Helao Nafidi Town Council, Namibia

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‘Reading increases your knowledge by increasing your exposure to new ideas and perspectives. It is true that the more you learn, the more places you will be able to visit and experience.’

Mr Darius Shaalukeni

Mayor

Helo Nafidi Town Council: home to the region's largest library

Located in the north of Namibia on the border with Angola, Helao Nafidi is a focal point for free trade between the countries. The city is named after Nabot Helao Nafidi, a national hero who dedicated his life to Namibian independence. Helo Nafidi has large townlands and is home to the region’s largest library. 

Vision and Strategy

Lifelong learning enables people to emerge from poverty and participate in socio-economic and cultural development. Our priority areas are social security, education and awareness-raising, resource mobilization, food security, the construction of mobile libraries, the preservation of natural resources, and the empowerment of vulnerable youth, women, and children. Joining the GNLC and participating in exchanges with cities will help us to achieve these aims. In the long term, we hope to build a multipurpose community centre and a database for vulnerable children. 

Policies, Plan and Implementation

Sustainability and health

• The city will prioritize health education through initiatives such as information campaigns to encourage regular health check-ups, wheelchairs for people with disabilities, and mobile health teams to provide care for people in poor areas.

Equity and inclusion

• The city will ensure that all inhabitants have equal opportunities by identifying residents’ needs and then appointing a committee to develop a programme that meets those needs. All residents, particularly women and disadvantaged groups, will be informed of their right to free lifelong learning opportunities.

Decent work and entrepreneurship

• The city is encouraging residents to use grey water for gardening, and to turn degradable waste into compost. The municipality is implementing a pilot project, funded by the council that offers children the opportunity to maintain a garden that makes use of grey water.

Good practices

Using grey water and compost for gardening

• The council is using grey water from treatment plants to grow animal feed, thus generating revenue for the municipality and utilizing all waste material from the sewage system. As well as constructing irrigation systems, farms are using expelled and processed faeces in their composting systems.