Tragedy Causes Recreational Revolt Amongst Lüderitz Youth

It began with a trickle of school children clutching home made banners, standing quietly outside the Town Council buildings on a Monday afternoon; students from Lüderitz Christian school appeared first, quickly joined by the brightly coloured uniforms of Brightstart Montessori children, and then, like a great wave upon the ocean, a vast crowd appeared in the distance, thundering along the streets to join the masses until almost 3000 teens and pre-teens stood before the Council and voiced their opinion: the youth of Lüderitz has spoken.

On Monday the 2nd February students from every school in Lüderitz gathered in front of the Town Council to hand over a petition asking for an increase in the range of recreational activities available to the youth, a range which is currently rather limited. Following the tragic drowning of a grade 11 student, in the previous week the principals from Lüderitz High School, Lüderitz Primary School, Helen Van Rhijn School, Diaz Primary School, Brightstart Montessori and Lüderitz Christian School came together to discuss how to prevent similar tragic incidents in the future. Their solution was simple; by increasing the recreational facilities in town the youth of Lüderitz are less likely to become involved with dangerous or illegal activities that may result in physical or mental harm. A swimming pool, a cinema and an ice rink are amongst the suggestions they have put forward to the town council and members of the schooling community hope that they will receive funding or sponsorship from the Government.

“Our youth are the most important thing in this town,” said one school Principal, “the Council owes it to provide them with safe and fun activities.” His is a sentiment that is shared across the diversity of each school, regardless of age or colour and kids stood united, underneath banners proclaiming ‘WE DO NOT TOLERATE THI S NEGLIGENCE FROM THE TOWN COUNCIL ANY LONGER’ and ‘IF ELDERS HAVE RIGHTS, SO DO WE’, and, on a slightly more lighthearted note, ‘A POOL WOULD BE COOL’.

It is a common perception, at these sorts of events, to believe that the protesting is in vain. Whilst it is all very well to stand together, demanding your rights, the majority of the time you are ignored and the march becomes more for its own sake than to prove a point, a chance to skip half a days school and feel like you’re part of something bigger for a few hours. And yet wouldn’t it be wonderful if something did happen? If, for a change, the powers that be took heed and, instead of ignoring or resisting the common demand, they rose to meet it and decided that today they would do something, they would give what is asked of them. Is it possible that in a few months time there will be plans laid for a public swimming pool? The foundations for Namibia’s first ever ice rink? Granted there are numerous logistical problems; the lack of funding/ instructors/ equipment and so on, but despite this could the community receive what they want? Is it too much to hope for?