On a Friday afternoon, we visited the Physically Active Youth (P.A.Y) Programme. The aim was to acquaint ourselves with various projects and see how the centre is progressing, as it is supported by the Gondwana Care Trust through the MealForTwo and the Back-to-School Christmas Bag projects.
P.A.Y is a dynamic after-school centre that provides a nurturing learning environment for Namibian children and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. The programme caters to learners in grades 1-12 and children who are out-of-school.
P.A.Y is founded on three pillars:
Situated at the Windhoek Multi-Purpose Youth Resource Centre on Dr Leonard Auala Street in Katutura, we met the Programme Coordinator Josefina Endjala and the Administration Officer Justina Shikongo. Josefina introduced us to the rest of the team and showed us around. The programme is mainly targeted at learners from low-income settings based on merit and self-drive.
The children greeted us with bright, happy faces as they were having their hearty lunch in the common eating area before commencing various activities which included Homework, Robotics, Arts, Gaming, Sports, Reading, and Storytelling. The hard work and dedication of the P.A.Y team, especially the volunteers who have dedicated time to transfer their vast skills in coding, ICT, and sports to approximately 100 learners in the junior and senior programmes, stood out. Moreover, these learners are also taught to uphold a sense of discipline and responsibility, which are valuable in their personal lives and beyond.
The success of this programme is evident in their impact statistics, which enabled an agreement between P.A.Y and Windhoek International School (WIS), whereby P.A.Y selects two of their best students to attend school at WIS on a fully paid scholarship. The learners are also sent to participate in various national and international competitions under the P.A.Y banner.
Beyond educational and sports activities, P.A.Y is a safe space for these learners, where they are mentored and encouraged to always strive for the best.
If you wish to support the P.A.Y Programme, please reach out to them at info(at)paynamibia.org or call 081 286 7339.
Author: Aloisia Shigwedha
Photos: Ndinelao Shikemeni