A first grader, Jazlin van Rooyen, from Ambrosius Amutenya Primary School at Oranjemund, took centre stage at this year's ||Kharas Regional Science Fair with enthusiasm and talent for science. 

Budding scientists from the seventeen schools across the ||Kharas Region are participating at the regional science fair, which features diverse projects. 

But Jazlin  Van Rooyen  stole the spotlight with her project on how to make toilet paper from grass. 

"How I made these, well, the first try, we got some grass clippings, we boiled it for two hours, adding baking, and then we put it in a bucket, blended it with water, then we got squirm mode, left it to dry for a while, and then we took it off when it was dry." 

UNAM Southern Campus Director Dr. Seth Eiseb  was impressed  by Van Rooyen's project while underscoring the importance of  learners' participation at science fairs. 

"There is one project that talks about how to make toilet paper from grass, it's a very interesting observation I have made, and it is very nice. This is the platform where they are actually to be groomed, developed, and also enjoyed.  Science is also something we can enjoy most of the time. I know sometimes learners have anxiety with mathematics and sciences. But if they create pleasurable environments, they do enjoy what they do, and actually that will give them confidence as they grow up and when they go to upper primary, senior primary, and secondary school and eventually to the university."

||Kharas Education Directorate senior education officer Thomas Swartbooi also addressed the event. 

"Those that were here last year, you should learn something from your experiences of last year, and you should really reckon yourselves as privileges. I really believe that science fair opportunities should be platforms where competition is created, and for you to have reached this regional level, I believe at the school level you should compete with all other students."

Winners of the science fair are expected to represent the ||Kharas Region at national and international science fairs scheduled for later this year.