Zohlanga Gaseb believes that every child deserves to learn whether through formal or non-formal education. Through Purple Pencil Foundation, she is reaching out to rural children and encouraging a reading culture in Namibia’s unreached children. In this interview, she speaks about her journey.
Can we meet you?
My name is Zohlanga Gaseb. I am a Namibian Lawyer and Social Entrepreneur.
Tell us briefly your childhood experience
I am the last of six children raised by both parents. My parents were pro-school and I had no choice but to go to school. We did a lot of things together as a family. I travelled a lot with my family and sports was a must and it paid off today.
What’s your educational background?
I attended Westside High School,Swakopmund for my primary and secondary education. After there, I proceeded to the University of Namibia where I obtained a degree in Law.
What are your contributions towards making your country a better place?
I run a non-governmental organization know Purple Pencil Foundation is a Namibian youth-development and empowerment foundation with formal and non-formal education as its thematic areas. I have always believed that I have a purpose and part of that purpose is to share with others the knowledge I have gained over time. The whole idea of Purple Pencil Foundation started after I visited a small village in Namibia. For the 1st time I saw children standing in bars as if that was the only means of recreation. I was moved to create a different narrative. As I thought about what to do, I decided to launch a Donate a Book Campaign and that was the beginning of Purple Pencil Foundation. As an organization, we also act as middlemen creating the link between youths and organizations that can respond to the problems facing them.
What steps did you take to bring your vision to fruition?
The first thing I did was to share my vision with the people closet to me. The people on my team are people that are close to me. Also because of my knowledge of the Law, I already knew what steps to take to give my organization a legal personality.
What have been your achievements?
When we launched the Donate a Book Campaign, we began by collecting books from individuals and organizations and giving them back to people who need them. Since we began, we have built and equipped a Library with 450 books. We have also distributed 50 books to an orphanage. We have also conducted a Self-defense training for women and girls in collaboration with some organizations. We run Career Exhibitions to let every child know that there are multiple opportunities to excel. These exhibitions have attracted high profile personalities like the Namibian Deputy Minister of Youths and the Mayor of the town.
What motivated you to do what you are doing?
I have observed that teachers pay more attention to the A and B student and the rest of the students are left to figure things by themselves. My desire has been to provide every child the opportunity to be educated and attain his highest potentials whether or not he is A, B or C student. I am not A or B student but I have so achieved so much and this is what I want to students to know.
What has been your major challenge since you began your nonprofit?
Setting up a permanent team. Because our work is voluntary, we have to deal with people leaving and joining the organization faster than they should. We have also struggled with funding.
How have you been able to raise money to implement your ideas?
Our team members contribute to the projects we implement. We do a lot of fundraising, writing letters here and there. Although we don’t have fixed donors, we are still able to achieve our goals using what is available to us per time.
Could you share with us one or two experience(s) you have had in the course of your campaign that has impacted on you?
Although my work as a lawyer requires that I read a lot, I have not always liked reading but during the Donate a Book Campaign, we had people sending it pictures of what they are reading and it motivated me to read more. There was no way I could be encouraging others to read when I don’t read as much or frequent as I should.
What are your prospects in the next 5 or 10 years?
I want to establish a school that will cater for the needs of every student. I am also working towards getting fixed funding so that we can do more than we are doing now.
What do you think is the major cause of unemployment in Africa, and how can we get over this?
I would say that the twin evil of corruption and an imbalanced educational system have heightened the unemployment crisis.
If you had an opportunity to speak to presidents in Africa, what would be your message.
Our leaders have to redefine their leadership styles and create better opportunities for youths to grow.
Thank you for sharing your story with us. Keep up the good work.
It is my pleasure.
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So proud of you Zohlanga
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