Lewatle Uaputauka (9) from Mariental is excited to recycle old T-shirts into shopping bags after she received a sewing machine from industrialisation and trade minister Lucia Iipumbu.
Uaputuaka’s project ‘A better bag’ impressed Iipumbu, who read an article in The Namibian on 6 March 2024 about the girl helping to protect the environment by converting old T-shirts into shopping bags.
The Grade 3 pupil from Dani Joubert Combined School at Mariental was then surprised by a call from the minister who wanted to meet her on 17 December.
Uaputuka’s father, Taljaard, says the minister called to say she would be at Mariental to hand over aid equipment to beneficiaries of various projects.
“We were quite excited when she said she wanted to meet my daughter at the event, and that she had a special gift from her own pocket.
At the end of her speech at the ceremony, she introduced Lewatle’s project and gave her a sewing machine to boost her project. It was really a big surprise to my daughter. It is a big motivation to Lewatle,” he says.
Tailors who attended the event volunteered to show Lewatle how to use the machine following the minister’s request.
Lewatle has since then been eager to spend time on the machine and aims to introduce her project across the country.
“I see people buying plastic bags for shopping, but they throw them away.
I often find bags lying around in the streets, which is dangerous to the environment. Buying bags every day and not re-using them wastes money.
That is why I decided to make the bags.
“It was a nice Christmas surprise. I am busy producing some bags that the minister ordered. I am excited to see her using them. I really thank her for believing in me,” she says.
Iipumbu says she was impressed with Lewatle, especially as her project addresses climate change.
“The Namibian government is committed to addressing climate change issues by reviewing and passing responsive laws and policies to address climate change.
I was very impressed that she was addressing climate change in this way.
I, therefore, decided to support her. I encourage Namibians to support this young lady by donating T-shirts that are unwanted,” she says.
Lewatle, whose project sparked curiosity from her peers, has hosted training sessions at her school on how to make the bags.
She wants to become an ambassador for manufacturing promotion in schools.
She sells her bags for N$5 to sustain her project, while buying old T-shirts for N$1 from community members.
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