Windhoek, 25 May 2025 — In honouring the legacy of the Founding President and Father of the Namibian Nation and Celebrating Africa Day, the Rob Youth Foundation Namibia, in collaboration with International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), Project Green Earth, and HWPL today conducted a tree-planting ceremony as a meaningful tribute to the pivotal role the Founding President of Namibia played in shaping Namibia’s history, from the liberation struggle to freedom, development and in celebrating the birthday of the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) now the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 25 May 1963, as it turns 62 years today. Speaking at the Tree Planting Ceremony held at the Special Olympics Namibia Complex, Mr. Robert Maseka, the Founder of the Rob Youth Foundation Namibia said “tree-planting event therefore reflects the values Founding President Dr. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma embodied, most notably his unwavering dedication to nurture peace, unity, and to promote national development in Namibia and Africa as a whole. Furthermore, the occasion serves as a call to action for all young people in Namibia and Africa to uphold and carry forward the legacy of the Father of the Namibian Nation: A legacy rooted in unity, peace and development.”
The Initiative of Tree-Planting is themed: ‘’Preserving the legacy of the father of the Namibian Nation and Celebrating one of the founders of the OAU now AU ’’.
Natalia Shifeta, Rob Youth Foundation Namibia member and a Student at the International University of Namibia studying Environmental Management and Sustainable Development said “As young Namibians, we stand here to honour the work and legacy of Founding Father, His Excellency the Late Dr. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, in his efforts to transform the desert and restore the land of our country. As we honour and celebrate the Africa day and answering to the call of president Nujoma, the term Ubuntu sounds louder. As the theme highlights of preserving the legacy of the father of the Namibian Nation and celebrating one of the founders of OAU which is now known as the African Union, we are reminded of how far we have come, and of the journey yet to come, in not just preserving this legacies, but also ensuring that they pave the way toward the development of Africa, in particular the Agenda 2063 as well as the UN SDGs. Just 3 days ago, we celebrated the International Day of Biological Diversity, looking at the power of mother nature in sustaining livelihoods but also reflecting on the various threats that our ecosystems and resources pose, as climate change becomes pronounced in our lands. Thus, we also come here today, to not just celebrate President Nujoma’s legacies and call to plant more trees, but also appreciate his impacts toward land restoration.
Sem Nangolo, a Representative from the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) said “as we plant trees today, we do more than place roots in the soil. We root ourselves in the values President Nujoma lived by: unity, peace, hard work and nation-building”. President Nujoma once said: I quote “A nation that does not care for its environment will have no future”
As the Chairman of HWPL, Mr. Man Hee Lee says: I quote “Just as water drops merge to become a huge thunderstorm that covers an entire area, our collective actions (voices) will become a thunderstorm that wipes away the world tainted with the atrocities of war and brings out a new era of peace’’.
Mr. Robert Maseka the Founder of the Rob Youth Foundation Namibia, who is also a Deputy Chief Branch Manager for the HWPL Southern Africa concluded that as we celebrate Africa day today, youth leaders should advance civil society growth, poverty reduction, economic expansion, advocating for peace on the continent and innovation throughout the continent by strengthening the participation of women, and youth, promoting human rights, facilitating access to justice, and ensuring that inclusion of all communities.
The Various organizations also donated trees to the Special Olympics Namibia office as part of the call for the young people to plant tree in the country.
