WINDHOEK, FEB 8 – Twelve children drawn from Namibia’s regions are set to have their artwork grace a calendar for the Integrated Physical Education and Schools Sports Programme (IPESS.) The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (MoEAC) and the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service (MSYNS), together with GIZ’s regional programme “Sport for Development in Africa” (S4DA) recently held a Sports Art Competition in which the children came out best of the rest.
Through the Integrated Physical Education and School Sports Programme (IPESS), children through the 14 regions of Namibia were asked to illustrate what sports and physical education means for them. They did this through the medium of art and drawings flooded in from all regions. With the best 12 being selected to be part of an actual calendar by IPESS.
During the prize-giving ceremony on Monday, Youth Minister, Agnes B. Tjongarero and Education Minister, Ester Anna Nghipondoka were on hand to hand over the prizes to two of the twelve winners.
Education Minister, Ester Anna Nghipondoka, Maria Rengura from Chairman Mao Zedong High School, Penyovamati Hashiti of Green Leaves Primary School and participant of Physically Active Youth (PAY). and Youth Minister, Agnes B. Tjongarero pose for a photo.
The Sport Art Competition was an initiative started by the Ministries’ programme IPESS. It officially launched on the 24th of September 2021 and ran until the 24th of October 2021. Children between 7 – 16 years could enter the competition by submitting a drawing, showing the importance of sport and physical education.
In addition, each child submitted their short story describing how sport has impacted their lives. The drawings and stories are part of the 2022 IPESS calendar.
From the entries received, the judging panel picked the twelve winners to be featured on the calendar. These winners were also awarded prizes and came from across Namibia. The winners, all comprising of different backgrounds, ages, schools and ethnic groups hail from various regions such as the Khomas Region, Oshana Region, Ohangwena Region and ǁKaras Region. Moreover, the prize given to each winner consists of a complete art set, a skipping rope, a football, and an IPESS gift hamper (made up of an IPESS mask, T-shirt, water bottle, notebook and sports bag).
Maria Rengura from Chairman Mao Zedong High School, Penyovamati Hashiti of Green Leaves Primary School and participant of Physically Active Youth (PAY), pose for a photo.
The two winners present at the prize giving ceremony were Maria Rengura from Chairman Mao Zedong High School and Penyovamati Hashiti of Green Leaves Primary School and participant of Physically Active Youth (PAY).
The IPESS programme promotes education and school sports and will become an intrinsic part of all school learners’ overall development and forms part of their healthy lifestyle. It is a fully inclusive programme and won’t just focus on the ‘very sporty’ children. Every boy and girl, whatever their level of ability will be included. No one will be left behind. The ‘sport for development’ concept that has already been rolled out and implemented successfully across the nation and trained teachers in physical education laid the foundation for this programme. – info@namibiadailynews.info
