My name is Ridge, a 21-year-old student from Namibia who has faced years of financial hardship. Despite difficult circumstances, I was blessed with the opportunity to attend college where the government is covering my tuition for a Diploma in Education. However, I still struggle to afford essential living costs, textbooks, and the opportunity to pursue my long-term academic and business goals. Through this campaign, I am seeking support to continue my education and build a sustainable future for myself and my family.

I come from a family that has faced financial struggles for many years. My parents have been unemployed for nearly nine years, and during that time our household has experienced many difficult moments trying to make ends meet.
When I was in my Grade 12 year, I had to drop out of school in order to work and help support myself and my family. At 17 I began working in a restaurant washing dishes. It was not easy, but it taught me resilience and responsibility.
At 18 I was fortunate enough to find a job at a clothing store where I worked for two years earning about 45,000 Namibian dollars per year. During that time I saved what I could and tried to help my family with basic necessities.
Unfortunately, at the age of 20 I was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, which caused me to lose my job. Losing employment while already struggling financially made life extremely difficult, and since then I have been trying to rebuild my life while dealing with both health and financial challenges.

Despite these struggles, something incredible happened.
By the grace of God I was accepted into college where the government agreed to fund my tuition for three years so that I can study Education.
This opportunity means everything to me because it gives me a chance to rebuild my life and create stability for my future. However, although tuition is covered, I still face many financial pressures including:
Textbooks
Food
Transportation
Accommodation
Other living expenses
These daily costs have made my first year of college extremely difficult and at times overwhelming.

I have always believed that education and entrepreneurship can change lives.
While studying Education, I also want to pursue a degree in Zoology, because I have a deep interest in animals and environmental science. Studying both fields would greatly increase my chances of employment and allow me to contribute to society in meaningful ways.
Beyond education, I also have dreams of creating opportunities not only for myself but for my family and my community.
For the past two years I have been developing a long-term business plan that involves purchasing undeveloped land and building several projects over time.
These include:
A farm for livestock, poultry, and crops
A camp site for tourism and hospitality
A restaurant and bar
A venue for events and shows such as car shows and performances
A small zoo
A private school from Grade 8–12
The goal of this project is to create sustainable income, jobs for my family, and food security.

In addition to my academic and business goals, I also have passions in creative fields including:
Writing books, film scripts, and television stories
Creating music
Building a podcast and media platform
My dream is to create a platform where Namibians can share their experiences, testimonies, ideas, and perspectives with the world.

The funds raised will be used responsibly and divided into several areas:
1. Education
Although my Education diploma is funded for three years, I will still need funding to continue studying further and to pursue a degree in Zoology.
Estimated education costs:
Zoology degree to Master's level: 890,000 NAD
Education degree to Master's level: 530,000 NAD
Total tuition: 1,420,000 NAD
2. Living Expenses
While studying and building the business project, I will still need support for basic living costs.
Estimated cost per year: 110,000 NAD
For the first three years this totals:
330,000 NAD
3. Business Development
A portion of the funding will go toward developing the land project that will eventually create sustainable income.
Estimated startup allocation:
650,000 NAD
Once fully operational, this project has the potential to generate up to 2.5 million NAD in revenue per year while providing employment opportunities.

The total estimated amount needed to achieve these goals is:
2,400,000 Namibian Dollars
I have personally saved 180,000 NAD, which will also be used toward these plans.

Life has not been easy, but I believe that every challenge has prepared me for something greater.
Education has given me hope again, and I am determined to build a future not only for myself but also for my family and community.
Any support, whether large or small, will make a meaningful difference in helping me continue my education and pursue opportunities that once seemed impossible.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for believing in my journey.
Your kindness and generosity will help change my life.