The first Annual General Meeting was held in the old schoolhouse in Pfedelbach-Oberhöfen on March 18, 2013. Chairman Joachim Knoche welcomed approximately 20 members and several interested guests to the meeting. He recounted how, exactly one year prior, he had the vision to help people in need in Namibia with the support of a local association. The association, newly founded last July, now has more than 40 members and presented itself to the public for the first time in February at an information session in the Pfedelbach Protestant community center. Treasurer Gertrud Bürkle proudly reported on the account balance and expenditures for ongoing projects, which are funded by numerous donations and generous membership fees. The auditors confirmed that all accounts were correct. Following the discharge of the board, overseen by Michael Schenk, Rüdiger Paatz from Öhringen was elected as an additional committee member. Margret Knoche, who had just returned from a trip to Namibia, used pictures to illustrate the problems faced by the black population there – especially in the areas of housing, food, hygiene, school and vocational training and healthcare.
Weihnachten in Okombahe
Weihnachtsmärkte überall, Glühwein, Päckchen packen, Vorbereitungen für Weihnachten, es ist kalt, trocken oder feucht, …. Die Advents- und Weihnachtszeit ist bei uns in Deutschland sehr stimmungsvoll.
Die Kinder und die Erwachsenen aus dem Schülerheim in Okombahe konnten ihr Weihnachtsgeschenk schon Ende Oktober in Empfang nehmen. 76 neue Matratzen – in Windhoek gekauft und mit dem Lastwagen nach Okombahe transportiert – sind im Schülerheim begeistert empfangen wurden. Nun schlafen die Kinder auf richtigen weichen Schaumstoffmatratzen. Was für ein tolles Gefühl!
Dazu haben Sie mit Ihrer Spende, dem Mitgliedbeitrag oder dem Besuch auf dem Bierdorf in Pfedelbach im Laufe des Jahres mit beigetragen. Die Kinder freuen sich und wir vom Ausschuss des Namibia-Unterstützungsvereins bedanken uns ganz herzlich.
Weihnachtsmärkte überall, Glühwein, Päckchen packen, Vorbereitungen für Weihnachten, es ist kalt, trocken oder feucht, …. Die Advents- und Weihnachtszeit ist bei uns in Deutschland sehr stimmungsvoll.
Und wie ist es in Okombahe?
Seit Anfang Dezember sind die Schulen wegen der langen „Sommerferien“ geschlossen. Wenn die Menschen in Namibia Glück haben, kommt eine kleine Regenzeit, doch die Nächte und besonders die Tage sind heiß.
In Okombahe wird das Leben ruhiger, die Kinder aus dem Schülerheim fahren zu Verwandten oder Eltern auf die abgelegene Farm oder an die Küste, wo es nun im Sommer auch warm ist. Wer die Möglichkeit hat nutzt die Zeit für Besuche, - bis Anfang Januar, dann erwacht das Leben wieder in den Städten und Schulen.Die Kinder und die Erwachsenen aus dem Schülerheim in Okombahe konnten ihr Weihnachtsgeschenk schon Ende Oktober in Empfang nehmen. 76 neue Matratzen – in Windhoek gekauft und mit dem Lastwagen nach Okombahe transportiert – sind im Schülerheim begeistert empfangen wurden. Nun schlafen die Kinder auf richtigen weichen Schaumstoffmatratzen. Was für ein tolles Gefühl!
Dazu haben Sie mit Ihrer Spende, dem Mitgliedbeitrag oder dem Besuch auf dem Bierdorf in Pfedelbach im Laufe des Jahres mit beigetragen. Die Kinder freuen sich und wir vom Ausschuss des Namibia-Unterstützungsvereins bedanken uns ganz herzlich.
View more
Lauwinja teaches street children
During our Namibia trip in August, the tour group also visited Opuwo. There, we met the pastor couple Salomon and Emely Tjakuapi, who run the Black Lutheran church. Opuwo is located in the northwest of the country and is the largest town in Kaokoland. The people of the Himba tribe still live a very traditional lifestyle there.
Many Himba people migrate with high hopes from their original villages to the "big" city, only to find that their labor is not needed. Many proud Himba now live in slum-like suburbs and are becoming even poorer.
Tjakuapis are trying to help in this poverty. They plan to establish kindergartens and small primary schools in their original villages so that the population will find a reason to stay in their villages longer.
The Tjakuapis have also run a small school for street children next to their rectory for several years. Lauwinja, an unemployed high school graduate from Ovamboland, teaches about 15 children the basics of reading and arithmetic. She receives free food and accommodation in the rectory and a monthly wage of about €40. We have seen with our own eyes that after two to three years, these children are ready to attend a regular school.
During our Namibia trip in August, the tour group also visited Opuwo. There, we met the pastor couple Salomon and Emely Tjakuapi, who run the Black Lutheran church. Opuwo is located in the northwest of the country and is the largest town in Kaokoland. The people of the Himba tribe still live a very traditional lifestyle there.
Many Himba people migrate with high hopes from their original villages to the "big" city, only to find that their labor is not needed. Many proud Himba now live in slum-like suburbs and are becoming even poorer.
Tjakuapis are trying to help in this poverty. They plan to establish kindergartens and small primary schools in their original villages so that the population will find a reason to stay in their villages longer.
The Tjakuapis have also run a small school for street children next to their rectory for several years. Lauwinja, an unemployed high school graduate from Ovamboland, teaches about 15 children the basics of reading and arithmetic. She receives free food and accommodation in the rectory and a monthly wage of about €40. We have seen with our own eyes that after two to three years, these children are ready to attend a regular school.
The Namibia Support Association is now paying for Lauwinja's work as a teacher for half a year.
Unneeded trombone choir instruments?
This August, a small group of travelers from our support association spent three weeks in Namibia. Among other places, we also visited... Khorixas, a small town that most tourists only perceive as a petrol station, supermarket or ATM.
We were invited by the local Black Lutheran church community. Pastor Hendricks We were greeted by the local brass band. This band consists of ten instruments and many people who can play or are currently learning three times a week. The ten players were clearly enjoying themselves, and even the mayor and the county commissioner of the Khorixas region joined in. I was particularly impressed by the approximately 15 young people who also enjoy playing but, as beginners, sat in the background, letting the more experienced players take the lead. Some of the instruments date back to 1960 and are accordingly well-used, but they still sound great!
This August, a small group of travelers from our support association spent three weeks in Namibia. Among other places, we also visited... Khorixas, a small town that most tourists only perceive as a petrol station, supermarket or ATM.
We were invited by the local Black Lutheran church community. Pastor Hendricks We were greeted by the local brass band. This band consists of ten instruments and many people who can play or are currently learning three times a week. The ten players were clearly enjoying themselves, and even the mayor and the county commissioner of the Khorixas region joined in. I was particularly impressed by the approximately 15 young people who also enjoy playing but, as beginners, sat in the background, letting the more experienced players take the lead. Some of the instruments date back to 1960 and are accordingly well-used, but they still sound great!
Eine Tuba, das wäre ihr großer Wunsch, aber die ist etwas Besonderes. Den Instrumenten sieht man ihre häufige Benutzung an. In den Gottesdiensten, bei offiziellen Feiern und besonders bei Beerdigungen kommt der Posaunenchor zusammen.
In Khorixas ist der Posaunenchor aktive Jugendarbeit. Wenn die Jugendlichen dreimal die Woche gemeinsam üben sind sie weniger den Gefahren des Alkohols, der Langeweile und der Kriminalität ausgesetzt.
Da ich während der Reise erfuhr, dass wir eine großzügige Spende über 750€ eines Pfedelbacher Betriebes bekommen hatten, konnten wir die Posaunenarbeit mit zwei neuen Instrumenten, Notenständern, Lampen, Instrumentenöl und Choralbüchern spontan unterstützen.
In Khorixas ist der Posaunenchor aktive Jugendarbeit. Wenn die Jugendlichen dreimal die Woche gemeinsam üben sind sie weniger den Gefahren des Alkohols, der Langeweile und der Kriminalität ausgesetzt.
Da ich während der Reise erfuhr, dass wir eine großzügige Spende über 750€ eines Pfedelbacher Betriebes bekommen hatten, konnten wir die Posaunenarbeit mit zwei neuen Instrumenten, Notenständern, Lampen, Instrumentenöl und Choralbüchern spontan unterstützen.
Wir werden nächstes Jahr über Ostern die Gemeinde in Khorixas wieder besuchen. Dabei werden wir sehen, wie sich der Posaunenchor weiterentwickelt hat.Falls jemand von Ihnen nicht mehr benötigte Instrumente für die Jugendarbeit in Khorixas übrig hat können Sie sich gerne beim Verein.
Wir werden diese Instrumente dann im kommenden Frühjahr direkt mit nach Khorixas nehmen.
THANKS
They visited us at the beer village at the Namibia Support Association!
Did you drink Windhoek Lager or Dju-Dju Beer or a Rock Shandy? Did you try the delicious Namibian sausage "Boerewors" with homemade bread or the cornmeal porridge "Miliepap" with spicy sauce?
If YES, you have supported the needy Black population in Namibia. Thanks to you, we made a profit of approximately 700 euros. This entire profit, along with some additional donations, will go directly to Okombahe. There, 76 children in the school dormitory are delighted to receive new mattresses, as most of them previously slept on the floor or on iron grates.
Thank you so much for your food and drinks!
They visited us at the beer village at the Namibia Support Association!
Did you drink Windhoek Lager or Dju-Dju Beer or a Rock Shandy? Did you try the delicious Namibian sausage "Boerewors" with homemade bread or the cornmeal porridge "Miliepap" with spicy sauce?
If YES, you have supported the needy Black population in Namibia. Thanks to you, we made a profit of approximately 700 euros. This entire profit, along with some additional donations, will go directly to Okombahe. There, 76 children in the school dormitory are delighted to receive new mattresses, as most of them previously slept on the floor or on iron grates.
Thank you so much for your food and drinks!
IInformation session in Untersteinbach, April 14, 2013
After the newly founded association had already presented itself to the public in Pfedelbach in January, it now also made its public debut in Untersteinbach. The Untersteinbach brass band hosted the event at the Protestant community center and provided musical accompaniment. A slideshow first introduced the country of Namibia, allowing interested listeners to form their own impressions of this distant land in southwest Africa. The association's chairman, Joachim Knoche, and his wife, Margret, then spoke about their experiences during their eight-year stay in Namibia and their numerous trips there.
By supporting the Black community, especially sick, orphaned children and young people without career prospects, the organization aims to alleviate their hardship. Specific projects are planned, which will be examined in more detail during a three-week trip in August (for which participants can still register).
First information afternoon of the Namibia Association
dated January 27, 2013
Around 50 people attended an information session hosted by the newly founded Namibia Support Association at the Protestant community center in Pfedelbach. A slideshow first introduced the country, highlighting its impressive landscapes, diverse wildlife, various ethnic groups, and its history, which, for Germans, is not always glorious (the Herero uprising). Afterwards, Stefan Jakob sang three moving songs with lyrics expressing hope for justice and gratitude. Over coffee and cake in a relaxed atmosphere, interesting conversations ensued. Joachim Knoche (the association's chairman) and his wife Margret then shared their own experiences from their time living in Namibia between 1988 and 1996. Support is essential, as there is a shortage of almost everything: food, clothing, childcare, and school and medical equipment.
The Namibia Support Association will be focusing its efforts on helping the people of Okombahe in the near future. This village is located approximately three hours northwest of the capital, Windhoek. Support will be provided to a soup kitchen for toddlers, the student residence of the Black Lutheran Church, the medical clinic (primarily through the purchase of powdered milk for HIV-infected breastfeeding mothers), and needy students at the Martin Luther High School.
In addition, a Namibian aid organization for disadvantaged children and orphans, and a private school in Windhoek for school dropouts are being supported.
In August, a 3-week trip to Namibia is planned to get to know the country with some of its sights, but also to take a closer look at the problems of the black and white populations.
dated January 27, 2013
Around 50 people attended an information session hosted by the newly founded Namibia Support Association at the Protestant community center in Pfedelbach. A slideshow first introduced the country, highlighting its impressive landscapes, diverse wildlife, various ethnic groups, and its history, which, for Germans, is not always glorious (the Herero uprising). Afterwards, Stefan Jakob sang three moving songs with lyrics expressing hope for justice and gratitude. Over coffee and cake in a relaxed atmosphere, interesting conversations ensued. Joachim Knoche (the association's chairman) and his wife Margret then shared their own experiences from their time living in Namibia between 1988 and 1996. Support is essential, as there is a shortage of almost everything: food, clothing, childcare, and school and medical equipment.
The Namibia Support Association will be focusing its efforts on helping the people of Okombahe in the near future. This village is located approximately three hours northwest of the capital, Windhoek. Support will be provided to a soup kitchen for toddlers, the student residence of the Black Lutheran Church, the medical clinic (primarily through the purchase of powdered milk for HIV-infected breastfeeding mothers), and needy students at the Martin Luther High School.
In addition, a Namibian aid organization for disadvantaged children and orphans, and a private school in Windhoek for school dropouts are being supported.
In August, a 3-week trip to Namibia is planned to get to know the country with some of its sights, but also to take a closer look at the problems of the black and white populations.
