The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia has awarded bursaries to five Namibian students pursuing studies in environmental and related fields, valued at N$ 150,000.

For these five young women, the bursary means more than financial assistance. It is an opportunity to pursue their studies and build careers in the fields linked to Nambia's environment. 

The Environmental Investment Fund has been supporting Namibian students through businesses, helping young people access education in environmental and related fields.

Sakeus Shilomboleni is an EIF bursary alumnus.

"My journey with EIF, particularly because I once said, 'Where are you sitting today, you guys?' That was in 2014 when I became one of the first bazaury recipients of EIF. So we were 14. I'm sorry, we were 13; that got the bursaries, and that was the first bursary that EIF gave out. So this bursary meant a lot to me. It was a significant opportunity for me and for my family. Why? Because it provided me with the financial support and the opportunity to pursue my studies. At the time when access to educational education was a major consideration."

Anneli Chicalo, an IUM student from Kavango East studying environmental management and sustainable development, says the bursary is more than financial support.

"Being one of the five that have been chosen to benefit from this bursary, this is more than a financial fund. This is like a career push, an academic guardian, and to be here right now is a blessing."

Another recipient, Linda Nangula, says she is glad to be one of the lucky recipients and narrated how she found out about the busary.

". I was just crawling on WhatsApp actually, and that someone posted it, and then I went on the EIF page, read about it, and then I applied. So never in a million years did I ever think I was going to receive a call."

Beyond education, EIF supports initiatives aimed at protecting Namibia's environment and promoting sustainable development. 

Chief Human Capital and Corporate Services Officer Elvis Mukaya stated, "We have thought about it, and we have realised that we have put too much money into infrastructure, into projects, but then we have been a little bit ignorant of the people that are supposed to move the infrastructure, of the people that are supposed to make sure that the projects that we want to deal with are moving, which is why we thought, 'Let's go back to the market and make sure that the nation in itself has its own capacity.'"

Recipients were reminded that the busary is intended to support their education and academic progression.