Geldausgaben 2024 des Namibia-Vereins 

Nun ist es Mitte Dezember und Zeit, Sie zu informieren, was der Namibia-Unterstützungsverein mit dem von Ihnen anvertrauten Geldern in Namibia bewirken konnte. Mit ca. 67 300 € konnten wir dieses Jahr wieder unsere Projekte unterstützen. Für dieses Geld und das damit verbundene Vertrauen in unseren Verein sind wir Ihnen sehr dankbar.

Als Vereinsvorsitzender war ich mit meiner Frau dieses Jahr wieder zweimal für je 8 Wochen in Namibia. Dabei konnten wir die Projekte mit den Personen vor Ort evaluieren, begleiten und weiterentwickeln. Einige Projekte konnten wir auch neu initiieren.  

Folgende Projekte konnten wir finanzieren:  

• Zwei Suppenküchen in Okombahe (ca. 12 500 €) 
• 80 Schüler in sechs Schülerheimen (ca. 10 800 €)  
• Das Waisenhaus Hada-Huigo in Okombahe (ca. 17 500 €) 
• Acht Auszubildende (ca. 11 500 €) 
• Zwei Kindergärten und die Toy-Library (ca. 2 400 €) 
• Unterstützung der Grundschule in Okombahe (ca. 2 900 €) 
• Kindergottesdienst u. Konfirmanden in Okombahe (ca. 700€)  
• Weitere Projekte (ca. 9 000 €) 

Danke

Unser neugewählter Ausschuss des Namibia-Unterstützungsvereins bedankt sich ganz herzlich bei Ihnen für alle Spenden und konkrete Mithilfe bei den Projekten.  

Mit Ihrer Hilfe und Ihren Spenden können wir auch im kommenden Jahr diese sinnvollen Projekte weiterführen.

Our trainees

Margret and Joachim Knoche are now back in Namibia and are reporting on the association’s projects.

On the first day in Windhoek we Shadow, visited one of the carpentry apprentices at KAYEC. Shadow dropped out of school in the 9th grade, spent a few years on the streets, and applied to us last year to start a welding apprenticeship. His knowledge wasn't good enough, though; he didn't pass the entrance exam. However, he was accepted for a 6-month apprenticeship as a carpenter's assistant. He's living with relatives in Windhoek, and we're paying him a monthly stipend for travel and living expenses in Windhoek. Hopefully, by the end of the year, he'll have a small certificate that will help him carry out simple carpentry work for a company or privately. We hope he sticks with it. We've encouraged him and will visit him again in four weeks.

We met five other trainees in Swakopmund.

Darleen is in the second year of her office training and must complete a six-month internship at a company in the first half of 2025. Since it's already difficult to get an internship, she's already trying to get a job at a new company that plans to produce green hydrogen, with the aim of securing an internship there in the next half of the year. The company is being built about 200 km north of Swakopmund, right by the sea. Darleen has finished all her exams and only has to take the final year exam. Therefore, she's already working there to make a good impression. She returned to Swakopmund for her exams in mid-October. The teachers at COSDEC attest to her excellent work, which is fine with us. It's good when young people become creative and active themselves. She came to our hotel for breakfast because the company bus was about to take her to work, 200 km away. Of course, she wasn't alone; her friend Lena, who wants to apply for COSDEC with us this year, came along.

We met the other four trainees later in the morning.

Johnson and Christiana are in the second year of a tourism and hotel management training course. read more

Kindergartens in Okombahe and Pfedelbach

Margret and Joachim Knoche are now back in Namibia and are reporting on the association’s projects.

Yesterday we visited the two kindergartens in Okombahe, which with the two kindergartens in Pfedelbach-Heuberg entered into a low-threshold relationship. This time we brought an African song from Pfedelbach, which is sung there every morning to welcome the children: “Sani bona mi, good morning (name), Sani bona mi!”

We played it to both kindergartens here, and they practiced it and immediately used it with their children. We'll be back in four weeks, record their singing, and bring it back to Germany. We've announced a competition in both kindergartens; we'll see who can deliver it with more interest and rhythm.

This is practical global learning: All four kindergartens are looking beyond their own horizons and learning – completely free of charge – how children 9000km away interpret songs.

Speaking of money and standards: When I see how little materials and building standards the children and teachers have to make do with here, I question our very high standards in Germany. A balance between all four kindergartens would probably benefit EVERYONE. A child born here in Germany has so many more opportunities!

African Vocals sang in Untermünkheim

The African Vocals, a male a cappella group from the Townships of Swakopmund in Namibia, gave a concert in the well-filled Protestant church in Untermünkheim.

A standing reception and a sale of African handicrafts took place in the church in rainy weather.

Eight young Namibians filled the church with their kpowerful voices and sprayed African joie de vivre. The African Vocals concert was full Dynamics, rhythm and emotions. They sang a wide variety of songs, some funny and entertaining, but also others calm, serious, and contemplative. Many songs suited the church atmosphere. The enthusiastic audience participated so enthusiastically that the group spontaneously extended the song list, making the second "half" significantly longer than the first.

Although the Free entry to the concert was and the African Vocals received their agreed fee, the Namibia Support Association additional income for the ongoing projects in Namibia. The association thanks to all donors and also for the invitation and the excellent technical preparation by the Evangelical parish.

Cycle with us and do something good!

The Namibia Support Association eV is again participating in the CITY CYCLING of the municipality of Pfedelbach from the June 1 to June 21 part.

With the kilometers cycled by “Team Namibia” we would like to support the people in Okombahe / Namibia. At the beginning of this year, we increased the expense allowances of all employees and the expenses for the two soup kitchens by an average of approximately 25% because all food and transport costs in Namibia have also risen sharply.

So far, already 10 sponsors again declared its willingness 1 cent per kilometer cycled to support, but we are still We're looking for more sponsors. You're welcome to become a sponsor!

Will you be a rider on “Team Namibia”?

If you are interested in joining the “Team Namibia” To register, please register at www.stadtradeln.de/pfedelbach and choose the “Team Namibia” to.

Margret Knoche is the proven team captain from “Team Namibia!”

As Pfedelbacher It costs nothing, you just have to enter your cycled kilometers on a trust basis – every kilometer counts, also those outside Pfedelbach!!!!

For all NON-Pfedelbach residents:

We can offer every driver who is in Pfedelbach lives, works or in a Pfedelbacher Club member is, happy to include!

If you do not meet these criteria, you are welcome to join our club (Declaration of accession ) and then cycle with Team Namibia and do good at the same time.

Every kilometer driven already helps with 10 cents.

The African Vocals are giving another concert near us

The African Vocals are a male a cappella group from the Townships of Swakopmund in Namibia. In 2024, they will tour Germany for the fifth time.

On Wednesday, July 3, 7 p.m. the group in the Protestant Church in Untermünkheim Starting at 6 p.m., there will be a reception and a sale of African handicrafts in front of the church. There will also be a light refreshment with finger food and drinks.

For the third time after 2019 and 2023 the Namibia Support Association eV, Pfedelbach, Host the African Vocals and organize the concert.

The a cappella band was founded in 2012 ....read more

New Namibia Committee - new LOGO

At the twelfth annual general meeting The new committee of the Namibia Support Association eV has been constituted.

The board was unanimously confirmed: Joachim Knoche (Pfedelbach) 1st Chairman, Susanne Zeller (Öhringen) 2nd Chairwoman, Margot Fiedler (Pfedelbach) Cashier.

The previous committee members were also confirmed Steffen Fiedler (Pfedelbach), Tatjana Knoche (Öhringen), Margret Knoche (Pfedelbach), Susanne Schwab (Schöntal-Bieringen) and Jana Käppler (Neuenstein, not in the picture). JJürgen Schweizerhof (Oehringen), Ruth and Jonathan Hägele (Untermünkheim) were newly elected to the committee.

The financial expenses in 2023 The board described this in its annual report. These data and facts can be viewed in a presentation on the website under NEWS.

At the Annual General Meeting, a new club logo (see above) and the draft of a new flyer was adopted.

Post from Namibia, Part 4

Now Margret and Joachim Knoche already back in Germany, but in a 4th and 5th part they report about their time in Namibia in the last weeks of their stay.

For a few days we were also in Swakopmund, where, among other things, we especially visited four of the trainees at COSDEC - Darleen, Johnson, Christiana and Petronella - have visited.

The trainees are making a good impression, are grateful for the monthly support, and are doing well in their training. We were able to present Petronella, one of the new trainees, who is studying to be an office administrator, with a donated tablet and a new matching keyboard.

The situation is different with Marvelous, who is training to be a nurse. Since her training is significantly more expensive, we agreed last year that we would only finance her training, while her family would cover her living expenses. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be working out, as she has become ill due to health problems and not enough to eat. When I heard about her call for help, I immediately had Magthe transfer money to her for healthy food. After visiting her, we decided together on the spot that starting this month, she would receive a small food allowance specifically for vegetables and fruit.read more

Post from Namibia, Part 1

Margret and Joachim Knoche are currently in Namibia and report on some experiences.

The shortage

A Friday evening and Saturday morning were dominated by an online partnership seminar for Southern Africa. The topic was actually “Women’s Power in the Churches” of southern Africa, but it quickly became clear that men and women in the churches here – including those in leadership positions – actually earn nothing and mostly work on a voluntary basis and for “God’s reward.” The local congregations function well, but for the church leadership and higher institutions – such as the Martin Luther High School – there is no money. The church leadership in Windhoek and its employees have not received a salary for months, the regional church office is closed, and the guest houses and seminaries are operating without pay. Most employees continue to work "somehow" and hope that "someday" money will come in again. We cannot imagine this kind of shortage in Germany.

This pervasive shortage is not only present in the church, but virtually everywhere we go. Schools lack books and materials; student dormitories lack beds, mattresses, and lockers for children to store their personal belongings. School kitchens lack plates, cutlery, tables, and chairs; most cars lack maintenance and gasoline—and yet, everyday life continues. For Margret and me, this is always difficult to bear in everyday life!

How can this work?

The student dormitories receive food from the state. The government occasionally provides peopleread more