Page 16 - UNAM Forum ED2-2021

Ruth Harases took her first step

with UNAM on a fortunate note

Story by: Margareth-rose Kangootui
Although the University of Namibia could only assist one

student, Velikoshi implores other institutions to help with
what they have, where they can.

440 days ago, Namibia confirmed its first Covid-19 in-between a rock and a hard place, trying to find
positive case and since then, the land of the brave has solutions to their experiences, due to the digital gap.
been out of normalcy and desperate to smile again.
Harases counts herself extremely fortunate because
Despite this challenge, 22-year-old Ruth Harases has she, like many other students, didn’t have a laptop
found one reason to put a smile on her face during the to participate in online learning, “Winning the
start of her academic journey with UNAM. laptop enables me to attend classes, complete my
assignments and study” stated Harases.
Hailing from the vibrant town where the sand meets
the ocean, Swakopmund, Ruth Harases never Although the University of Namibia could only assist
imagined she would one day be the lucky winner of one student, Velikoshi implores other institutions to help
a competition, especially not one that would alter with what they have, where they can. “We would like
her academic calling for the better. “One wonderful to take this opportunity to encourage and reach out
outcome of the virtual orientation was that I won a to the public and private sector to seek sponsorships/
laptop. I have never in my life, ever, won anything, not donations that will aid in assisting our students in any
even a simple pen or t-shirt. So, winning a laptop makes way possible.”
me truly happy and grateful” said Harases zealously.
“Alternatively students’ faced with academic
She recalls being unsure about her chances of winning challenges, should not suffer in silence, they need
but instead of believing the worse, she affirmed herself to contact the Office of the Dean of Students and
that trying won’t hurt: “I just thought – you know what, together we will explore the best way to assist you
let me just try this”. in attaining/maintaining academic progress and
success” emphasised Velikoshi.
“I attempted a few questions and to my surprise, they
were all correct. My name was announced and shortly Other students managed to walk away with UNAM
after I received a message in my inbox informing me promotional goodies and a good sense of what the
that I qualified to be in the draw for the laptop” recalls University of Namibia is all about. First-year law student,
Harases gleefully. Paulus Nangolo remarked that the orientation was an
eye-opener filled with compassion. The programme
UNAM’s Assistant Dean for Professional Services, Mr was informative and helpful, especially to those of us
Tangeni Velikoshi explained that the competition who didn’t know much about the University. I was also
price was to solicit participation during the University’s lucky enough to walk away with a UNAM branded
first-ever virtual orientation, but also, “to reduce the diary and t-shirt.
financial burden of at least one student”. He further
emphasised that “A laptop is an important gadget The University of Namibia’s first-ever virtual orientation
aiding in successful online learning and it is our sincere under the theme ‘on your own, but not alone’ left
hope that the winner uses this opportunity to maximize students feeling the Office of the Dean of Students’
their academic journey” said Velikoshi. With the advent empathy through their efforts to make orientation
of online learning, most students found themselves worthwhile despite the challenge posed.

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