The Bunya Combined School in the Kapako Constituency has always struggled with basic necessities.

That was until the Rossing Foundation paid the school a visit to donate some much-needed items. 

The Bunya Combined School started off as a Catholic mission school 94 years ago.

Even back then, the school always had shortages in terms of teaching materials. 

Its principal, Kotokeni Willem, says that despite the many challenges, learning still takes first priority. 

"For the last seven years, the school had no water and completely relied on the community borehole, but recently, the ministry drilled a borehole with the installation of a water pump. The pressure is not good. It's not even able to reach the toilet of the admin in the restroom facilities. On top of that, we have challenges with toilets, the one we're using, pit latrines, which are not actually user-friendly. But we are sticking to what we have."

The Rossing Foundation has now pledged to upgrade the borehole. 

"We have also committed to supporting the completion of your classrooms as well as your gardening inputs. We are also committed to addressing the pressing water needs of the school," says Uparura Kuvare, the Executive Director of the Rossing Foundation.

Edward Likuwa, the acting director of education in the Kavango West, says, "Clean water and access to water are fundamental human rights, and knowing that we will have a consistent supply at this school will not only benefit the learners but also the surrounding community."

Even though the school has close to 1300 learners, there is not enough furniture and even fewer textbooks. 

The Rossing Foundation donated 80 calculators, 100 desks and chairs, over 100 math sets, lab coats, and projectors, among others. 

"All the materials provided will really go a long way in teaching and learning in our pursuit to achieve our vision 2030, whereby we have a knowledge-based society, so it starts at Bunya."

The donated items are worth N$400,000.