Pinehas Nakaziko
Karibib Mayor Davey Van Wyk donated N$10 000 to the Namibian Student Association in China (NSAC) to help students facing financial hardship abroad.
Van Wyk made the donation during a dinner held at the Pan Africa Pacific Hotel in Beijing, China, on Saturday.
Speaking at a student dinner, Van Wyk urged the scholars to look beyond employment and bring manufacturing skills home to boost Namibia’s growing local economies.
The mayor, who was visiting China for an international seminar on sustainable transport-oriented cities in developing countries, encouraged students to look beyond employment and consider entrepreneurship.
“Namibia’s growing economy, particularly in towns such as Karibib, presents opportunities for manufacturing and job creation,” Van Wyk said.
During the dinner, students were encouraged to explore machinery and production opportunities in China and consider bringing those skills and ideas home. Van Wyk shared examples of these opportunities, such as manufacturing matchsticks and number plates. He urged students to make use of their exposure to China, noting that many Namibians did not have similar opportunities.
While the funding marks the first official donation toward the association’s new revival plan, the event also brought to light deep concerns over low membership turnout and regional divisions among Namibian students living across China.
Only 18 Namibian students attended, raising concerns about low membership and participation among Namibians studying across China.
NSAC president Alina Mbango, also a PhD student in China, said the association could not effectively assist students whose details its leadership did not know.
She urged students to overcome divisions based on region, language and educational background, saying these differences weakened unity among Namibians abroad. “We group ourselves by region, by language, by the schools we came from, and we end up with many small circles instead of one community,” says Mbango while encouraging students to develop critical thinking, innovation, and problem-solving skills rather than relying entirely on artificial intelligence (AI).
NSAC is also working to create skills-development opportunities through a partnership with Explosives Corporation Limited (EXPL), the parent company of GMS Namibia Mining Services. The initiative offers internship opportunities for Namibian students in China, aiming to facilitate employment and skills transfer to Namibia after graduation. The project began with a six-month internship opportunity.
NSAC treasurer Martha Sitahile advised students to respect Chinese laws and regulations, while warning them against drugs, working without permission, fraud and fighting. She cautioned that violations could jeopardise their studies and future opportunities in China.
Mbango urged students to use their limited time strategically, identifying ideas and business opportunities that could address challenges back home. “When you return to Namibia, people will not ask how many years you spent in China, but what business opportunities you brought from China,” she said.
She encouraged Namibian students across China to register with NSAC and support its initiatives to build a united community and develop innovative thinkers.
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