A promise for the visually impaired

Building plans for new school in Swakopmund
A new school for the visually impaired is set to be built in Swakopmund by The Promiseland Trust, a non-profit organisation.
Jeanette Diergaardt
Non-profit organisation The Promiseland Trust announced that a new school for the visually impaired is set to be built in Swakopmund. The facilities will cater for the needs of the visually impaired at the coast, Michelle Wilson, one of the trustees at the organisation, said.

“We believe we will be fulfilling a gap in the coast,” she added. The school will be funded by a family trust, but the members wish to remain anonymous.

Initially, only a basic level of education will be provided. Schooling will be provided free of charge to parents who cannot afford tuition, once sufficient proof has been provided, Wilson explained.

For the initial stages, the school is looking to start with two pre-primary classes with five learners in each class. Depending on the community's need, the school will expand accordingly, she said.

"The school syllabus will be developed in accordance with the Pioneer School in Worcester, South Africa. The syllabus will also be updated to suit the Namibian landscape."

While the school building has yet to be approved by the ministry of education, arts and culture, the land has already been procured through approval by the Swakopmund municipality. The school's daily operations will be through a division of an existing private school, Wilson said.

Promiseland was founded in 2009 in Walvis Bay. The initiative was initially a feeding programme where homeless children received meals on a daily basis. The organisation's work was supported by the community, local businesses and sponsorships that assisted the establishment of the Promiseland centre. Its work today still involves the feeding programme, which has been expanded to cater to children in schools as well.

Another project was established in 2012 to keep children of the streets and has since expanded. In addition to this project, the organisation has also established a foster care system that employs one guardian who takes in two children at a time. Promiseland provides a house for the children and guardian to stay in as well as clothing, groceries and education.

For more information on the school for the viisually impaired, call 081 297 8312 or 081 128 0119.