Namibia Celebrates Heritage Week for Peace

Namibia Heritage Week was celebrated with a two-day event at the National Museum, co-hosted by three international peace groups and the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture. The event, headlined under the theme “Preserving Heritage for Future Generations,” recognized the need to preserve history and cultural heritage as the foundation for social integration and lasting peace.

Some 200 individuals participated in the celebration, which included presentations highlighting the link between peace and heritage, and the special role of the youth to preserve culture. Elione Calunga, Local Heavenly Culture branch manager, said “Young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but the custodians of today.”

MC Boyson Ngondo of the ministry stated “The peace achieved by our forebears is central to our national identity, and the current generation holds the responsibility to sustain it for future generations.” Dr Sanet Steenkamp, the minister, urged the young participants to uphold integrity and compassion while celebrating diversity, which she added, defines the Namibian identity.

The second day of the celebrations offered practical activities for the youth, including a short walk and a clean-up campaign of the area around the Alte Fest, the Independence Memorial Museum, and the National Museum. During this event, the participants presented a hand-painted Namibian flag to the National Museum.

Gabriela Jeronimo, Executive Director of the Rob Youth Foundation, remarked that the event offered the youth an opportunity to reconnect to their roots and share cultural values. The event was held as part of global solidarity peace activities commemorating the anniversary of the 18 September HWPL World Peace Summit.