Kauna's Birthday Wish: Storybook Aims to Bring an Education to More Children

FEBRUARY 2004 — With funding from USAID, FHI has helped Catholic AIDS Action (CAA) publish Kauna's Birthday Wish, an instructional storybook that provides advocacy information to help orphans and other vulnerable children receive a free primary education in Namibia.

Although the Namibian constitution guarantees a "free primary education" to all, many children are forced to cut short their education because they cannot afford the requisite "school development funds." An exemption is possible via the Ministry of Basic Education, Sport, and Culture – but this information is not widely known or practiced. The new book, Kauna's Birthday Wish, offers hope to thousands of poor orphans and other vulnerable children in Namibia whose education is at-risk unless an exemption can be granted on their behalf - the same as it was for Kauna in the storybook.

By using a children's book, CAA aims to spread the message of "education for all" amongst students, teachers, and caregivers. The book was released on Feb. 2, 2004, by Namibia's Ministry of Basic Education, Sports, and Culture. Kauna's Birthday Wish will be distributed in three languages (English, Afrikaans, and Oshiwambo) to all school-based and community libraries in Namibia. It was written by CAA's Lucy Y. Steinitz and colorfully illustrated by student-teacher Valence Litja Williams. Translations into additional indigenous languages are planned.