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Giving opportunities to young people - pg 5

From banking to media - pg 5

Choosing the right partner - pg 5

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2 February | 19 | 2015 Insight Into Careers

• Netumbo Nekomba

From a young age, we are encouraged to study hard in order to secure a job that will pay the bills. Lucky enough, today our career choices

are vast in comparison to what they were 50 years ago, when historical factors meant only a handful of occupations were options for many Namibians.

Instead of settling for a career simply because it offers stability, many young people are following their heart's desires and branching out into fields that accommodate their hobbies and interests. After all, job security and job satisfaction have become key components, according to Maslow’s hierarchy.

Whether it’s the dedicated artisan who has a passion for turning sticks and stones into decent homes, or the loyal secretary who acts as the voice of the company, everyone has a part to play in developing the country, regardless of how big or small it may seem.

The following supplement will brief you on the roads less ventured in terms of career possibilities in Namibia. Who knows? The job of your dreams might be within these pages.

Enjoy!

NAC’S MARCO IS A PASSIONATE FIRE FIGHTER AND PILOT Marco Gaweseb is a passionate employee at the Namibia Airports Company and has been an Airport Rescue & Fire Fighting Officer at the company for the last 11 years and six months. He says, that emergency services have been one of the main career options that he has always wanted to embark upon. “I come from a family background in the emergency and medical industry and this has always been a passion of mine. Being at the NAC has been an added bonus as they are part of the aviation industry, which I love.”

His roles and responsibilities include runway inspections, collection of landing and parking fees, marshalling aircrafts and overall airport safety. “I would like to continue being a world class rescue and fire fighting officer who will always make sure that property is protected and lives are saved while serving with dedication. It is most satisfying to ensure that the airport and a 10km radius around it is up to standard so that all stakeholders can be accommodated satisfactorily.”

Gaweseb says that it has been a great opportunity working for Namibia Airports Company. “As with any job it has had its ups and downs, but I enjoy my job and am committed, passionate and always willing to deliver with dedication.” He emphasizes that passion and loving the job are probably the most important characteristics of any employment. “Then it’s not just a job but something you look forward to doing on a daily basis. That to me is vital as we spend 8 -10 hours per day at our workplace.”

Gaweseb has spread his wings over the years and is not just a rescue and fire fighting officer, but also the proud owner of a private pilot licence. He is currently busy with his commercial licence. He would not like to limit himself to one job only. “The aviation industry is huge and I would like to be able to enjoy a variety of jobs such as investigating aircraft accidents as well as firefighting and flying.”

Lastly he advises youngsters who would like to join the aviation industry or rescue and fire fighting profession to be disciplined and to uphold high levels of professionalism at all times. This is a very strict and safety orientated industry. Youngsters should also be passionate about the job and most importantly not only be in it for the money,” he ends off.

www.airports.com.na

Foreword• RUKEE KAAKUNGA

The Namibian fashion industry has come a long way since the days when eking out a living

as a designer, stylist or make-up artist was a challenge. Today, the industry is thriving with more and more opportunities arising for industry players.

At the moment, there are only two tertiary institutions that offer fashion design, textile design and other fashion related courses for study. The University of Namibia (Unam) being the more theoretical institution and the College of the Arts (Cota) being the more practical alternative.

To make it into Cota's fashion programme. Students should at least have 17 points in Grade 12 and show basic artistic potential, especially when it comes to drawing.

“We are very practical in our teaching and spend longer hours on producing garments,” says Cynthia Schimming who is a lecturer at the school. Getting into the school though, is the only easy part. Staying in the school and meeting the standards of the vigorous work that goes into the fashion programme is the difficult part.

The fashion course offered to students is very intensive with equal attention to entrepreneurial skills. The school also offers training in textile printing and includes training in make-up artistry, photography as well as graphic design which will soon be incorporated into the curriculum.

Students who have learnt their craft at Cota have done quite well for

themselves, with some excelling even before they graduate. An example is Abisai Ileka, a fashion blogger who together with another student, dressed Namibian Big Brother 'Hotshots' contestant, Luis Munana for the opening of the reality show.

At Unam fashion forms part of the Visual and Performing Arts Department. Alumnus Immanuel Garoeb says studying fashion is very important especially if you wish to be a fashion designer.

“If you want to be a good designer, I suggest that you study because taking up this career without studying is hard unless you've been designing since you were three years old.”

The best example of the fashion opportunities in Namibia today can be observed from the life career of local designer, Leah Misika, a professional

fashion designer. She also works as a clothing store manager, is a fashion TV show producer as well as a stylist and a fashion columnist. This just shows how many different directions one can take, when one has an eye for fashion.

According to Misika and a few other local designers, fashion designing can make you anything between N$4 000 to N$20 000 monthly, depending on if you do it full time and how much work you put into it.

Vast opportunities await those who dream of pursuing a career in fashion in Namibia. All it takes is the determination to find your place in the market and hard work to sustain yourself and contribute to the economic growth of the industry and the country as a whole.

Working It! A Career in Fashion

Source: alissamerwangao.deviantART

HARD AT WORK … Students at the College of the Arts hard at work on their garments as they receive advice from their lecturers.

3February | 19 | 2015Insight Into Careers

n Destination and course choiceResearch your destination and look at universities offering your choice of course. For an undergraduate degree, consider whether you want a generic degree such as business followed by a specialised master’s degree in forensic accounting for example or a specialised first degree such as engineering followed by a generalist master’s in business administration or project management.

n Hidden benefitsLook carefully at benefits that are not immediately obvious. At some universities successful completion of your undergraduate course in accounting gives you exemption from the first 9 ACCA papers. At others, an engineering degree will allow you to join a relevant professional body. Other courses offer you inbuilt industrial training.

n Entry requirementsEnsure that your qualifications meet the entry requirements of your chosen university. If they do not, most universities provide pathway courses. These bridging courses take from 6 -10 months and upon successful completion you progress to your degree. A pre-masters pathway is also available, to enhance academic writing skills and provide essential research methodology skills.

n FinanceGenerally, you will be expected to self-fund your studies or find a sponsor. Scholarships are few and far between and normally awarded on academic

excellence. Some universities offer partial bursaries in the form of a reduction in fees. Some also offer a discount if the tuition fees are paid upfront at the beginning of each year. Generally, you will need to pay a deposit of at least one semester’s tuition fees up in order to secure the documentation you need to apply for a visa. A few universities will agree to an instalment plan. Apart from tuition fees you also need to factor in living and accommodation costs. Most reputable universities have a scholarship site on their webpage with information that may be helpful to you.

n More affordable optionsWhilst Australia, the UK, Canada, New Zealand and the US are popular study destinations, they may lie outside your budget. A number of Australian and UK universities now have campuses in places such as Mauritius, Malaysia, Republic of Cyprus and South Africa, which are fully accredited and offer the same curriculum so you can, therefore, transfer to the home campus should your budget allow. These campuses offer tuition at a lower price point and living costs are less.

n AccommodationUsually available on campus and will be arranged during the application process or you can opt to live off-campus or with a family.

n AccreditationTreat accreditation with care and know what you are looking for. For example, your university of choice may be ranked

no 61 in the world but for your particular course more highly ranked at no 6 or 9.Application process and visasYou may apply online but some universities, particularly in Australia, will ask you to apply through a representative. Reputable universities will list the representatives in your area. A good representative will assist you in all aspects of your application ad generally you can expect a quick turnaround time – often within 24 to 48 hours. A representative will also help you process your student visa application, often an overwhelming process. Provided you have the correct documentation and all supporting information, your visa will not be problem.

n WorkWork regulations vary. Currently most countries allow you work 20 hours per week or 40 per fortnight during the semester and 40 hours a week during semester breaks. Post–study work visas also change and you need to know what the regulations are for your destination. For example, if you complete the last two years of your degree in Australia, then you are eligible to apply for the 2-year post-study work permit. In the UK a sandwich course will provide you with a full year’s paid work experience. In some countries you are expected to leave after you have completed your studies.

n FinalThe above is a quick starter-pack to help you through the maze.

• Airport pick-ups on arrival

• Assistence with visas

• Free professional advice

Australia

Canada

USA

Mauritius

SouthAfrica

Switzerland

Rep of Cyprus

TRNC

Malaysia

New Zealand

INTERESTED IN STUDYING ABROAD?

YOUR FUTURE IS OUR BUSINESS Some partial bursaries / scholarships / discounts are available

Barbara Butchart/Ellen ChokweC. Sharp Associates

Plot 17949 Haile Selassie RoadGaborone, Botswana

[email protected] +267 390 1829 (office)+ 267 75 528 885 (cell)

Skype: bhanana.chokwe

[email protected]+267 390 1829 (office)+ 267 72 303 200 (cell)Skype: barbara.butchart

• Assistence with applications

• Accommodation arranged

Making an Educated Choice

Aim of this article

This document aims to introduce you to Namibia’s leading education and

training provider and to give you a better understanding of our services; including our instructor lead training courses which covers both NQA accredited courses as well as a myriad of Soft Skills short courses.

IIT’s approach to total ICT solutions is one of the most significant developments in the ICT industry in Namibia since 1998. It could hold massive opportunities and benefits for you and your organisation as it has for many Namibians to date.

Our services

In education and training, our services include the development of disciplines

ranging from basic skills in computer literacy to computer end user specialist development. This also extends to areas such as high level hardware, network, servers and software engineering.

Furthermore, IIT has launched several new divisions and now also offer professional web development services along with top level ICT consultancy services. This expansion of the IIT service bouquet has allowed us to deliver a total ICT solution to our clients.

We are proud to announce that in 2012 IIT launched the Office & Communications Training programme for the Namibian Police Force – Secure Khomas for All! IIT sponsored a fully equipped computer lab to successfully complete training of more than 250 officers.

IIT has developed a blended learning approach which has been implemented in Namibia with great success. We offer you, as a prospective student, the opportunity to take advantage of the many benefits that are gained by developing your ability and skills in I.T., Business Management or Visual Media. There has been a worldwide shift towards self paced learning in the past decade when it comes to corporate IT skills development. The main reason for this is that the average learner has developed to become empowered and to learn at his/her own pace.

Instructor Lead Training

The core business of IIT is education and training; and since 1998 it has served

the Namibian public as the largest and most trusted privately owned ICT skills development organisation. IIT has become an expert in skills development for ICT disciplines.

Consultancy and Development

With its large pool of skills and qualified personnel available, IIT made a

shift from being a training organisation to becoming a solution provider quite easily and very successfully. IIT’s position as educator has strategically aligned itself with many of the key players in the industry. This central, trusted position in the industry allows IIT to provide ICT consultancy services with full support of the industry.

Business division of IIT

IIT recognised the need for Business and Management training in Namibia and

has developed the Diploma in Marketing & Business Management to cater for Human Resources, Marketing, Sales, Economics and Finance Management, amongst others.

IIT Mission

Our mission is to enable individuals and enterprises to achieve greater success

by providing knowledge, skills, solutions and services through pioneering efforts and the usage of appropriate and up-to-date I.T. technology.

The earlier concept of “training” perceived as an event with a definite start and an end has undergone a paradigm shift. Training today is viewed as a continuous process where the learner is actively involved in the learning process.This impacts on both the learner’s skills improvement and overall development. In addition, the world has moved from an era of specialisation and localisation to one of preparing learners to be multi-skilled professionals, to meet the demands of an ever growing/ changing global market place.

Who is IITIIT is a trusted I.T., Business Management and Visual Media training provider in Namibia with branches in Windhoek and Swakopmund and we receive continued support from the government, the industrial and commercial sectors as well as the Namibian public in general.

Barbara ButchartConsidering studying overseas? This can seem

like a maze at times. Here are some things you can, could, should and ought to consider in finding your

way through this maze to your goal.


HUNGRY FORSUCCESS?

“YOUR DREAM CAREER IN RETAIL STARTS HERE...”

WE, THE EMPLOYEES, WILL BUILD THIS COMPANY!“In order to provide our customers with the best possible service and the best possible prices, we need each and every employee working for Woermann Retail and Wholesale Group to operate with the same passion and intensity as that of a retail store owner. In order for us to reach this level, we have however realised the crucial role that we as an organisation will have to play in developing our current employees and to ensure that we draw the best possible employees in the industry to the core of our business.”

-Jesko WoermannCEO of the Woermann Retail and Wholesale Group

SUIT UP!

If you finished high school with a grade 12 certificate with passes in English, Mathematics, Accounting and Economics, coupled with training provided by us, then working in the retail sector is perhaps the job for you. .


2015 INTAKEThe Bridge Institute of Learning (BIL) is an institution of higher learning founded with a goal focused on establishing the fundamental knowledge and skills through a wide variety of course offerings, which the prospective students need to transform themselves and effect significant change in areas they develop interests in.

We are inviting applicants for the following courses:

• Filming• Audio Production and Sound Engineering• Sports Management• Entrepreneurship and Business Development• Graphic Design• Public Speaking and Speech Writing• Acting • English

Short courses and part-time study options are available.

For more details surrounding our courses and programs, fee structure and admission contact us:

Telephone: 061 277319Mobile: 0816764166

Email: [email protected]: www.bridgeiol.com

@bridgebilbridge institute of learning

REGISTRATION

DEADLINE

27th FEBRUARY

• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

As one of the fastest growing sectors, retail provides much needed employment.

Woermann Brock, a wholly-owned Namibian retailer has 33 shops countrywide, and plans are underway to add nine more stores.

Working in the retail sector is perhaps one of the highest paying jobs for the average youngster with a grade 12 certificate.

Woermann Brock offers an 18-month practical and theoretical training programme to people interested in joining it.

The training programme is not only for ‘newbies’ but also targets current employees.

According to the training officer, Lahja Enkali, branch managers select two to three hardworking employees who are then placed in the vigorous programme in order to develop and promote individuals.

Individuals from outside apply

through the company's human resource office. Intakes are recruited from al regions where the company has branches.

Training is provided for both groups simultaneously.

Out of 130 trainees, not more then 30 individuals made it through the programme last year.

This year, the programme only took in 30 trainees, while last year's graduates who need improvement in certain areas, are being retrained.

Enkali said that the training programme is very important because young people do not always get opportunities to excel in retail.

“If you are working in the retail industry, you don't always get the chance for promotion. People remain in their positions for very long until they decide to leave,” she said.

With the training programme, graduates have the opportunity to become assistant managers, trainee managers or branch managers.

Currently, one of the trainees is set

to become a regional manager. “Of course, with promotion come

more benefits, and salary increments and this motivates people to work hard as the compensation is really good,” she said.

Previously, the programme gave preference to people with qualifications but Enkali said that these graduates do not really stay long.

The only requirement now is a grade 12 certificate. Retail experience is an advantage.

Enkali said, “Retail is a very tough environment to work in. It is not for everyone. Our vision is for the programme to grow while enhancing the skills of trainees.”

She further explained that with the planned expansions, the company would need more employees that are highly effective and efficient.

The application process started in January and training begins early February annually and is advertised on the companies Facebook page.

IN TRAINING... John Ndara and Letisia Erastus writing a

test as part of the Woermann Brock

training programme.

Creating opportunities for all

• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

“CHOOSING a career is basically the same as choosing your life partner - you don't go on the street and choose just

anybody,” says Anthony Auchab, head of Academic Programs at the Bridge Institute of Learning.

“Therefore you need to choose well, as this is the person you will be waking up next to for what could be the rest of your life. The same with careers; it is something you might do for the rest of your life. You might grow and change but for most of us, that is what we will do,” he explained further.

With only 42.8% of the grade 12 full-time pupils having qualified for admission to tertiary institutions, one can't help but wonder where the rest of the 57.2% will end up.

While quite a number will head to Namcol, most might end up taking a gap year, also referred to as a bridge year. This is mostly taken straight after high school and before starting university.

Founded in 2012, the Bridge Institute of Learning is an institution of higher education, currently in the process of consulting for accreditation from the Namibia Qualifications Authority.

The Bridge Institute of Learning Foundation Program offers Grade 12 NSSC subjects in order to improve their marks, while preparing students for the transition from secondary school teaching to more independent tertiary instruction.

Its goal is focused on establishing knowledge and skills through a wide variety of course offerings, including a one-year long foundation programme.

While gap years are popular in the Western world, Namibia is seeing a slow start to the idea because of the lack of foundation programmes.

An outspoken Auchab said that foundation programmes are a necessity. Many people become teachers, nurses or join the police force just because they do not meet the minimum entrance requirements to enter a tertiary institution.

“If they had enough points, they would never have picked those professions. As a matter of fact, these are callings, not professions,”he emphasized.

In an interview with The Namibian, Auchab

said that the school is based on the American education system by institutionalising academic excellence.

“I look around Africa and we don't really have that (academic excellence). We have very good schools but we lack a hub of academic excellence and that is why we came up with the institute. We are responding to a need.”

Auchab, who is also the founder of the Bridge Institute of Learning, adds: “Our education system is weak compared to other African countries. Schools hardly offer much needed career counseling.”

“People complain about students failing, but what will happen if all students pass? Where will they go?” he asked.

Currently the Institute is set to visit various institutions in the US in a few month's time.

Auchab says their focus is on getting undergraduates into universities in America in the next five years by complementing what the

education system already has. There are certain requirements and we want students to meet these requirements by preparing them adequately.”

Apart from the foundation programme, the Institute also has other programmes such as public speaking and speech writing, theology, sports management, filming, and offers career counseling.

Although established three years ago, most of the programmes are only starting off this year, while other programmes such as public speaking, sound engineering, filming and career counseling started last year already.

The Bridge Institute of Learning also offers scholarships for the bridge year/foundation course called the Legacy Scholarship. The scholarship is meant to benefit four currently disadvantaged students who are interested in studying civil engineering, architecture or quantity surveying.

“Furthermore,”Auchab states emphatically, “We don't take you unless you decide to go and study further. That is our admission requirement.”

Registrations ended on the 2nd of this month and the Institute is looking at accommodating a maximum of 300 students.

Whilst some parents encourage their children to take a gap year, many still frown upon it. The decision whether to take a gap year is an individual one and could reap great benefits should one make the most of your time.

Choose the right partner (career) for yourself

TELLING IT... Anthony Auchab of the Bridge Institute of Learning.

• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

ULLA von Holtz dedi-cated 26 years of her life to a career in bank-

ing before she decided she had had enough and she had to move.

Von Holtz joined the banking sector at 26 years, and by the time she left, she had risen to head of business banking at Standard Bank Namibia.

Her next port of call was the media, where she became gen-eral manager of The Namibian newspaper. The affable Von Holtz says the other aspect of clients’ lives besides their fi-nances, has always fascinated her.

“Banking is an environment where you work with cus-tomers and customers come from different industries and spheres, so depending on your job title, you will work with particular clients.”

“However, it does not matter what title you hold, you are in-volved in the finance aspect of the clients’ complex lives and

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown” - Howard Phillips Lovecraft.

For this edition, The Namibian spoke to two individuals who have, against all the odds managed to bravely reshape their careers and flourish.

From banking to media

I wanted more than just that,” she explained.

When then Editor of The Namibian, Gwen Lister, ap-proached her for a job she did not think twice about the offer but packed her bags and left the bank.

She recalls Lister’s concern with her shift, as the bank is a very structured sector while the media industry is completely unstructured and individual-istic.

“So for me, the learning curve from banking to the me-dia was intriguing,” said von Holtz.

The learning curve was steep.“When I came here, I learnt

that you cannot define a busi-ness by looking at its income statement and balance sheet. That learning curve was prob-ably the single most enriching thing for me because of the complexities,” she explained passionately.

While a business is generally defined by analyzing history and that history is its balance sheet and income statement, it was not until Von Holtz had had a talk with bankers where she discussed the risks in media companies that she knew she had made the perfect choice.

The two sectors are oceans apart, but Von Holtz has once again packed her bags to climb yet another mountain.

Now the owner consultant for Starfish, Coaching & Con-sulting, which focuses on ex-ecutive coaching, leadership development strategy and team facilitation, Ulla continues to thrive and strive to overcome greater challenges.

“I am about complexities af-ter all,” she chuckled.

Ulla von Holtz

HUNGRY FORSUCCESS?

“YOUR DREAM CAREER IN RETAIL STARTS HERE...”

WE, THE EMPLOYEES, WILL BUILD THIS COMPANY!“In order to provide our customers with the best possible service and the best possible prices, we need each and every employee working for Woermann Retail and Wholesale Group to operate with the same passion and intensity as that of a retail store owner. In order for us to reach this level, we have however realised the crucial role that we as an organisation will have to play in developing our current employees and to ensure that we draw the best possible employees in the industry to the core of our business.”

-Jesko WoermannCEO of the Woermann Retail and Wholesale Group

SUIT UP!

If you finished high school with a grade 12 certificate with passes in English, Mathematics, Accounting and Economics, coupled with training provided by us, then working in the retail sector is perhaps the job for you. .


Working within Logistics and Supply Chain Management is not a career many find alluring, but

there are numerous reasons why it should be. Based on distribution and controlling of various goods, project management, and overseeing imported and exported stock, are among some of the many branches that logistics involve.

This is a career that is still considered 'young' and 'new'.

What the public is not necessarily aware of is that the career opportunities are amazingly broad, and those who are involved in logistics are more likely to develop the skills necessary for the private and public sector on many occasions.

Logistics is said to make up the heart of every industry, and indeed, this fact has been proven. From mining to railways and sea transport, logistics is a necessary component in every successful company.

“Logistics and Supply Chain Management is a massively big field. Anywhere that there is a stock component, or even services, requires logistics,” chief operation officer of the Business School of Excellence (BSE), Helga Busing-Volschenk, said. The school, in collaboration with the Institute of Logistics and Supply Chain Management (ILSCM), has supplied academic solutions for those who wish to embark on a venture in this particular career.

Training in freight handling is offered, as well as higher certificates (which equips individuals with intellectual competencies and practical skills among others), as well as a Bachelor in Business Administration degree in Business Management,

Economics, Business Statistics, Logistics Management and Supply Chain Management, all verified through the National Qualifications framework.

Other options include Road Transport and a Diploma which allows students to delve into work-integrated learning opportunities in various companies around the country.

“The educator also needs to be educated. We believe that one needs to start from the bottom up, otherwise there's going to be a whole generation without a proper education. Logistics is a very scarce skill and I think it's going to become one of the most sought-after skills.” Busing-Volschenk explained.

For a chance to study at the Business School of Excellence, note that the application is considered on individual merit as well as three to five years work experience in a field concerning Logistics. Although this field of study is internet based, the school offers study material and limited contact classes via smart boards which allow all branches of the school (in Namibia and South Africa) to simultaneously engage in activities in real-time teaching.

Aside from the experience, a degree requires all subjects passed on Higher Level and English must be a first language with a 3 score or more. The three-year diploma requires a certificate, national or higher certificate from an accredited higher educational institution, and the higher certificate in Logistics Management candidates should be born prior to 1993. In a rare case, Grade 10 applicants will be considered. For more information on this course, visit www.bse.com.na.

GIVING INSIGHT... Helga Busing-Volschenk, the chief operation officer of the Business School of Excellence.

Photo: Netumbo Nekomba

Looking at Logistics and Supply Chain Management

The educator also needs to be educated. We

believe that one needs to start

from the bottom up, otherwise there’s going to be a whole

generation without a proper

education. Logistics is a very scarce skill and I think it’s going

to become one of the most sought-

after skills.

• NDAPEWOSHALI SHAPWANALE

Intellectual property law is a section of law dealing with the protection trademarks, patents,

copyright and industrial designs. It gives the owners the exclusive right to profit from their intellectual property for a particular period of time.

In Namibia the period for copyrighted material lasts 50 years after the death of the creator and author. Universally, the period 70 years after the death of the author or creator of the work.

A patent has the right to exclude others from making, selling, offering for sale, or importing an invention for some period after the property has been filed.

A trademark, which may be one of the most popular forms of protecting intellectual property, is where one takes a logo or symbol, a word or a phrase to distinguish a manufacturers product from other products.

With that outlined, intellectual property lawyers do everything within a legal framework that is connected with intellectual property. Within industrial property, for example, the intellectual property lawyer assists with the application of patents and trademarks of your property as well as defending your patent or trademark. An intellectual lawyer draws up licensing agreements.

In order to practice in intellectual property law in Namibia you are only required to be a licensed lawyer which means that you should have

completed your BJuris, LLB and passed the bar.

Most lawyers in Namibia are more familiar with the trademark leg of intellectual property.

Although one does not necessarily have to go for extra training in intellectual property after being licensed as a legal practitioner, it is advisable to get training in intellectual property law as one will have a more in depth understanding of not only trademarks, but also patents and copyright and industrial design rights.

This was confirmed by Master Degree holder in intellectual property law who did his thesis on patents, Tulonga Nakamhela.

While protecting trademarks is concerned with protecting a name or a slogan, patents deal with protecting an innovation or in an idea, which is much more complex.

“You are at a better advantage because you have an understanding of the different forms of intellectual property while a normal lawyer will just know that which they have taught themselves,” Nakamhela said.

Because the intellectual property market in Namibia is very small, there is not much work regarding that specific field, this may be the reason there are so few working within the field.

The Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe offers the Masters Degree in Intellectual Property Programme jointly with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) which provides global accreditation, meaning graduates are able to practice anywhere in the world.

Learning About Intellectual Property Law


that graduates must abide by after graduation. Professional associations and regulatory bodies are, in fact, offering ‘warrants of appropriate professional behavior,’ which includes not only competence but professional ethics and behavior as well.

As part of their certification requirements, professional associations and regulatory bodies will often require a

specific level of academic credential, or completion of a specific course of study. Certifying bodies will, for their part, publish lists of approved programs or courses. Despite this cooperation with educational institutions, most certifying bodies still conduct examinations. As the ‘warrantors of competence,’ professional regulatory bodies are reluctant to delegate the

assessment of competence to some other body. That is why professional regulatory bodies will specify education as an eligibility requirement but still conduct their own assessments. In addition to educational requirements, however, professional associations and regulatory bodies will require candidates to have some minimum amount of experience. Although some academic

programs will include various practical and co-op terms, the experience requirements of professional and trade designations are typically much more extensive than academic programs.

The Centre for Training and Projects Development (Pty) Ltd (CTPD) offers professional course programs examined by various internationally recognized professional

bodies including the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM); the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS); the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA); the Association of Business Executives (ABE); the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport CILT.

What makes professional qualifications different from academic qualifications Many people in our

society still don’t understand the key

differences between Academic and Professional qualifications. Both academic and professional qualifications are indicative of some form of achievement, and both entitle the bearer to use certain initials before or after their name, but beyond that they are quite different.

The essential difference between professional and academic qualifications is that professional qualifications are ‘warrants of competence or expertise’ whereas academic credentials are not. With professional designations, the certifying body such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM); the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS); the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA); the Chartered Institute of management Accountants (CIMA); etc. is warranting that the certified person (tradesperson or professional) has the essential knowledge and skills of a specified domain necessary for safe and appropriate practice of the trade or profession. With academic credentials, there is no such ‘warrant of competence,’ an academic credential means that someone has successfully completed a particular course of study not that one is competent to practice a trade or profession.

Professional designations are always built upon a practice analysis which defines what certified individuals need to know or be able to do. Academic credentials are rarely based upon formal and systematic practice analyses. Academic institutions do not assume responsibility of the actions of their graduates. By contrast, professional do have some ongoing responsibility for the behavior of their members. Professional associations and regulatory bodies are accountable for their certification processes. Professional associations and regulatory bodies must be able to demonstrate that they demonstrated due diligence in their certification process. This does not mean that errors cannot be made, but professional associations and regulatory bodies must be able to demonstrate that their certification requirements and standards and assessment protocols provide reasonable protection to the public.

Many professional designations now require recertification in one form or another. The idea is that certified individuals must maintain the level of competence required for competent practice. With such professional designations, individuals who fail to maintain their knowledge and skills up to standards, or who fail to document their efforts at maintaining their knowledge and skills, will lose their certification.

Then there is the matter of recourse. Should a certified individual exhibit misconduct or fail to live up to the standards of the profession, the professional association or regulatory body provides for complaints and discipline processes. Academic institutions do not have such mechanisms. Professional associations and regulatory bodies have a concern about the ethics of their members that academic institutions do not. Academic institutions are concerned about academic misconduct and other forms of misbehavior but only in relation to achieving the credential. Educational institutions do not set out rules of conduct

Mr. Frederick Chizu Simpungwe, Chief Executive Officer (CTPD).


• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

FNB NAMIBIA manager for student loans, Anneke Hansen has urged parents to invest in

the education of their children. “The purpose of the Life Start

Student Loan is to assist students to meet the cost to pursue further studies at institutions of higher learning.” she said.

The FNB student business has two products, the Life Start Student account and the Life Start Student Loan.

As part of the study loan application requirements, students must have an account with FNB.

The study loan finances full- time students, part-time students or distance students (with or without formal employment).Applicants have two options for repayments:

Customer can pay Interest plus capital from the beginning. Or, customer can pay the interest only on the student loan for the study duration after which the customer will need to repay capital plus interest over a maximum term of 60 months.

After graduation a maximum period of 6 months will be allowed in which capital repayments can be halted, before capital and interest repayments will begin. The 6-month period is to

allow the student time to find a job and to get his/her finances in order before loan repayments start.

“Whilst in the past loans extended only to master’s students, nowadays we also give for PHD’s, pilots as well as finance students studying abroad. As long as it is at a recognized tertiary institution,” she explained

Hansen also added that anybody that is willing to assist a student can apply for them. “If I want to help you, I can help you. However, the gross salary must not be less than N$ 7500.”

In order to apply for the study loan, students and parents must take along acceptance letter, proof of registration letter, ID’s, quotation and payslip.

Graduates repay at the same interest rate that they were paying during their last year of study. However, dropouts repay at Prime +4%. However should any of the following occur:• The student fails more than 3

subjects• The student discontinue studies• The student changes field of study• The student moves his/her main

banking account away from FNB, while any amount is due and owing

• There is a Breach of Contract i.e. if loan is in arrears

She said that repayment interest rate will change to Prime plus 4 %, and

the repayment of the loan will start with immediate effect and the renewal of the loan will be affected.

In addition, Hansen said, “The loan is not opened in the students name but the one who applies for the loan. Thus it is also their responsibility to make sure that students study and finish their studies.”

She further urged students to make the right career choice. “Students must be sure what they want to study and should not go to the Bank after the first loan was given and change their courses as it will then cause a breach of contract.”

Other then the study loan product, last year FNB also partnered with the Business School of Excellence (BSE).

BSE offers courses to teachers who want to further studies in teaching with FNB’s financial assistance through North West University.

A survey on ‘Namibia Skills Deficit’ by the Institute of Public Policy Research in 2010 shows that there is a lack of skills in various sectors.

This shortage is as a result amongst other reasons, lack of relevant qualification, lack of relevant experience and lack of funding.

“Government can not fund everyone. We also have that social economic responsibility towards Namibia. This is our contribution,” stated Hansen.

Now you can GRADUATEfrom all degrees of education.FNB Student Business has evolved.

FNB Student loans now include primary, high school and even PHD fees. Whatever stage of study you’re at, we’ll help you take care of the financing!

Visit your nearest FNB branch today or call our Student Business division at (061) 299 2484 today. Terms and conditions apply.

MAKE THE RIGHT CAREER CHOICE… Anneke Hansen, manager for student loans at FNB.

FNB study loan more flexible

Government can not fund everyone. We also have that

social economic responsibility

towards Namibia. This is our

contribution.

Of Hopeful hope• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

INSPIRED by great African writers such as Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Ayi Kwei Armah as well as American Harper Lee and

Englishman George Orwell, Salom Shilongo aspires to have his work internationally acknowledged.

Shilongo, who hails from the Omusati region, says he grew up like any other village boy, herding cattle.

“I was not surrounded by books as a child, nor did we have a library at our school. However I loved reading and quenched my thirst with whatever material I could find,” said the soft-spoken Shilongo.

Now in his mid-thirties, a reserved Shilongo is a published author of “The Hopeless Hopes”.

The story follows a young man's journey from childhood through the changing landscape of his native homeland.

Similar to most contemporary African literature, the story highlights disenchantment with current events.

Apartheid and oppression are introduced as themes early on in the book. The aurthor describes the brutalities of war with vivid imagery that captures how crudely he lived.

Having put his teaching career on hold in order to pursue his writing passion, Shilongo has big dreams for the second edition of his book.

Currently, he is rewriting the book to make the story more detailed and longer in order to compete at a continental and global level.

According to Shilongo, the second edition of the book will have over 300 pages and will expand on the love affair between Robert, the protagonist and the daughter of the village headman.

A clearly thrilled Shilongo promised readers long nights of reading the revised edition of “The Hopeless Hopes”.

At least 600 copies of the first edition were printed and only about 80 copies are still on bookshelves.

Shilongo is looking at printing over 1000 copies of the revised edition.

The book launch is expected in June this year, according to Shilongo.


2015 SKILLS EXPO TO PROMOTE VOCATIONAL AND

TECHNICAL CAREERS

The Ramatex Textile Factory in Windhoek’s Otjomuise suburb promises to be a hive of activity as the Namibia Training Authority (NTA), in partnership with Namibia

Careers Expo (NCE), stages a national Vocational Education and Training career fair from the 25th to the 27th of February 2015.

According to the NTA’s Manager: Public Relations, Marketing and Stakeholder Engagement, Mornay Louw, the event brings together on a shared platform, public and private registered training providers, corporate entities and other industry stakeholders to partner the NTA and the NCE in the promotion of technical and vocational careers.

The 2015 Skills Expo is to place significant emphasis on having actual job practitioners on site and creating opportunities where visitors can directly engage them and gain first-hand knowledge about the various vocational and technical career options available in the local training market. Louw therefore urges schools to encourage their more technically-inclined learner cohorts, who might have a genuine interest in VET career options to attend and access information about technical and vocational career options.

“A good number of reputable training institutions, including the seven Vocational Training Centres under the NTA’s supervision, will participate and introduce their course offerings and training services to visitors. Key industry roleplayers and employers who rely heavily on technical and vocational skills have also confirmed their participation. The response has been good and visitors can look forward to exciting interactive sessions with actual practitioners and interesting onsite simulation activities”, he said.

Louw also encourages parents and guardians to attend. “We often find that while learners might show a genuine interest in taking up vocational and technical career paths, they are often discouraged by their parents and guardians who still deem such options as dead-end streets with little potential for career growth and development. In fact, we need parents and guardians to partner us in countering the perceptions stigmatising vocational and technical careers as ‘last choice education’ and to fight the stereotypes profiling vocational and technical jobs as inferior”, Louw stated.

Louw is also confident that the 2015 Skills Expo will go a long way in supporting equal opportunities and promote social inclusion by allowing disadvantaged groups access to opportunities that might otherwise have been denied to them. Another important objective is to widen the net beyond what is traditionally considered the VET cohort (learners who have failed Grade 10 and 12, early school leavers and unemployed youth).

Meanwhile, the NTA has embarked on another exciting pilot project under which it is to select a group of local vocational and technical trainees to represent Namibia at the 2015 WorldSkills competition in Sao Paulo, Brazil, later this year. The NTA is now a full member of WorldSkills International, which brings together on an international stage vocational and technical practitioners from member countries to compete in skills competitions in select occupational areas. Once identified, these trainees will leave for South Korea to train with members of that country’s national skills team, in preparation for the Sao Paulo competition in August. “In fact, the NTA is now going to take the lead in the organisation of annual national skills competitions from which we are to select teams in the future. We anticipate for the annual Skills Expo to later merge with the annual skills competition as a single event. Staging this event allows us an opportunity to generate institutional experience in organising an event of this magnitude and to lay the groundwork for the staging of Namibia’s first national skills competition”, Louw explained.

The 2015 Skills Expo ties in well with the overall strategic objectives of the NTA to improve the efficiency of the national training system and managing its interface with the labour market.“If individuals make decisions about what they are to learn in a well-informed and well- thought-through way, linked to their interests, their capacities and their aspirations, investments in education and training systems are likely to yield higher returns”, Louw said.

Interested parties can contact the NTA’s PR and Marketing Officer, Roberta da Costa at 061-2078521, or

[email protected], for more information.

For more information email [email protected] or call 061 245 711 or visit www.skillsexponam.com

LEARNERS,Inviting all

VISITORSTHE 2015

25-27 FEBAT RAMATEX

SKILLSEXPO

A 3 day explosion of vocational skills, training and educational platforms and opportunities

+ LARGE Exhibition Area

09:00am till 17:00

Opening times:

+ FREE Entry+ LIVE Demonstrations

+ INTERACTIVE Presentations

PARENTS,


LEARNERS,Inviting all

VISITORSTHE 2015

25-27 FEBAT RAMATEX

SKILLSEXPO

A 3 day explosion of vocational skills, training and educational platforms and opportunities

+ LARGE Exhibition Area

09:00am till 17:00

Opening times:

+ FREE Entry+ LIVE Demonstrations

+ INTERACTIVE Presentations

For more information email [email protected] or call 061 245 711 or visit www.skillsexponam.com

PARENTS,

• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

Not everything in life goes according to plan, however life has a funny way of rewarding one's efforts.

For the past 11 years, Manjo Smith has been growing herbs and vegetables on her farm just a few km's from central Okahandja.

The former general manager of Mweb, now AfricaOnline, left her high profile career to nestle herself in nature.

Sharing her journey with The Namibian, Smith who worked in the corporate world for close to 12 years' said that her life changed within one week when she enrolled for a two-year part-time course at the University of Stellenbosch.

“My plan was to do an MBA, but after my friend convinced me to attend the course in sustainable development, things changed. The course was really an eye-opener for me.”

She said that that shift was major. “While it was important to have money and be able to travel and do what I want with my life, that all changed at a time that I was starting my family. I wanted my kids to grow up in a farming environment,” shares Smith.

Now a mother of two young boys, she said that switching over to farming has been greatly challenging and rewarding.

“Farming is not easy. It is complex. I learnt through trial and error, but I wouldn't change it for anything.”

A family-oriented Smith added, “My kids also have a better understanding of where food comes from and have a sense of appreciation for life.”

A sector still in its infancy, today Smith is one of a only a handful of organic farmers in the country. Smith said that being a farmer is a big responsibility. “Choosing what seeds to plant and what food to grow effects every single person buying from you.”

While many people continue to look down on farming as a path for the uneducated, according to Smith, human life is dependent on the earth.

“People think that big farms produce the food in this world but it is not. A huge percentage, in fact 80% of the world's food is produced by small-scale farmers,” said Smith.

She added, “What happens in agriculture on a worldwide scale will determine our survival.”

Smith farms with organic parsley, tomatoes and carrots. Since last year however, she has slowed down on

vegetable production, because of lack of good rains and baboons.

Even though the learning curve was steep, Smith said that there was never a day when she was bored. “I have never ever been bored here. It is such a challenge, not only in organic farming but other types of farming. You learn

• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

Who would have thought that selling sweets on campus would ever get one so far?

From humble beginnings to the sole owner and Managing Director of The Virgin Hair Boutique Cc, 25 year old Albertina Ashisheoshange Ndishishi opens up to The Namibian about where she started her journey and her new hair line.

The Virgin Hair Boutique has established itself as the leading virgin hair wholesaler in the country supplying premium quality virgin hair, and hair care products not only to the Namibian market but to neighbouring countries such as South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe

Ndishishi who classifies herself as a self-funded entrepreneur is a graduate from the University of Namibia, having completed her Honours in Industrial Psychology and Sociology in 2010.

Raised by her grandmother, Ndishishi said that she comes from a humble background.

“I started selling popcorns while I was a freshman in high school, at the same time I used to sell ice at home as well,” shares Ndishishi.

Knowing my circumstances at home, I knew I had to do something to help out in the little way that I could, I was able to buy own stationery as well as toiletries for myself.

Ndishishi said that after enrolling at

GO ORGANIC… local organic farmer Manjo Smith is also vice president of the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movement.

HEART OF THE FARM… Seeds of various herbs and vegetables.

It is not ALWAYS about the money

every time. Every season, every plant is different,” she emphasized.

Recently appointed vice president of the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movement (IFOAM), Smith said she is privileged to serve the industry.

She is also the chairperson of the Namibia Organic Association, which she helped establish five years ago.

“It's not about your degree, but your passion and what you are prepared to do for the industry. I had to learn how to do this single-handedly. Getting involved in the international organic community really enhanced my skills,” she shared.

The brain behind Green Spot Organic, Smith that while her farm supplies the market with organic products twice a week, demand is much higher than the supply.

“We never have enough. There is a huge market and this is only in Windhoek.”

Corporate to organic farming.

“All my marketing, management, organisational and public relations skills I am using on the farm.”

Smith produces and packages her products with the assistance of 14 farm workers.

Green Organic Spot can be found at Food Lovers Market, Super Spar (Grove and Maerua Mall), Ocean View at the coast and the Organic Box (online organic shop).

Currently, Smith is attending Biofach, which is the largest international organic expo.

Success comes through trial & error

the University of Namibia, she soon realized that she would have to earn extra money because tuition fees was costly not to mention the books and taxi fare. It is then that she decided to start selling sweets on campus.

Recalling her struggle, Ndishishi said that with the money, she was able to pay for her own taxi fare as well as save some money.

At the beginning of her second year, 19-year-old Ndishishi said that she had saved close to N$6,000.

“Looking at the money I wondered what I was going to do with it because I felt like it was so much! It is then that I decided that I wanted to sell hair extensions and that is where my journey started,” she eluded.

Today, barely five years later. Ndishishi has grown into a force to reckon with. The booming hair industry is no place for quitters and according to her; the road does get smooth but never easy.

Upon returning from an exchange program in Europes, Ndishishi imported her first set of hair extensions which she bought from an Argentinean wholesaler.

Ndishishi said that the beginning was not easy and stayed for months without selling a single packet of hair but soon it grew.

“I saw that there was great demand for the products and I also realized that in spite of the high demand, a lot of the products that were on the market were of low quality and people were charged hefty amounts.”

She then decided to do wholesale too.

Today her shop supplies over 700 individual sellers in and outside the country that we supply the hair to on a monthly basis.

Ndishishi also ventured into the hair care industry. She has her own hair care products, the virgin hair care system, a hair care line for virgin human hair.

The admirable young businesswomen is driven by the, ‘Work hard today to enjoy tomorrow,’ her motto.

The Virgin Hair Boutique is situated at Khomasdal, Parkfood Shopping Mall.

DRIVEN… 25-year old Albertina Ndishishi is the owner of the popular Virgin Hair Boutique.


• ADAM HARTMAN

THE Walvis Bay billionaire John Sav-va is a man with many friends in every circle of the society, including

high places, and he is considered one of the wealthiest men in the country. He has been in Namibia for 45 years.

Those who earn money easily and dis-honestly will also lose it easily, says Savva (JS) who is also the Honorary Consul for Cy-prus and Greece. He shared a little of who he is with The Namibian (TN).

TN: Tell us a little about who you are.JS: I was born in Cyprus. My dream was to buy an American car. They were smart and powerful. I saved money and bought a Pon-tiac Persian 1970 model – six metres long. I sold it because it was too expensive to run when fuel prices sky-rocketed in the early 70s.

I had three children. My eldest son, Yianni, died in a motor car accident near Walvis Bay in October 2010.

We have passion for helping people. Cy-prus was a colony like Namibia. The rela-tionship between the people of Cyprus and Namibia has been very close. I advise a lot of people going into business. I assist and advise them to do it right.

TN: What is it like being a personal friend of the founding President Sam Nujoma, President Pohamba and other political leaders?JS: They are good people. Every good citi-zen loves them. They fought and sacrificed their lives for Namibia.

They spent the best years of their lives in exile; moving from one country to another, one mountain to another, leading the strug-gle, so that we can have freedom and peace. Who doesn’t want to be friends with lead-ers of this country? Every Namibian is their friend. We can see it from the rallies, how they pull the crowds. My friendship with them is open and respectful.

TN: Does money make friends?JS: No. Money cannot buy friends. We know money is a powerful thing.

Nothing can be done without money. It can affect real human feelings such as friend-ship or love. It can make you enemies. Some people can become jealous, because of your wealth. Jealousy can change attitudes.

It is quite easy to notice. Some people call-ing themselves businessmen knock at your door and offer business ventures. In fact, they can be cheats who want to take the op-portunity to get easy money. Money can’t make friends. Be humble, be yourself and recognise everybody around you.

Money must never define your personality.At all times, be a philanthropist - in Greek ‘philos’ means a friend and ‘anthropos’ a hu-man being. I have believed in that since I was young.

TN: How do you know who your real friends are?JS: My wife and I discuss this matter often, because we meet people all the time. Can he be a good friend? Can we trust this person? Is that person honest?

It is very difficult to tell who your true friends are. The ones who will see you through thick and thin, the good and the bad, the ups and downs. It may be hard to know who your real friends are. It is very important for friends to discuss their lives.

A true friend will admit fault, ask for for-giveness when wrong and extend forgiveness to you when you are wrong. A real friend sticks up for you whether you are there or

John Savva

John Savva’singredients for success

not. Someone who does not stand up for you with things you care about is not your friend. My wife is my best friend, because there is a mutual trust and understanding between us.

TN: How did you start your business?JS: The beginning was very difficult.

It was surely a long journey. You make mistakes and learn. I started as a personal assistant and started my business at 25. I started in retail and ventured into other dif-ferent businesses I have a passion for. I want to see Walvis Bay becoming Namibia’s big-gest city in the near future.

TN: What do you say to those wishing to become wealthy?JS: Don’t spend frivolously. Don’t buy a car unless you can afford it.

Don’t trust anyone coming to sell you nice stories about investments. If you are in debt by more than 10% of your annual income, this is a red card. Track your spending, make a budget. Selfdiscipline is more important now than ever. Get in the habit of making smart choices.

There are no gains without pain. Success-ful leaders in business often demonstrate attributes such as an ability to effective-ly communicate their vision, honesty and openness with their dealings, skillfulness in planning and developing strategies, clear vision of business goals, positivity, reliabil-ity, pro-activeness and self-awareness and self-direction. I understand my processes and know how to direct myself.

Make decisions quickly when necessary, but also slow down to consider all the op-tions. Decide on what is important to you and pursue that. Good work habits can pay enormous dividends. Most wealthy men are self-made. They may have studied hard in school, took some calculated risks, worked even harder on their business and reached their goals. They know what it’s like to be poor or middle class. Good times cannot last in business, so keep on working to ensure your business is protected and never take for granted what you have.

TN: What is your biggest success in life?

JS: To choose the best girl in the world to be my wife, Roulla. There is nothing better than to have a good partner. That was my biggest success that no money in the world can buy.

She is my partner and companion who un-derstands me. Caring is not a matter of con-venience, it is a commitment of one soul to another.

TN: What is your secret to success?JS: Success is simple – it comes through hard work 24 hours a day.

Love what you do, be motivated and deter-mined. My shop was the size of two rooms; that’s how I started.

I tightened my belt and ate brown bread. No wine and dining out; no expensive things. It was just to keep on moving; that is how successful people start. You start from the bottom and learn the nuts and the bolts. To set out on the way to wealth and become a self-made entrepreneur, you will have to develop many qualities at a higher level than you ever before.

You will have to become an exceptional person. You will have to become more than you ever imagined possible for yourself. You must develop the virtues of integrity; courage and persistence. You will have to practice the qualities of clarity, competence, creativity, concentration and continuous action until they are as natural to you as breathing.

You will have to accept complete respon-sibility for your life and everything that hap-pens to you. The entrepreneur is one who undertakes the risks of a new venture in pur-suit of profit.

The majority of people don’t have suffi-cient courage to launch a new venture, to start a new business, to boldly go where no one has gone before.

You need, first of all, the courage to be-gin, to move out of your comfort zone in the direction of your goals and dreams, even though you know you will experience many problems, difficulties and temporary failures along the way. Second you need courage to endure, to hang in there, to persist in the face of all adversity until you finally win. When

you develop these twin qualities – the ability to step out in faith and then to persist res-olutely in the face of all difficulties – your success is guaranteed.

TN: What is Namibia’s biggest problems?JS: We must combat unemployment. We need skills development.

We must maintain the peace that we inher-ited from the Founding President and con-tinued by President Pohamba and I am sure will continue under the next President, Hage Geingob. Our political structure is correct and Swapo proved that they can do the job.

The skills development affects everyone, because it is so closely linked to Namibia’s growth and development.

The quality of education becomes a joint responsibility of the private sector, society and government and it is therefore essential that a partnership between government and the private sector be supported to improve training in all sectors of the economy.

Service delivery should remain at the core. We must engage the business community, municipal employees, government employ-ees irrespective which sector we are work-ing to establish a culture of the good service delivery so that people receive what they deserve.

Service excellence is an attitude that should be engrained in every department from the ordinary teller, office clerk, hotel receptionist, bank employee, house keeper, painter, refrigeration, technician, petrol at-tendant, taxi driver, police officer, teacher, municipal councillor, member of parliament, to the CEO or owner of any organisation. Let’s build a nation of service deliveries.

TN: What’s your biggest fear?JS: I have no fears. I have the best partner and friend Roulla by my side.

TN: What message do you have for the new president?JS: My message is very clear. He’s an expe-rienced man who has been the Prime Min-ister for many years; he gained vast experi-ence in administration and politics. He must keep the legacy of President Nujoma and President Pohamba alive; based on the prin-ciples of peace, unity, stability, development and keep the people of Namibia together. I firmly believe Namibia will continue to prosper under him. Foreign investors must invest now and not leave it too late.

TN: Tell us a little about your consulship?JS: It is an honour to be appointed as one. I have two portfolios: Consular of Cyprus and Consular of Greece in Namibia. It does not come easy to be appointed by the coun-try where you were born; therefore it’s a big honour. It’s worth more than money.

TN: People say you are a generous man – with your money, time and person. Do people take advantage of you?JS: Yes, some people take advantage of your kindness. I have a passion to help people who are honest and have good intentions. That way I am also investing in the economy of our country by creating entrepreneurs. We were designed to seek and discover happi-ness in loving and caring and we have been taught from an early stage in our lives to respect and be kind to others. However in some cases people take advantage of your generosity and kind nature expecting more than is fair or right.

Such people may repeatedly ask for fa-vours and cause you to feel obliged without showing you any respect. If you feel people are taking you for granted, protect yourself by setting boundaries.


Don’t lose your place— come register in person today!

at KAYEC in Wanaheda—corner of Kampala & City StreetsTelephone 081.129.1109

Women are especially welcome!

Construction courses—3 months, February–May N$200 deposit (N$600 full fee)

ICDL course—6 months, February–August N$800 deposit (N$1,600 full fee)

If you are over 16 and out of school, KAYEC (Trust 250/99) wants to help you train your job skills so you can find work and help your family and community. Sponsored by the Namibia Training Authority, with U.S. government support

through USAID funding from PEPFAR.

YOUR CAREERPOWER UP

with evening courses in:

• CONSTRUCTION CARPENTRY• SHUTTERING

• CONCRETE WORK• INTERNATIONAL

COMPUTER DRIVING LICENCE

Career Opportunities at NedbankAs a leading Namibian Financial Institution, our success depends on the calibre of people we invite to join our professional and highly skilled team. For 40 years we have focused on building an environment where motivated people flourish. If you can make a contribution to our team, join us.

Suitably qualified and highly motivated candidates are invited to apply for the following position:

Personal Banker – Eenhana BranchReporting to the Branch Manager

Key Responsibilities:•Acquisitionofnewclientsandretentionofexistingclients.•Deliverworldclassbenchmarkedcustomerservice.•Compilationandmaintenanceofactionplanstoincreasebankingsales• Exceedmonthlysettargets.•Marketingofthevariousbank’sproducts.•Maintaininganddevelopingrelationshipswithexistingandnewclients

Abilities Requirements:•Customerservicedriven.• Extensiveandsoundexperienceinallaspectsofsalesandbanking.•Musthaveahighdegreeofself-confidence,beabletoworkindependentlyandmustbeaself-starter

•Goodproblemsolvingandanalyticalskills.• Abilitytoworkunderpressureandaflexibleapproach•Asoundcreditbackgroundlinkedwithsuperiorinterpersonalandmarketingskills.•Knowledgeandexperienceoffinancialstatementsandtheanalysisthereof.• Excellentknowledgeofbank’sproductsandsystems.

Education and Experience Requirements•Grade12(25points),aDiplomainbusiness/bankingrelatedstudies.•Adegreeinarelatedfieldwillbeanadvantage.•Minimumof5(Five)yearsretailsalesexperienceinabankingenvironmentofwhichat least2(Two)yearsasaSalesSupport.

•Computerliterate(MSWord,MSExcel,MSPowerPoint).• ApplicantwillberequiredtoworkonsomeSaturdays.

How to Apply:Thebankoffersanaboveaverageremunerationpackage,excellentbenefitsaswellasastimulatingworkingenvironment.

Closing date for applications: 5 March 2015

Interested applicants meeting the requirements should forward a detailed CV (which includes a career outline to date) together with supporting documents to: Human Resources Department, Nedbank Namibia, P. O. Box 1, Windhoek (12-20 Dr Frans

Indongo Street, Windhoek) or [email protected]

Please note that no documents will be returned and only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

(Affirmative Action Candidates are encouraged to apply)

and I know that one day I will,” he shared.

Emvula added that Kayec is working towards harnessing their relationship with both private and public sector by providing trainees with job attachment opportunities.

“We don’t just want to release graduates. We want to empower young people to actually make a meaningful contribution to the economy. It is not only the person earning an income, this person is able to strengthen their household economically,” he noted.

Emvula said that the entrepreneurship training, which they provide trainees with, has assisted some of the graduates to become entrepreneurs themselves.

Besides the vocational training aspect, Kayec also has a youth development programme which runs at 48 schools in nine different towns and is progressing well as it targets children from the most disadvantage household settings.

“One thing that we are really proud of is that for the past three years, these students learners have been out-performing the national average in their pass rate even though they are coming from the toughest backgrounds,” Emvula shared.

Asked what their greatest challenge is, Emvula said that while vocational training centers give training to people with a certain amount of resources, Kayec’s challenge is to help fill the remaining gap.

Emvula added that while there is progress, finding a common ground with industry remains a problem. “There is a need to establish a national job attachment incentive for industry. They also find it difficult to dig in the pockets even though they understand the importance of job attachment not only for students trainees but for them and the country at large.”

In addition, he said, “What we are busy with is essentially increasing the skills level of our people. And these are people whom they (industry) might employ or employ others. Thus we need to increase their willingness to take on more trainees on job attachment. Not to leave out the role of trade unions and other institutions such as Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (MANWU) and Construction Industry Federation (CIF)”

Last year, 744 trainees enrolled at Kayec and this year, they are looking at at least 750 more trainees.

Since establishment, Kayec has expanded to Ondangwa. In 2014, Kayec opened a new center in Southern Industry that works with heavy machinery such as forklift operator training.

• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

19-year old Uaanda Vaanda Karirao is one of many other young people

who did not make it into the mainstream vocational centers but underwent various training programmes.

A soft-spoken Karirao did basic training in joinery and carpentry making at the Klein Aub Resource School before enrolling at Kayec KAYEC.

Karirao who was raised by his grandfather said that he (grandfather) decided to put him in vocational training because he was not performing well in school??.

A community based training center, Kayec has contributed to the livelihood of over a thousand young Namibians.

Founded by the Anglican Church in 1994, the organization is registered as a trust Trust and has grown from strength to strength.

It started as a center providing training in office administration.

Today, the center offers various programmes such as bricklaying and plastering, plumbing and pipefitting, welding and fabrication, carpentry and joinery, general electric, painting and glazing, ICDL (base) and shuttering amongst others.

Course duration vary from three, four and six months.

According to Eneas Emvula, Employment Liaison Officer at Kayec, the center remains interested in solidifying its

role in society by training young people. While Kayec used to design their own course material, they are now transitioning to accredited training material by Namibia Training Authority (NTA). A process that started in 2014.

Emvula said that while they are trying to diversify their means of income, Kayec still relies heavily on donor assistance and funding especially USAID and NTA. “Many of the courses cost round N$ 1 600 and on average, it costs around N$ 13 000 to train a single trainee and that difference all comes from our donors,” he said.

Kayec also helps student trainees get into mainstream vocational training by helping them acquire the relevant work experience through job attachments.

Although Karirao was struggling to get into mainstream vocational training because he does not have Grade 10; As of this month, he will be attending evening classes at a Windhoek Vocational Training center in cabinet making for a month-long.

A driven Karirao who recently completed his three months course in carpentry at Kayec was working at the Katutura SME centre making cabinets.

In an interview with The Namibian, Karirao said that he wants to be a professional cabinetmaker. “I hope to run my own company some day. That is what I am working towards

Training young people to be economically active

• YVONNE AMUKWAYA

Simeon Mueze dreams of owning his own business one day and with the two-year fully funded training programme

of CATS, he might just be able to realise his dream. Established in 2005, the Commercial Advancement Training Scheme (CATS) is a unique business administration skills develop-ment programme that combines theoretical learning and practical experience in the workplace.

CATS Namibia was established by various companies within the logistics/ transport industry in response to the severe commercial skills shortage experienced in Namibia.

The two-year commercial training pro-gramme is based on the German dual training system and aims to prepare young Namibians to participate in the modern business world.

Tuition fees and books are fully covered by the programme and trainees also receive a monthly allowance from a CATS member company.

In an interview with The Namibian, the soon to be graduated young man says he is very fortunate to benefit from a fully funded programme.

One of two other children raised by a single mother, Mueze completed his matric at De Duine Secondary School.

“CATS changed my life. I could not afford

CATS TRAINEE… Simeon Mueze sharing his experience.

Bridging the gap in industryto pay for my university fees, I did not get a loan from NSFAF,” he said

Thus when the opportunity rose, Mueze did not hesitate to send hand in his application form.

CATS trainees also get a monthly allowance of between N$ 2000 and N$ 3000 from the member company.

Mueze who is a trainee at the African Mar-keting Company uses part of his allowance to pay for his accommodation in Windhoek. He is set to graduate in May.

A major part of the CATS training pro-gramme is the practical training, which runs from Monday to Thursday.

“As a CATS trainee, you rotate through all the departments in the company and you gain expertise in each of them. The duration at a certain department depends on the size of the company,” shared an enthusiastic Mueze.

One of three trainees left from the initial six doing practicals with African Marketing, Mueze said that it is not easy. “To make it, you need to be dedicated. The programme requires a lot of time and hard work.”

Mueze who was also a relief teacher at De De Duine Secondary School during his gap year, urged students who are finding it hard to get into University and want a commercial career, to consider the programme.

After successfully completing the 2-year programme, a trainee receives an internation-

ally recognized diploma as an industrial management assistant.

Theoretical training is provided by the Polytechnic of Namibia on Fridays and Saturdays (Half-day). The Polytechnic of Namibia issues successful graduates with a Certificate in Applied Business Process Management.

CAS is a joint creation of the South Af-rican and German chambers of commerce and industry and was transferred to the Namibian context in 2004.

It is a Section 21 company, not for gain, which currently consists of 27 member companies.

People with work experience who are over the age of 23 can qualify for the pro-gramme via the mature age entry test.

I CAN… Uaanda Karirao is a graduate of Kayec (inset). POLISHING HER SKILLS… Elina Johannes is completing a three-month long course in general electrical.

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