain learners in program activities and we so hope to overcome this challenge in the New Year. We once again plea with goodwill Samaritans to support us in this regard.

 A second challenge we experience is a usual one when it comes to examination time. Some learners feel that they cannot spend time at the club when it is examination time. Although we try hard every time to convince learners it is for their best will to visit the clubs for that one hour weekly even during examination time, clubs ended up with 5 to 8 participants weekly. Seems like learners do not understand ‘constructive relaxation’ and ‘positive mindset’ because during examination time we want to prepare them emotionally, spiritually and intellectually to have the right mindset to approach their examinations. We identified this as a challenge to address early next year to find the right approach to convince learners on the importance of attending the clubs even during examination time.

Conclusion

The schools closed for December holidays on the 6 December 2022 and will only resume on the 12 January 2023. Thus we also closed down activities for the holidays and will only resume activities by the 23 January 2023. We stay positive that the New Year will bring some good news for our Project financially so that we can spearhead our implementation of program activities.

Introduction

Rise 2 Shine Project started this process with GlobalGiving early in 2022. Not knowing where this will lead us.The whole proces was and is still a learningfull proces for us and we were all exited embarking on this new venture. 

We launched our project in May 2022 whithout knowing where it will take us without any funding. We need to say it was a joyous event and we wish to thank our local sponsors for the event. 

"As a teen life was not easy coming with all challenges and us trying to experience all trends, but once again Rise 2 Shine has taught me to be the change I wish to see and that I was born to stand out.

Rise 2 Shine has taught me a lot, starting from finding myself , respecting myself and everyone around me,gaining self confidence and just doing everything to the best of my ability...Rise to Shine has also taught me to let my light shine wherever I go...

If it wasnt for Rise 2 Shine, I wouldnt have been who I am today" a young lady who started in 2007 with the project as a 14 year old, now 27 years eluted during the launching event.

With the official permission of the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture to work in the 61 public schools in the Hardap Region Namibia, we started to mobilize young people at our10  targeted schools for 2022 and 2023. With the dedication of peer educators we managed to start with activites at three schools within two to three weeks. At primary School level learners are eager to participate in the club activities. However, at High School level our peer edducators face some challenges to get learners involve every week. One of the challenges is learners do not want to stay after school for another hour because they are hungry.  In most cases learners stay far from school and when they go home they are not eager to come back to school for after school activities. In this regard we hope to raise funds soonest to provide some refreshments to learners to motivate them to attend the club sessions after school.

We want to thank everybody at GlobalGiving who helped us to succeed in our application to be Vetted as an elligible project to raise funds on this platform. We also in advance want to thank donors for taking time out, search for our project and who are willing to support our noble task. We looking forward to establish healthy and long lasting relationships with people/donors who wants to see young people not only stay in school, but also succeed and finish basic school careers, and ultimately become productive, healthy citizens in Namibia.

End of report.