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James Unglaube stands with Namibian student Eva-Liisa Kafidi. Unglaube, the ELCA’s first director for colleges and universities, was the architect of the plan to provide a college education for 100 of Namibia’s best and brightest.


been supporters of independence in Namibia. So it was no surprise when the ELCA and its predecessors and partners conceived the plan to educate 100 of Namibia’s best and brightest so they could return home to lead a free country. James Unglaube, a longtime Lutheran higher-educa- tion proponent and the ELCA’s first director for colleges and universities, was the architect of the effort. Educating 100 students


to return to Namibia, Kongeli said, was a unique “marriage of education and faith.” Tat marriage contin-


PLU was a far-flung destination for students from Namibia. Their goal was to receive an education and return home to lead their country in freedom.


to the head of programming for the Namibian Broadcasting Corp. Tji- ramba became a spokesperson for the University of Namibia. Penda Naanda is a deputy ambassador to the U.N. Kuuva Kongeli is a govern- ment forensic analyst and Kauna Shingenge is a foreign-affairs officer. Eva-Liisa Shilamba Kafidi is a leader in health care. Emmy Tjirambo and Tomas Shikongo are leaders in education and Louisa Mupetami in conservation. “Tese Namibians were excep-


tional students and all returned to serve their nation, and with distinc- tion. Tis is precisely what we hoped would happen when the scholarship program was born in 1986,” said Ron Tellefson. Te ELCA pastor and former PLU fundraiser gleaned nearly $350,000 for scholarships from dozens of Lutheran congrega- tions and other groups in the Pacific Northwest. Lutherans worldwide had always


May 2015 33


ues today, as members of the Southwestern Washington Synod seek new ways to connect their ELCA companion


relationships in Namibia to PLU’s educational efforts there. But that common interest probably won’t result in more scholarships for Namibians. “Since native Namibian students


are now able to go to the university in Namibia, it probably isn’t needed in the same way today,” Tellefson said.


Te Namibia Nine and future


leaders have much work remaining to make their country the nation its


freedom-fighters envisioned. While Namibians enjoy peace and stabil- ity, challenges like underfunded education, poverty, rampant unem- ployment and corruption remain unaddressed. Members of the Namibia Nine


said they pin their hopes on “Vision 2030,” a blueprint for the country where more enjoy access to employ- ment, health-care and quality education. Meanwhile, Lutherans in the


Pacific Northwest and worldwide are watching with keen interest, knowing that one victory—like educating 100 future leaders—isn’t enough. But it was extraordinary. “I felt there was something


going on here beyond ordinary human understanding,” Tellefson said. “Call it providence, the hand of God, or the flight of angels. Te call to educate young Namibians seemed to have a mysterious force behind it. Te angels were all flying in formation.” 


Author bio: Pritchett is a retired Northwest newspaper journalist, chair of the Namibia Task Force of the Southwestern Washington Synod and member of Bethany


Lutheran Church, Bainbridge Island, Wash.


JOHN FROSCHAUER


JOHN FROSCHAUER


JOHN FROSCHAUER


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