Russian company invests N$700k into Leonardville’s youth

The Russian uranium company Headspring Investments has invested N$700 000 to give 20 young people from Leonardville an opportunity to study full-time at the Namibia Institute for Mining and Technology (Nimt).

Headspring Investments has been searching for uranium in the Omaheke region.

The study programme, in partnership with Nimt, will provide the students with job opportunities upon completion of the programme.

According to a statement released by Headspring spokesperson Rian van Rooyen, 236 applications were received for the program. However, only 45 were shortlisted.

“Although it was evident that the youth in Leonardville and the surrounding areas recognised this as a golden opportunity, the number of applications exceeded expectations.

“A total of 236 applications were received. The selection committee narrowed it down to 129 applicants who then had to write a test. Based on the test results, a shortlist of 45 aspirant students was created,” he says.

According to van Rooyen, 20 students have so far left Leonardville to start their six-month course at Nimt’s Arandis campus.

“After successful completion of the six months, the trainees will be placed in companies that accept these students, and after three to four years of practical experience, the trainees can return to Nimt to be assessed for the national certificates,” he says.

Four senior managers from Nimt on 14 August visited Leonardville to conduct practical tests with the 45 aspirant students.

The four test areas included working with a claw hammer, measuring and identifying various tools, sawing metal pipes, sawing of PVC pipes, and fitting a selection of nuts and bolts.

After the tests were concluded, the 20 finalists were announced.