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NAMIBIA PROJECT NEWSLETTER – JANUARY 2023

HAPPY NEW YEAR! BONNE ANNEE! FELIZ ANO NUEVO! XIN NIAN KUAI LE!

Night for Namibia in 2018 at Landing 42 in London.

Namibia Project 2000 Alumni: Brad Hope and wife, Vadim and Ilaria Nikitin, Ann Brandse.


New Year Honours 2023, Overseas and International List

The Namibia Project is delighted and very proud to announce that our non-executive trustee Ilaria Regondi Nikitin has been awarded an OBE: Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to Trade and Investment in Europe.


Ilaria is Acting HM Trade Commissioner to Europe and Country Director France, Department for International Trade, British Embassy Paris.


As a non-executive trustee, Ilaria has provided creative and strategic leadership on several critical aspects of the Namibia Project’s development since 2005. She has leveraged her expertise from her previous work on HIV/Aids in South Africa as an ODI Fellow to enable trustees and students to better understand the challenges and perspectives of our Namibian counterparts. Ilaria has also provided advice and direction on a host of educational games for teachers and learners at our partner schools in Namibia.


Ilaria’s enthusiasm, experience and approachability have been a major asset to the Namibia Project and we could not be more pleased to see that she has received recognition for her commitment to the UK and in part to Namibia.


MANY MORE HAPPY CONGRATULATIONS to the Nikitin-Regondi Family as they start 2023 with a new member of the family: Leonardo was born a month early happy, and healthy and obviously keen to join the family as they welcomed in the New Year and the Honours’ List!!


We look forward to seeing Vadim, Ilaria, Luca and Leonardo back to the UK when they return in the summer 2023!


THE NAMIBIA PROJECT SQUARES THE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP CIRCLE IN 2023

In 2023 Oliver and Irmgard will graduate after completing their studies for a four-year degree in Windhoek.


Oliver has an internship as an electrical engineer with the City of Windhoek and Irmgard is to be a High School Economics teacher.


The Namibia Project Scholarship: From Village…to University…to the World of Work

was launched in 2019. Funds were raised and ring-fenced at the “Night for Namibia” dinner and auctions in 2017 and 2018. The “Party for the Planet” event in 2018 generated vital, additional money. MacBank, Europe, the largest re-seller of refurbished Apple computers, provided a laptop for Oliver and Irmgard.

Computers Arrive in Rundu

Irmgard and Oliver receive their laptops.


The charity’s vision, “Creating Life Chances” is about shaping a sustainable future for vulnerable and disadvantaged people - and education is at its heart.


In 2023 the Namibia Project will be documenting Oliver and Irmgard’s tertiary education journey. We will celebrate the success of the Scholarship Programme and hope to raise more funds to support learners from Dr Alpo Mauno Mbamba JS School who attended the ACS cultural and academic exchange to further their education.


If you are inspired to help change lives?

Please donate to the Namibia Project’s Tertiary Education Scholarship fund to make a difference and create a life chance for a disadvantage young person in Namibia.


The Namibia Project Wishes “Happiness and Health to You and Yours in the Year Ahead”.


Ann and Rijn Brandse

6th January 2023

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