If you have ever visited a Namibian school hall on a sunny weekend, you might know the feeling: children buzzing with excitement, colourful projects on display, and parents proudly capturing the moment. That was the scene at the 2025 I Love STEAM Showdown at Suiderhof Primary School, where Debmarine Namibia brought together young thinkers, builders and dreamers from across Windhoek.

Robots glided across tables, art pieces sparkled with imagination, and science experiments drew curious crowds. Beneath the fun lay something deeper: the belief that every child deserves the chance to explore, create and dream boldly.

In 2023, Debmarine Namibia teamed up with Mindsinaction and Bold Creations to launch the “I Love STEAM” initiative. What started as a small pilot in Windhoek has grown into a movement touching communities across Khomas, Hardap, //Kharas, Omaheke, Otjiwarongo, Kavango East and Zambezi.

More than 600 learners have taken part, coding their first robot, trying digital storytelling, or stepping into chemistry and mathematics through hands-on sessions. For many, it opened a window to possibilities they had never imagined.

Every School a Winner

This year’s showdown featured schools such as Delta Primary, Namutoni Primary, Olof Palme Primary, St Paul’s College, Martti Ahtisaari Primary and Keystone Elementary. Each walked away with a N$20,000 science laboratory voucher, keeping the spark of discovery alive long after the event.

These resources mean classroom learning now feels more like exploration — more trying, more building, more questions, more “what ifs?”

Debmarine Namibia’s commitment to STEAM goes far beyond sponsorship. It is rooted in the understanding that Namibia’s future industries, creativity, technology and jobs will be shaped by today’s young learners.

By investing in robotics kits, laptops and practical learning, the company is nurturing a generation of innovators equipped for a world defined by problem solving and creativity.

The “I Love STEAM” initiative has always been a shared journey: teachers guiding with passion, parents cheering from the sidelines, learners pushing boundaries, and partners investing in brighter futures. The skills learned, the confidence gained, and the curiosity awakened will travel with these young minds wherever life takes them.

Just like the natural diamonds from Namibia’s ocean floor, the brightest futures often begin beneath the surface, with potential waiting to be uncovered. In school halls filled with laughter, colour and invention, Namibia’s next generation is already taking flight.

On that Saturday morning in Windhoek, the hall at Suiderhof Primary School hummed with wide-eyed excitement, nervous anticipation, and the quiet hum of robots coming to life. It was the grand finale of Debmarine Namibia’s 2025 I Love STEAM Showdown, but to the learners it felt like something much bigger — a chance to imagine futures they had never seen before.

Natural Diamonds Unlocking Human Potential

Behind the colourful displays lies a deeper story: how natural diamonds are helping shape Namibia’s future human potential.

Debmarine Namibia has long recognised that its responsibility stretches far beyond offshore diamond recovery. Its investments in communities, education, and youth empowerment stem from a simple belief: “When Namibia’s children thrive, the nation thrives,” as expressed by Willy Mertens, CEO of Debmarine Namibia.

Thriving today means mastering the skills that power innovation: science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics — STEAM, the language of creativity and future-ready thinking.

What began in 2023 as a pilot in six Windhoek schools has evolved into a nationwide movement. Learners have been exposed to robotics, digital storytelling, chemistry experiments, mathematics challenges, and creative arts. Regional bootcamps took STEAM learning beyond the capital, while mall activations made science accessible and fun for families.

In just three years, more than 600 learners have engaged with technology many would otherwise never have encountered.

“The I Love STEAM initiative has truly enriched our learners’ education, giving them opportunities to explore beyond the classroom. We sincerely thank Debmarine Namibia for their generous sponsorship and our parents for encouraging and allowing their children to take part in this transformative journey,” said Elmarie Peters, a teacher at Delta Primary School.

Each school walked away with a N$20,000 science laboratory voucher, ensuring that the learning sparked continues long after the applause fades. For many learners, this support means a first real chance to experiment, to build, to test, and to try again. For teachers, it means better equipped classrooms capable of nurturing young scientists, artists, thinkers and problem solvers.

Debmarine Namibia’s involvement in STEAM education is not just philanthropy; it is an investment in Namibia’s long-term resilience. Future livelihoods will depend on skills that blend creativity with scientific thinking.

These young learners may one day design renewable energy solutions, build healthcare technologies, lead engineering teams, craft digital art careers, or solve scientific challenges yet to emerge. The possibilities are as boundless as their imaginations.

As Debmarine Namibia gradually transitions out of this initiative, the legacy of “I Love STEAM” remains deeply rooted. Seeds of possibility have been planted across the country — seeds that will continue growing in classrooms, communities and future industries.

Contributed by Debmarine Namibia