It’s all girl power!

JUSTISIA SHIPENA
Tabisa Ntebe

Monica Ndakolo (18), Sara Weyulu(17), Adelina Kakomwa(18), and Helena Kambongela (19) proved that a girl can do it all by winning the Bank of Namibia regional competition and put Duinesig on the map to remain with its title “Best in the west”.

The group won a N$1000 voucher from Waltons, second place was scooped by Kollin Foundation and they received a N$500 voucher from Waltons, while third place was awarded to Kuisebmond Secondary School and they won a N$250 voucher from Waltons.

As part of the bank of Namibia social responsibility, the bank hosts a national competition every two years. Schools from all over the country took part. The Bank of Namibia wishes to impart knowledge about financial literacy and the role of the bank in the Namibian economy. The girls were given a Bank of Namibia manual which consisted of the history of the bank, the organizational structure and the governance of the bank to study from.

The regional competition saw 11 schools from the Erongo region participating. The competition started off with each school entering a room where they were to be questioned. Each school was asked the same set of 10 questions and were asked not to disclose it with the other schools as they would forfeit their chances of winning. The schools were asked questions ranging from the first department in the bank to what types of cards can be found in Namibia.

The girls worked really hard, they studied during the holidays, put in extra hours in preparing for the competition with their mentor Mrs.Galant. She pushed the girls to be the best and go for the win and they did. Mrs. Gallant had taken a group years back to the competition and unfortunately they didn’t win.

“I knew the girls had potential to win when I selected them and they won “said Mrs. Galant. As their former class teacher she couldn’t explain how happy she was with the girls winning the competition. The foursome will be going up against regional winners from all the other 13 regions in Windhoek on the 24th of July 2019. “The girls can do it and we know that they will be victorious and they will prove that Duinesig is the best in the west”, said Mario Uri-knob while wishing the girls all the best in the upcoming competition.

The girls will be staying at the Windhoek Safari Hotel, for about a week whilst the competition is going on. All expenses regarding the competition will be paid by the Bank of Namibia. They will be staying at the hotel with all the other regional winners. “It will be my first time in a hotel, and to add to that it will also be my first time in Windhoek. However, I am looking forward to the experience and I hope we win,” said Helena. She further thanked Mrs Galant for motivating and supporting them throughout the journey.

The spoke person of the group, Monica Ndakolo said that at first they were anxious, but later became comfortable as the competition went on”. The girls were given an extra book to study from which is the annual report of the bank. The prizes for the national completion are first place received N$50 000, second place N$30 000, third place receives N$10 000 and the fourth prize is a printer for the school.