One Economy appoints youth leaders
By Michael Uugwanga
THE One Economy Foundation, ONE, has appointed Beatha Iileka and Macveren Kapukare to its board of directors.
The new directors were selected because of their intimate experience and knowledge in local and international youth development issues.
As part of a more intensive youth focus, the new youth leaders will ensure that the voices, experiences and perspectives of young people are amplified and prioritised by the One Economy Foundation.
The appointments of the two were conducted three weeks ago during a groundbreaking ceremony for its youth friendly centre (Project#BeFree) in Windhoek.
Project #BeFree is the institutionalisation of the #BeFree Movement and a vehicle to implement the critical learning gained during the last four years of #BeFree dialogues.
Project #BeFree intends to provide a continuum of holistic services including psychosocial support, legal and criminal justice system guidance, the full spectrum of sexual reproductive health services, skills development, adolescent friendly entertainment, youth accommodation and other critical services.
These interventions will be provided through smart partnerships to enhance accessibility of services.
Iileka is a 21-year-old Bachelor of Accounting student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).
She is an ambassador of the #BeFree Movement and Orange Babies Namibia.
Iikela has lived her entire life in a peri-urban settlement and uses her experience to channel the change she wants to see in her community.
As a result, she founded the United Youth Charity Association, a Section 21 company which works with young people to craft solutions to social challenges.
Iikela is a 2019 African Pathfinder Leaders Initiative (APLI) Fellow and graduated with a Gold Merit from the 2019 Youth Leadership Development Programme.
Kapukare is an energetic and results-driven software engineer and is employed as an Office, CS and CSI lecturer at the Physically Active Youth (PAY) and is also interning at Green Enterprise Solution.
Prior to this, Kapukare served as a Robotics Coordinator at FABLAB at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).
He is an innovative thinker committed to utilising his IT and programming acumen to find sustainable solutions, streamline processes, and manage organisations.
Kapukare developed the EstApp, a real estate application that helps young people find affordable accommodation.
In recognition of his work, the App was nominated as the best digital solution from Namibia at the World Summit Award 2019.
He scooped the ninth place at the World Robotics Competition along with his PAY team. He also won the University programming competition for three consecutive years.
Welcoming Iikela and Kapukare to the board Sem Mandela Uutoni, One Economy Foundation chief executive officer said:
“A key priority for us is to ensure that the board reflects the values of ONE. The board comprises directors from both, first and second economy which includes a development finance expert, car guard, chartered accountant, former police officer, lawyer, micro-entrepreneur and social worker.
“This diverse board ensures that the interests and needs of our beneficiaries drive the strategic outcomes of all the programmes and activities.
In order to embed and affirm our values for intergenerational dialogue and youth representation, it is prudent that our board reflects the Namibian youth demographic.
Our new directors have a wealth of experience in youth and community development in various settings and I am excited for the immense value they will bring to the foundation and the board”.