Nineteen students were awarded a national vocational certificate in community counseling services at the Heritage Management Institute in Windhoek.

The graduates were encouraged to carry out their duties of caring for their patients and act in their best interest, protecting their rights and confidentiality.

The founder and director of the Heritage Management Institute, Lovisa Uukelo, wished the graduates well on their new journey.

The Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, Kornelia Shilunga, reminded the graduates that counseling is far from just sitting in offices waiting for clients.

"Dear graduate, your graduation came at an opportune time when community counseling is not a choice but rather one of the qualifications to have in order to assist the Namibian nation. We are faced with so many social evils, such as gender-based violence, alcohol and drug abuse, issues of teen pregnancy, baby dumping, mental illness, and suicide."