Atushe Heita’s mission to equip learners for brighter futures

Many young people leave school without the tools to navigate sensitive health and social challenges, a gap that registered nurse Atushe Heita set out to address through the Integrated School Health Education Programme (ISHEP).

“We aim to build a generation of young people who are well-informed, confident and capable of making responsible life choices,” he told Careers.

Together with fellow registered nurse Mathew Herman and in collaboration with the University of Namibia's School of Nursing, ISHEP was launched to tackle "critical health and social issues affecting young people, particularly those that are often overlooked or not openly discussed,” Heita said.

“ISHEP was inspired by my very own upbringing as a school learner. I always felt that I lacked the necessary health education and life skills to become a more impactful person,” Heita said.

“This motivated me to create a platform that not only addresses those gaps but also ensures that young people are equipped with the right knowledge to make better decisions for their future," he explained.

ISHEP has worked with several schools in and around Windhoek, focusing on topics such as substance abuse, mental health, teenage pregnancy and personal development.

Heita’s message to high schoolers is: “Your situation does not define your future. You have the power to make better choices and change your path.”

He said the programme aims to empower young people with knowledge, life skills and awareness, adding that it seeks to “create a generation of informed, responsible and resilient young individuals who can contribute positively to society”.

Creating confident, responsible citizens

School sessions are interactive, encouraging learner participation and discussion, and learners have responded positively.

“One of the most memorable experiences was engaging with learners who had personally gone through some of the issues we were discussing,” Heita said.

Challenges remain, particularly funding, which limits the programme’s ability to reach more schools and expand its activities, Heita explained.

Support from JDS Clinic has helped sustain outreach.

Looking ahead, ISHEP plans national expansion. “In the long term, we plan to grow the initiative into a nationwide programme that can impact learners across Namibia,” Heita told Careers.