• Youth

Beating the holiday blues

Tunohole Mungoba



The long-awaited school holidays are here, but if you are going to be at home most of the time, it could become one big bore.

So what are you and your friends going to do to entertain yourselves?

Here is a list of what you can do to keep busy:



Manicures and pedicures

Ann-Adeva Njambali (20) is a third year political science student, but she also juggles doing nails during her free time.

“My mother encouraged me to take a nail course because she thought it would be a good way for me to keep myself busy during my grade 12 holidays,” said Njambali.

“She wanted me to acquire a new skill and not be dependent only on my academics.”

Njambali recommends taking up a short course in nail care during the school holidays, as this she kept her busy most of the time. “Everyone should use holidays as a chance to find something interesting they can do. Register for short courses and programmes to enhance your innovation and entrepreneurship.”

Njambali said doing nails has not only helped her maintain herself and seen to small financial needs, but it has also improved her communication skills and customer service.

“I am now more artistic and business savvy because of the practicality of doing something such as nails. I have learned how to market myself and my small business. I now know how to do administration and improved my previously non-existent bookkeeping skills. I have most importantly learned to engage with people from all backgrounds and age groups.”



Start a book exchange club with friends

Silvy Diergaardt, 20, has always enjoyed reading since primary school. “My close family members mostly just read, so to keep myself from interrupting their precious reading time, I had no choice but to join them.”

Diergaardt said that reading transports you to a world of make-believe and takes you away from the boredom and routine imprisonment of everyday life.

“They say that the five people you spend most of your time with are the people you become. So why not spend your time with great writers and characters from books that you aspire to be?”

Although Diergaardt never formed or was part of a book exchange club, she encourages young people to take up this task.

“Get a similar book to read, and dissect your choice of reading material. Gather your thoughts, opinions and discuss it with your book club members,” she said.

“It is a great way of meeting people that have the same interests as you and contributes to a very thought-provoking and enriching social experience.”

Participate in amateur photography

Library and archives graduate and librarian, Isdor Kamati, advises aspiring photographers to master the skill of lighting. “Once you master that, everything else become less simple. One last skill, is the skill to accept criticism. This is very important because it helps you grow as a photographer.”

Kamati is inspired to tell stories through photographs. “If you own a smartphone, start taking pictures with it and as your passion or skill grows stronger; look up new techniques on YouTube on how to improve your skills. It really does not matter what camera you use to take photos, be it a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera or phone camera. The way you use it will determine the results you get,” he explained.

“Work around it until you are able to afford a proper camera. And always, practice, practice and practice, because it is an art and that how you can perfect any art.”



Review Namibian products on YouTube

Nust student Angy Uumati has started her own YouTube channel. She created her channel last year and it has become something she enjoys doing. “I started posting different comical videos on Instagram when I was bored and people enjoyed them, so I thought I would try my hand on YouTube,” she explained.

“I enjoy recording these videos as it so much fun. There is a lot that you can do solo, like giving advice or some videos can be shot with family and friends, such as challenges, tags and even pranks,” she explained.

Uumati decided to switch up things a bit and try something different like reviewing Namibian products. “Not only did I think it would be fun to experiment with, but I figured we have so many Namibian products that people do not know about or are scared to try, so maybe if people saw a review they would be more keen on trying it as well.” She asks her subscribers and viewers to suggest any products for her try and gives them a shot. Her YouTube channel also celebrates and appreciates Namibian culture.



Learning German as a new language

If you are in Windhoek, you can register for the special German language course for young children from 7 to 18 May at the Goethe-Institut.

“Children can register on 2 May at the institution. We offer beginner and intermediate levels at our institution during the entire school holidays,” said Julia Perestrelo, deputy director and the head of language at the institution.“The classes start at 8:30 until 13:00, with breaks in between. The course is aiming to target everyone, being German-speaking children or those who interested in learning it as an extra language,” she said.

“In the morning, we will have school sessions, whereby we teach and educate the children on the German language. During the afternoons, we shall go on different excursions to nearby places like parliament and museums and provide more insight on the German culture,” she explained. According to Perestrelo, German is an important language to know if you are part of the African continent. “In Western Africa, I would suggest you learn French. In tourism or business, we have about 100 000 Germans coming to visit us, because we are a favourable country,” she said. This will be the first German holiday classes and Perestrelo said the course will be very informative and fun at the same time. “We have small classes for personalised learning, which include textbooks and access to a multimedia library and the internet,” she said. Full payment for the classes is

N$2 500.



Baking from the heart

Michelle Zatha Shipatuleni (26) has been baking for a while and says it has been her greatest source of income.

“Especially when people really love what you put out there, your work will be truly appreciated and you will have so much fun during the entire process,” she said. She started off with experimenting and over time she perfected her art.

She enjoys trying new things, as the baking she experienced in the country did not wow her.

“I have learned so much about business, marketing and using social media to put your work out there. I would advise young people to try and take it up as a skill.

If you are free, rather focus on doing something that you know will help you in future and that you know will be your greatest advantage,” she said.

Shipatuleni says baking takes up most of her time and that spending time on social media is not a good idea, as it does not grow you as a person. “Baking is almost like information technology (IT).

“The creativity and ideas never stop. There is something that is always added to the skill. You will never, ever stop learning.”