Nedbank’s Go Green Fund Cultivates Hope and Hunger Relief at Keetmanshoop Secondary School
Under the harsh southern sun, where water is scarce and the soil often resists cultivation, a determined teacher decided that her school deserved more than dry ground and an empty stomach for the learners. What began as a dream to feed vulnerable children has grown into a thriving green space, a place of learning, nourishment, and hope.
At Keetmanshoop Secondary School (KSS), agriculture and biology teacher Ms. Penexupifo Shonena, is leading a project that proves that even in Namibia’s arid south, sustainable farming can take root with the right support and a lot of heart. KSS is home to 615 learners, and for many, this has become both a classroom and a lifeline.
“When I first arrived, the garden was dry & lifeless,” she recalls. “A friend used to call it ‘the dead place of KSS.’ But seeing my learners come to class hungry motivated me to start something that could make a real difference.”
That difference began when the school received a total of N$40,000.00 in funding from the Go Green Fund, a partnership between Nedbank Namibia and the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF). The fund supports individuals and organisations working toward a more sustainable future while promoting environmental education to improve local livelihoods, and awareness on climate change adaptation.
Since inception, the Go Green Fund has invested just under N$7 million, supporting more than 30 projects across Namibia. The KSS initiative was supported under the fund’s “Green Urbanism” call, which encourages innovative, sustainable solutions within community settings. With Go Green Fund support, Ms. Shonena and her learners installed a drip irrigation system, built shade net structures, and began cultivating vegetables to support the school’s soup kitchen, which feeds vulnerable learners twice a week.
“The drip irrigation system has helped us save water because every drop counts here,” Ms. Shonena explains. “And we’ve kept everything organic, using compost and manure instead of chemicals.”
Despite challenges such as high setup costs, bureaucratic delays in access to the funds from the school’s account, and the relentless southern sun, the garden still flourished. Learners now take part in practical agricultural lessons right in the soil they’ve helped nurture, connecting classroom theory with real-life experience.
“Our Grade 11 agriculture practical results have improved so much,” says Ms. Shonena. “The students understand the process because they’ve experienced it. From planting to harvesting.”
Out of the school’s 615 learners, 16 learners are directly responsible for maintaining the garden. They nurture spinach, carrots, onions, peas, and cabbages that go straight into the school’s meals. At the heart of the kitchen is Ms. Hedwig Lambert, affectionately known asAuntie, a volunteer who cooks for the learners and ensures that no child goes home hungry.
Beyond the school fence, the ripple effects are spreading. Parents and community members have begun visiting the garden for advice on how to start small home or backyard gardens. Support from local institutions has been just as encouraging. For instance, when the school reaches out, responses come within days and without hesitation. The Namibia Correctional Services quickly offered manpower to clear weeds, while the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, continues to provide guidance and technical assistance whenever needed.
“It’s no longer just a project submitted for funding,” Ms. Shonena smiles. “This is a life-long initiative that the school, the community, and everyone can be proud of.”
The impact is visible. So visible that one can see it in the rows of spinach and carrots, in the learners’ confidence, and in a community that now sees possibility where there was once only fenced off dust.
“The Go Green Fund truly transformed our garden,” Ms. Shonena says. “It gave us more than equipment; it gave us hope.”
As the garden continues to grow, the school dreams of expanding. Adding a cooling facility, building a nursery, solar for the soup kitchen, a water tank, and training learners further in sustainable farming.
For now, though, every harvest is a celebration of resilience, learning, and the power of starting small.
“The hardest part is just to start,” Ms. Shonena reflects. “Once you do, you’ll be surprised by how many people are willing to help.”
