The Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) and the National Arts Council of Namibia (NACN) have embarked on an exciting project, Walls and Words.
 Last year, OYO decided to launch the project in two communities: Outjo and Omaruru. The idea was to invite visual artists to train young people in the concept of murals and poetry and asses how the two mediums could work together and support one another. The theme was “stigma and discrimination,” and  the project was organized as part of OYO’s efforts to contribute towards the World AIDS Day celebrations. It was a further opportunity to contract leading artists Richard Kayili, visual artist and mural workshop leader, and Joseph Molapong, poet and poetry workshop leader, as well as young emerging visual artist, Jacob Shingenege, mural workshop assistant.
 Outjo 08-14 November
 In Outjo, the youth group decided that three of its members would attend the mural workshop while 9 would attend the poetry workshop. Both workshops ran in parallel, feeding each other with ideas and concepts.  A part of the Etoshapoort community hall wall was selected for the mural. The youth members were trained to prepare sketches, copy sketches to the wall, rules on basic color mixing and basic painting skills. By the end of the workshop, the mural was complete. The other youth were trained on basic rules regarding poetry, different forms of poetry, writing poems using comparison, feeling actions and result, poetry reading and poetry presentation. By the end of the workshop each participant had written several poems and selected two for presentation during the launch.
 Omaruru 23-28 November
 Being the smaller youth group of the two, it was decided that only a mural workshop would be done in Omaruru, as there were fewer possible participants. The group decided that six of its members would take part in the workshop. Again the theme was the issue of discrimination.
A part of the community wall, central in the location, was selected for the mural. Again, the youth were trained on the basics for mural painting. By the end of the workshop, the mural was completed. It has to be noted that conditions were more difficult due to rainy weather. However, thanks to the commitment of all those involved, it was a success.
 Both launches successfully took place on 14 and 28 November in Outjo and Omaruru respectively. All the participants were awarded certificates.

Thanks to the Outjo and Omaruru CEO's and Mayors for their support and for allowing us to paint their community walls.  To the production team Kamati, Fly, Barnabas and Charmaine — way to go!