Manoria Niingo
Manoria spent three months in Switzerland in 2017, and now passes on that hands-on experience as University Lecturer and President of the Alumni Organization in Namibia.
Profile
Name: Manoria Nandjila Niingo
Country: Namibia
Current Occupation: Lecturer and Head of School for Public and Allied Health
Northbound Alumni, Internship at Haco AG in 2017
President of the B360 Alumni Organization in Namibia
How did you learn about B360?
I first learned about internships offered through B360 education partnerships while I was a student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology in 2017. Information about the internship was shared widely across campus through posters and other notices, as well as through our class communication groups.
What impact did B360 have on your (professional) life?
B360 has impacted my career in numerous ways. It deepened my knowledge of food safety during my practical attachment at Haco AG – knowledge I now share as a lecturer on the subject at Welwitchia University.
B360 also opened important opportunities, including a Fellowship in Nature-Based Water Resources Management at TU Dresden in 2018 and, subsequently, a Commonwealth Scholarship in 2019.
These experiences strengthened my professional growth and enabled me to inspire and support others through teaching, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing.
Can you describe a moment where you realized that your experience with B360 had an impact beyond yourself?
I realized that my experience with B360 had an impact beyond myself when I began lecturing on food safety at Welwitchia University. Through my practical attachment at Haco AG, B360 had given me valuable knowledge and hands-on experience in the field – and being able to pass that on to students showed me that the program’s impact reached far beyond my own career.
You are President of the B360 Alumni in Namibia: What are the biggest challenges at the moment? What goals do you have as President?
The main challenge is time management – the highly administrative nature of my day job often makes it difficult to dedicate sufficient time to B360 Alumni activities. As President, my goals are to support fundraising initiatives for the B360 Alumni Association in Namibia and to promote mentorship and team building among Alumni members.
What is one concrete change (in your behavior, decisions, or environment) that can be traced back to B360?
One concrete behavioral change is that I have become more intentional about volunteering and social responsibility. B360 sowed this seed in me, as the organization and its experts are grounded in the principle of uplifting others without expecting recognition or reward – a spirit I now try to carry into my own life and career.
Who is a person you met through B360 that left a lasting impression on you – and why?
Sabina Balmer’s vision, commitment, and goals for B360 education partnerships have positively influenced the careers and personal lives of many Namibian students, including mine. Through her dedication, she has created opportunities for students to grow, gain valuable experience, and develop the confidence and skills needed to navigate both their professional and personal lives. I will always be deeply grateful to her for the impact she has made on my life.
I am also especially grateful to my host family, Hans and Maria Keller, who welcomed me into their home as an intern and continuously treated me as a valued member of their family. Their kindness, generosity, and support made my experience even more meaningful.
What kind of impact do you hope B360 will have in the next 10 years – and what role do you see yourself playing in that?
Over the next 10 years, I hope that B360 education partnerships will continue to expand its impact by creating more opportunities for Namibian students to access quality education, professional development, internships, mentorship, and international exposure.
Through initiatives such as Northbound, Southbound, and the Career Starter Week, I hope that B360 will empower even more young people to build successful careers, develop strong interpersonal skills, and become confident leaders who contribute positively to their communities and Namibia as a whole. As President of the B360 Alumni in Namibia, I see my role in supporting this vision by encouraging fellow Alumni to become active ambassadors for B360, demonstrating through their achievements and service to others the lasting impact of B360’s work.
