She
wants to take technology to rural schools, says Leefa Shiikwa who was crowned
Miss Namibia 2005 recently. She emphasised her desire and willingness to work
with the youth, especially orphans, as she regards the youth as ?the foundation
of every nation?. Leefa is currently busy with her exams as a final (third year)
Business Administration student at the Polytechnic of Namibia. Leefa comes from
a huge family in a village near Oshakati and is convinced that growing up with
such a big family means ? ? you learn pretty fast about the importance of women
in families, society, communities and business?. This is one of the reasons why
she wants to focus her attention on the ?strong and determined women? and their
children in rural Namibia. According to her, working with the youth and trying
to help them achieve their goals in life has always been one of her aspirations.
Being there for the youth, helping them, guiding them and making them aware of
various issues in life. Leefa said that she will be approaching various
businesses to ask them to help out the youth with sponsorships of school fees
etc. She is going to target all the youth, and will not only focus on one region
but the entire country, identify their problems and try to assist them in
finding ways of working out their problems. ?I will utilise this unique
opportunity in my life and Telecom Namibia’s sponsorship to the best of my
abilities?, she said at the recent signing of a sponsorship agreement with
Telecom. According to Franz Ndoroma, Telecom’s Managing Director, there are some
similarities between Miss Namibia and Telecom. They are that ?Miss Namibia
touches the lives of many Namibians across all boundaries of race, color,
cultural and political beliefs, and among the old and young of the country?. He
also added that former winners of the crown had proven to be worthy winners and
ambassadors of the nation both nationally and internationally. Leefa’s message
to the youth out there is to know that education is the key to each and every
door. She is urging the youth to try and perform well and learn to balance
things. And, like Ndoroma said, the former Miss Namibia winners had made
numerous efforts at aleviating the plight of the poor. They had stood firmly
behind the worthy causes of the less priviledged youth and had supported members
of society who are physically challanged or suffering from HIV/AIDS. Telecom
sponsored Miss Namibia 2005 with N$55 000 and this amount includes some of the
production and advertising costs during the pageant. The bulk of the sponsorship
will be used to cover Miss Namibia’s legal entry fees and travelling costs to
the Miss World and Miss Universe pageants later in the
year.