The Women’s Leadership Centre (WLC) on 11 September launched a booklet highlighting the need to protect and promote the rights and well-being of indigenous San people of Namibia.
The publication, launched in Windhoek, is meant to serve as a policy brief for government and other stakeholders. The title of the publication is “Protect and promote the rights and well-being of indigenous San peoples in Namibia!”
Liz Frank, the director of WLC, said that the WLC, which started in 2004 as a feminist organization, has done a lot of work over the years in promoting the well-being of San people.
“We have come a long way with San programmes,” Frank said. “Programmes aimed at improving their well-being and creating change in San communities. Change starts at a personal level. To change ourselves, such as by getting the courage to speak up for yourself. Then change of our families and change at community level and social level.”
Aulleria Muyakuyi, a community leader from Ndama in Kavango East region made a short introduction of the WLC San Girls Empowerment Programme which started in 2016.
Muyakuyi stated that she is one of the beneficiaries of the programme. “Most of us were raised by families which are not from the San community, and in the process we did not know how to speak our San languages.”
Three San teenage girls also gave testimonies of how the San programme helped them in many ways, including in building up their confidence.
Sofia Gutas from Drimiopsis in Omaheke region, Merlyn Muneu from Mu’ciku in Kavango East region, and Brigitha Likunde from Ndama in Kavango East region expressed gratitude for the San girls programme.
Another San young woman, Tertu Fernandu, of the //Ana-Djeh San Trust in Tsumkwe spoke about a research they have done on ways to ensure inclusion in society of San youth in Tsumkwe Eas and West.
Fernandu stated that as the San, they do not like to be referred to as “San”. “We are not ‘San’ but we are ‘Ju-Taa-Khoe’.
Maria Garises, a community leader from Drimiopsis spoke passionately about the work the Women’s Leadership Centre has done in her community.
“We were far from development, and far from government,” Garises said. “But through the Women Leadership Centre’s San programmes, we became decision-makers. Through this programme I am no more shy but I can speak with courage to represent my community.
“I don’t speak very good English but I do my best. We have spoken to our councilor and to government ministers to discuss our health, we told them about our problems, about what we want. Today we have a clinic in our village. Today we speak for ourself, and not wait for someone to speak for us.
“If we don’t speak, who will speak for us? No one. I am a proud San woman. In 2018 I even went to America, as a result of this programme.”
Deputy Director for the Division of Marginalised Communities in the Office of the President, Ms Rebekka Namwandi, launched the publication.
Namwandi said that the government has done a lot to improve the lives of many San people, and the publication will guide the government in doing more.
“In 2023 through our programmes we produced our first San doctor from Outjo,” Namwandi said. “I am proud of the San girls. San girls, keep moving, and speak for yourselves.”
Representatives of Medico International from Germany, who funded WLC’s San activities, were also present at the launch.
In the photo: Ms Rebekka Namwandi launching the publication for the San people. In the other images are Liz Frank, and Aulleria Muyakuyi.
