Nedbank Namibia has stepped up its support for youth technology education, backing a training initiative that has equipped more than 5,000 young Namibians with practical skills in robotics, coding, electronics and 3D printing.
The bank has contributed N$59,850 to the Mindsinaction STEAM Centre, an organisation working to improve access to technical education and prepare young people for employment in an increasingly digital economy.
The funding will be used to purchase a multifunctional colour copier to support the production of educational materials, assessments, training resources and certificates.
The Centre, founded in 2018 by Ndaudika Mulundileni and Andreas Leonard, has grown from a mobile education programme serving schools in Windhoek and Walvis Bay into a broader initiative offering technology boot camps and practical training programmes across Namibia.
Since its establishment, Mindsinaction has reached more than 5,000 young people and provided internship opportunities to over 100 university students, exposing them to practical work in engineering, technology and innovation.
The programmes focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM), with the aim of developing technical skills and improving young people’s readiness for the labour market.
Nedbank Namibia Head of Marketing and Communications Janet Kapenda said the private sector had a role to play in expanding access to practical education and preparing young people for emerging employment opportunities.
“Young people need more than academic knowledge to thrive in today’s world. They need opportunities to apply their learning, solve real-world problems and develop critical thinking and innovation skills,” Kapenda said.
She said partnerships between businesses and training institutions could help address skills development needs.
“Partnerships such as this demonstrate the impact that can be achieved when organisations work together to expand opportunities for young people and equip them with skills that are relevant to the future world of work,” she said.
Mindsinaction collaborates with schools, tertiary institutions and industry partners to provide practical learning opportunities and expose young Namibians to careers in technology-related fields.
The initiative supports the government’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), which identifies education, technical skills and innovation among the priorities for economic development.
