Post from Namibia (Conclusion)

We, Margret and Joachim Knoche, are back safely in Pfedelbach after 2 ½ months.

What has been new for the club in the last 2 ½ months?

a) The volunteer about “weltwärts” in Okombahe

Together with the "Freundeskreis Afrika eV" (Friends of Africa), our association is responsible for Gustav Rolka at the student residence in Okombahe. It was good that we were able to introduce Gustav to his work and accompany him over the past three weeks. Okombahe is already "hardcore" Africa, and being there alone is a special challenge for him. He will now spend the next ten months supporting the children and young people at the student residence.

b) The new person responsible for the association's work in Namibia

We've had the last 1.5 months to train Magthe Hoeses on all our projects. She's in the process of registering our German association in Namibia as an NGO. This involves a lot of effort and seven people, and the registration process seems to be just as difficult as our experience with the Ministry of the Interior. It's good that Magthe lives in Omaruru, the town closest to Okombahe, where our project managers regularly travel and can leave their shopping receipts with her. I hope she settles in well and that she will significantly reduce the workload and provide support to the association in Namibia.

c) Our privately purchased car in Namibia

As I wrote in my first post, Margret and I bought a 6-year-old Nissan bakkie, which we've driven a good 10,000km in over the past few months. Initially, we were faced with the question of what would happen to the car when we returned to Germany. Since Magthe doesn't own a car of her own but is expected to regularly visit and support the projects in Okombahe, at the MLH, and in Swakopmund, it made sense to give her the car. We've now stipulated this in our contract. We're still responsible for everything—repairs, comprehensive insurance, etc.—but the car will be driven and used, and we'll (hopefully) have the car back the next time we come.

d) English lessons in the soup kitchen

In addition to feeding the approximately 80 disadvantaged young children in the Albertina soup kitchen, we also value their intellectual development. To this end, approximately 20 parents have already received subsidies for kindergarten attendance. We've also set up a toy library, a playroom with creative and stimulating games. Now, there are English lessons for an age group outside each soup kitchen. With a lot of patience, small books, and singing, Alexia tries to teach the children English in a playful way. It's not easy, and the children are very unfamiliar with this environment. We'll run this on a trial basis until our next visit, and then we'll see if it's going well or if there are any changes we need to make.

Invitation:

There's still a lot to tell or write, but this isn't the space for it. Anyone who would like to hear more about the past few months in Namibia is cordially invited to the old schoolhouse in Oberhöfen next Sunday, November 14, from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Coffee and cold drinks will be provided. We'll be meeting under COVID-19-compliant conditions.

Please register by phone (07949 940269).

Post from Namibia, 25-9-2021 Part C

Genocide – a topic in Khorixas

On our way to a safari in Damaraland, we stayed overnight with members of the brass band in Khorixas. This was the fourth time we've stayed with Sebastian !Gobs and his family. Sebastian has once again been elected district administrator and is a member of the church brass band, which we regularly support with instruments and accessories.

His father was also present at dinner (a hearty braai) in the garden, and I had a lively conversation with him. Themistokles Murorua is a member of the 72-member National Assembly, which is comparable to the Bundestag in Germany. The genocide of the Herero and Nama people from 1904 to 1908 is a major concern for him. It is particularly important to him that much good pastureland is still owned by the descendants of the former Germans. As compensation, Namibians should receive a corresponding amount of land in Germany today, or Germany should ensure that the land here is returned to the Herero and Nama people. My objection that most German-Namibians are not German citizens was new to him. Changes to the land issue cannot come from outside, but only from the National Assembly, of which he is a member, and the Namibian government. Furthermore, the state has a right of first refusal for any farm sale and can, with the agreed-upon money paid by Germany, buy these farms back over time and return them to their Namibian owners. The renegotiated agreement on payments between Germany and Namibia is highly controversial here. I'm curious to see how things will turn out when our President, Walter Steinmeier, comes to Namibia. He will have many questions to answer, such as "Why are Hereros and Namas treated differently than Jews when it comes to compensation?" but he has a lot of political experience and hopefully good advisors. In my lengthy, open conversation in Khorixas, I learned a great deal from Mr. Murorua, and he confirmed the same to the small gathering. We parted with the shared affirmation that international understanding grows through open, honest encounters.

As an aside: Sebastiano, Sebastian's 17-year-old son, is quite well-known and very popular on YouTube as DJ Abux. His music delighted the younger crowd that evening, including our two German guests. He seems to have already garnered 3.8 million views on YouTube. The evening ended just before 10 p.m., just before closing time.

Post aus Namibia, Teil B

Namibia, 20-9-2021

Ausbildungsprogramm bei COSDEC

Zum ersten Male unterstützen wir als Verein dieses Jahr drei junge Männer bei einer ersten einfachen Ausbildung bei COSDEC in Swakopmund. Emil und Gerson waren auf der Martin-Luther-High-School und haben diese bis Klasse 11, bzw. 10 besucht. Der dritte, Riian, war in Okombahe im Waisenheim und hat die Dibasen-Schule wohl bis Klasse 9 besucht. Alle drei haben die Klassen nicht gut geschafft, und deshalb wollten wir ihnen ein Kurzausbildung als Einstieg in den Beruf ermöglichen.

Emil, der „Office Administration“ (Büroausbildung) macht, hat sich schon zweimal gemeldet und sich für den Kurs bedankt und ein Bild geschickt. Außerdem erwähnte er beim letzten Brief, wie dankbar die gesamte Familie sei, da unsere Verpflegungsunterstützung für ihn die gesamte arbeitslose Familie mit über Wasser hält.

Von Riian und Gerson hatte ich leider nichts gehört. So fuhren meine Frau und ich unangekündigt Montagfrüh zum Ausbildungszentrum bei COSTEC vorbei, um zu sehen, was vor Ort passiert. Dort werden Gerson und Riian als Mauerer ausgebildet. Was wir dort erfuhren war nicht so positiv. Gerson war am Montag, eine Woche zu spät zum ersten Male wieder anwesend, Riian war nicht anwesend, war aber wohl letzte Woche zweimal da. Außerdem hatte Gerson keine Arbeitskleidung, sie sei ihm gestohlen worden. Zusammen mit seinem Lehrer, Adolf Huneb, sprach ich sehr deutlich, aber doch liebevoll, mit ihm, dass es so nicht geht. Dieses Jahr ist seine Chance, er müsse selbstverantwortlich werden, denn nach dem Jahr ist er als Erwachsener auf sich alleine gestellt. Er solle mir bis morgen auch etwas schreiben und mit Riian Kontakt aufnehmen. Am nächsten Tag (Dienstag) werden wir wiederkommen und weiterreden.   Fortsetzung

Namibia Calendar 2022

DThis year, the Namibia Support Association is publishing its first Namibia calendar, featuring fascinating photos from Okombahe and nature and landscape images. You can see the cover photo here. Stay tuned for the other pages!

For 10.- € (plus shipping costs) This calendar shows (DIN A4 landscape format) Snapshots and people from our projects make it an ideal Christmas gift for yourself or for your friends and family. By purchasing the calendar, a child can, for example, eat in one of our two soup kitchens for over a month.

You can access the calendar via this homepage at contact, via email (Calendarorder_Namibia@web.de) or by phone (0160-6637561) order.

Namibia is shocked!

Notes from Namibia from 19.06.2021

In recent days, I've received many worried and frightened WhatsApp messages from friends and acquaintances in Namibia. Since the beginning of June, the number of new infections and deaths has risen significantly. While the incidence rate was still at 95 on June 1, it has now reached 350 just 14 days later. There is a shortage of oxygen and intensive care beds in hospitals. Unlike in Germany, Namibia cannot afford another lockdown economically. Hunger is already spreading among casual workers, and the financial hardship of those who have been laid off or whose wages have been cut is also increasing. There is no short-time work allowance, no bridging assistance, no special payments. Those in financial distress cannot afford a vitamin-rich and healthy diet and are hit more quickly and more severely by viral infections.

Approximately 4% of people in Namibia have been vaccinated once, either with AstraZeneca from South Africa or with Sinopharm from China. Yes, China is once again significantly faster and more generous than the Western world! But admittedly, the willingness to be vaccinated in Namibia is not as high as in Germany. For various reasons, conspiracy theorists are finding a receptive audience for their messages in Namibia.

Now three cities, Windhoek, Okahandja, and Rehoboth, are temporarily sealed off, students in grades 0 to 9 across the country have been sent on early winter break for a month, alcohol consumption has been significantly reduced, gatherings are limited to 10 people, and there will be no in-person church services until the end of the month.

The Namibia Support Association is trying to provide quick and straightforward assistance. We've just distributed disinfectant, soap, and detergent to the people in Okombahe. Women have once again sewn washable masks, and people in Okombahe who are clearing snakes from the cemetery have been provided with additional food packages.

Thank you for your special donations, which have enabled us to help generously over the past 15 months.

Sharing = Happiness

This human wisdom was written on the plastic bottle that Maike, Ronja and Lilith, three young girls from Pfedelbach, together with her flute teacher to the Namibia Support Association in Oberhöfen. In this “Sharing=Happiness” bottle In recent months, they had collected money at the flute course and at home to support children in Namibia. The flute teacher waived her fee, and the girls occasionally put a little of their money into the special bottle at home. Last year, for both promotions 210,73€ together.

Together, the three girls decided that the money raised should especially benefit the children in Okombahe. Children whose families urgently need face masks, disinfectants, soap, and detergents regularly come to the Sunday children's church service, the two soup kitchens, and the Toy Library (educational playroom). The money raised will be used to To contain the spread of the virus in OkombaheUnfortunately, in recent weeks, people there have become seriously ill and some have even died.

The The shining eyes of the three girls confirm the human truth, that sharing with others also brings personal happiness. Beyond personal happiness, however, the sharing of the girls and the flute teacher is so helpful, important, and vital for the people of Okombahe. They are suffering greatly from the effects of the pandemic, including hunger, unemployment, and a lack of hygiene products.

Decision support – day center in Okombahe?

The committee of the Namibia Support Association is facing a groundbreaking decision, which I would like to address to you today as readers and supporters.

For some time now, we have been asked by people from Okombahe whether we could do more to support these disadvantaged and impoverished children through our three-times-weekly soup kitchen for approximately 80 young children and the Toy Library (educational playroom) for kindergarten and elementary school children. They want a dedicated day center for children and young people with regular meals and educational programs. Augustinus, the elementary school's vice principal, and Yvonne, the director of one of the soup kitchens, along with four other people, form a planning group for this project.

The idea for the day center took concrete shape last November, when I, the first chairperson, was in Okombahe for an extended stay. A housing planner from Omaruru came to Okombahe. The planning group and I discussed with him what the day center would need and what the local people wanted. He is currently developing a design. The planning group has already received the green light from the local council for the desired location next to the local kindergarten, so that the kindergarten can also be integrated into it. If the house is built as planned, it will be a beautiful, large center in the center of the village. read more