My name is Martha Shaduka from Ombundamuti village in Omusati region. I am 23 years old and I completed my secondary education in 2011 at Gabriel Taapopi Secondary School, whereafter I furthered my studies at NIMT (Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology) in a trade of fitting and turning from 2013 to 2016. I was one of the young Namibians who received a bursary from Ohorongo. I undertook my internship at Ohorongo cement for a period of 1 year and 6 months during my training at NIMT as a fitter and turner apprentice, until I completed my tertiary education. Just like those who were at NIMT before me, I am now a qualified fitter with a National vocational trade test certificate Level 3 and a National N3 certificate and I am currently employed by Ohorongo.

Namibia is home to a lot of young dreamers who have big dreams, and I am one of them. My dream was and is to become a qualified fitter and turner, even if I knew that it might be difficult to achieve what I want, due to financial problems. My parents are all unemployed, which served as my motivation when I was studying at Gabriel Taapopi and at NIMT. 

In 2014, I was one of the best students at NIMT, and this achievement gave me the opportunity to be shortlisted for the Ohorongo job attachment interview. This was a big achievement for me, since my actions spoke on my behalf instead of my words.

Early September 2014, Ohorongo released the names of their successful internship candidates and I was considered to be one of them. It was this time that they also called me to join their team for my internship. While I was busy with my internship, I remembered my financial problem that might prohibit me from achieving what I want in life. So I decided to inform Ohorongo about my financial problem by applying for a bursary from them. Little did I know that I was taking a giant step ahead of my problem. In December 2014, around Christmas time, Ohorongo responded to my application with a green light by giving me the bursary that I applied for. So, from 2014 to 2016 it was just a matter of me working hard to appreciate what I received from Ohorongo.

With Ohorongo acting as my backbone, on the 1st of December 2016, after completing my trade test, they returned my call and offered me an opportunity to be trained as a control room operator. Early October 2017, Ohorongo offered me a permanent job as a control room operator, and for that I will always have the energy to say thank you to Ohorongo for changing my life and for what they did for me.