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Summer vacation in Namibia?!

Current notes from August 2


The hoped-for incentive and easing of restrictions for tourism, on which one in three people directly depends, unfortunately only came to a limited extent: While all new arrivals to Namibia no longer need to quarantine, they do require a negative test taken no more than 72 hours before entry. They are expected to stay at their first accommodation for seven days in order to be tested again during this time. The side effects of the previously strict lockdown are now having an impact. Hunger and high levels of unemployment are frightening. The unemployed will likely need additional food packages in the coming weeks and support with hygiene measures. Thank you for your special donations, which have enabled us to provide generous support over the past few months.

(see notes from July 13) back


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Notes from Namibia - 13-7-2020
Thus, Namibian society must focus on itself for the time being. And perhaps that's a good thing!
In the meantime, the Namibia Support Association eV is trying to alleviate the greatest hardship of the local people with your extra donations and its own funds.
This weekend, we again had 60 large food packages distributed to a large family in Okombahe and on the surrounding farms by the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Pastor Andreas, Yvonne, and Augustinus. These food packages will be a great help for at least two weeks.
In addition, several women make washable and reusable mouth and nose protection masks for €1 and thus have a small income.
For approximately €8,000, we were able to finance and distribute 1,500 masks and approximately 200 large food packages in Omaruru, Okombahe, and the surrounding area over the past three months. In addition, the three soup kitchens in Okombahe and Omaruru are fully funded. We were also able to provide some financial support to pastors in need.
These food packages aren't sustainable, but hopefully they'll help people realize they're not forgotten and give them the courage to take control of their own lives. After the pandemic, we'll work with our contacts in Okombahe to consider what additional sustainable food projects we can tackle together, such as our own vegetable gardens, independent water projects, and craft training initiatives. But this isn't an easy path! back
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Greetings from Okombahe to the kindergarten in Pfedelbach-Heuberg
Since kindergartens in Namibia were still open in the initial period before the coronavirus-related closures, Margret and Joachim Knoche were able to deliver extra vitamins for each child and some new toys to the kindergarten administrators. During a second visit during the coronavirus-related closures, Joachim and Margret Knoche were able to hand over some newly purchased toys, puzzles, and educational posters to the teachers. Everyone expressed their gratitude and, along with many warm greetings, presented some homemade dolls for the Heuberg kindergarten. The chairman will officially hand these over during a visit to the kindergarten in the fall, where he will also show them new pictures.
The hope is that both kindergarten groups, the one in Pfedelbach and the one in Okombahe, will develop a mutual understanding through their shared contact. back

continue reading from 20.6.2020 Hunger, hunger, hunger, ...

Like everywhere else in the world, the government faces only two evils: unilaterally combating the spread, risking economic collapse, or restarting the economy by opening borders and accepting the spread of the virus. So far, the Namibian government has opted for the first alternative, but without a social safety net and without billions of dollars in support for those in need.

Many of you supported our efforts with additional donations last month. With your €3,500 in June, we were able to provide the following additional support:
1) Since this month, Albertina and Yvonne have been able to buy food for their two soup kitchens in Okombahe with more money.
2) In recent days, 60 large food parcels (basic food items with additional fruit and vegetables) were distributed to needy households in Okombahe. After an official ceremony, the village mayor, the district administrator, and the church congregation distributed the food parcels. (Approximately €1,600)
3) In addition, four women in Okombahe were hired to produce 900 washable face masks themselves: 300 for the church community and 600 for the two schools in Okombahe. (€1,000)
4) The approximately €500 you donated for the needy pastors in Namibia was transferred to an account of the ELCRN's regional church office for needy pastors. Some pastors who work with us were included, but the church leadership also had the opportunity to use the money to provide some support to other pastors who have no contact with "rich" friends.

I realize that this is just a drop in the ocean, and yet those who received something may have the courage to look forward and the strength to take care of themselves again, if the opportunity arises. back

Fortsetzung von   Notizen aus Namibia 6.6.20
Walvis Bay zurück in Phase 1
Nachdem sich nun die Namibier im Land wieder frei bewegen können richtet der ausblei-bende Tourismus die größte Not an. Erst jetzt wird bekannt, wie viele Arbeitsplätze daran hängen und wieviel Geld dadurch ins Land zu den Menschen kamen. Gestern beschrieb mir ein Freund aus dem beliebten Urlaubsort Swakopmund die Situation mit drastischen Worten: „Die Stadt ist tot! Große Hotels entlassen nun nach 3 Monaten 75% ihrer Angestell-ten und befürchten, dass sich dieses Jahr nicht mehr viel ändern wird.“ Kleinere Gästefar-men und Lodges auf dem Land haben für die kommenden Monate geschlossen, da es sich für wenige einheimische Gäste nicht mehr lohnt, die Angestellten zu beschäftigen. In der Phase 4 der Lockerungen - ab Anfang Juli – sollen auch die äußeren Grenzen für einige (?) Staaten wieder geöffnet werden. Mal sehen, mit welchen Auflagen das so umgesetzt wird. Ob ausländische Touristen wieder ins Land kommen wird von den bilateralen Gesprä-chen und Ergebnissen der betroffenen Länder mit Namibia abhängen.
Der Namibia-Unterstützungsverein bedankt sich bei allen Personen, die besonders für die durch den strengen Lockdown in große Armut und Hunger geratenen Personen gespendet haben. Wir versuchen mit den Geldern die entstandene Corona-Folgen in Okombahe und in Omaruru etwas zu lindern. Über die Entfernung ist das nicht so einfach. Da die Not so groß ist und wir nicht wieder einen Polizeieinsatz hervorrufen wollen, arbeiten wir zurzeit mit vielen unterschiedlichen Gruppen in den Orten zusammen, die dann gemeinsam wis-sen, welche Personen es am Nötigsten haben. Wenn die Verantwortung der Verteilung der Lebensmittel auf mehrere Schultern verteilt ist, wird hoffentlich wirklich den Ärmsten ent-sprechend geholfen. Die gemeinsamen Absprachen darüber nehmen aber auch mehr Zeit und Überlegungen in Anspruch.   zurück

Continuation Notes from Namibia from 16 May 2020
The pastor and his wife distributed these packages to the 35 needy households. What he hadn't anticipated, however, was the plight of the many other households that were now ignored. When they heard about the relief effort, they came to the rectory to get some as well. The rush was apparently so great that they had no other choice that evening, and only with the help of the police could they send these hungry people home.
When I hear that and know how well many of us are doing, it really upsets me.
Similar situations certainly exist in aid efforts in many countries in the global South. Many small aid organizations are trying to alleviate the greatest hardship in the affected countries. However, employment and income structures disrupted as a result of the pandemic must be restored by the individual states themselves. I only hope that wealthy countries support these efforts with their laws and measures. Concepts such as fair trade products or the opening of trade restrictions are available. But we must also implement them! back
Fortsetzung von        Aktuelle Notizen 26. April 2020
In der Zwischenzeit habe ich von Deutschland aus mit dem amtierenden Bürgermeister von Okombahe, Simson Ochumub, den wir auf unserer Reise im März kennengelernt haben, Kontakt aufgenommen. Er sollte nun weitere 30 Haushalte bestimmen, die unter der jetzigen Situation besonders leiden und Nahrungshilfe für die kommenden zwei Wochen benötigen. Der Ausschuss des Namibia Unterstützungsvereins genehmigte weitere Gelder (ca. 700€) für ein kleines Soforthilfeprogramm. Mit diesem Geld und den guten Beziehungen zu den Lebensmittelläden nach Omaruru konnte ich mit dem Inhaber, Kai Griebel, vereinbaren, bis Freitagfrüh weitere 30 Pakete mit haltbaren und frischen Lebensmitteln (ca. 23€ pro Essenspaket) zu packen. Diese wurden dann vom Bürgermeisteramt zusammen mit Albertina, Desiree und Augustinus am Freitag abgeholt. Den ganzen Samstag über wurden, auch mit Mona-Lisa, der Sekretärin vom Landratsamt in Okombahe, diese 30 großen Pakete sehr gewissenhaft an die ausgewählten Haushalte verteilt. Dabei wurden Familien mit Kindern, Alte, Behinderte und Schwangere besonders berücksichtigt.
Helfen ist gut und sinnvoll, aber nicht immer einfach. Wem soll geholfen werden? Wie entstehen möglichst wenig Neid und Missgunst, wenn nicht jeder etwas bekommt? Wer wählt die entsprechenden Haushalte aus? Das sind schwierige Fragen und so ist es gut, dass Albertina vom Bürgermeisteramt, vom Landratsamt und von der Grundschule Unterstützung bekam. Wie oft habe ich schon erlebt, dass gutgemeinte Hilfsleistungen zurückgehalten werden, weil nicht jeder etwas bekommt und keiner die Verantwortung dafür übernehmen will. Von den zugeschickten Bildern sehe ich, wie ernsthaft das Komitee sich Gedanken gemacht hat, wer etwas benötigt und auch das Verteilen sehr gewissenhaft zuging. Mir wurde bestätigt, dass am Abend alle Essenspakete verteilt waren.
Falls sich herausstellen sollte, dass die Not doch größer ist, als wir sie bisher einschätzen können, dann müssen wir eben wieder handeln. Ich bin gewiss, dass es Menschen in Deutschland geben wird, die uns dabei finanziell unterstützen werden.   zurück
Continuation of Current Notes from Namibia 18 April 2020
This week, the Namibian government distributed approximately €37 (N$750) to nearly 150,000 people (approximately one in 20 residents) in a €5.5 million aid package. The grants were specifically intended for small street vendors who have lost their income since the lockdown. The money can at least buy some maize flour, oil, sugar, and tea, and perhaps even some soap and detergent. While it's only a drop in the ocean, the fact that the government is distributing funds across the board to those in need is remarkable and probably not often seen in Africa.
And yet there are many groups of people whose salaries have collapsed completely and who now have nothing left and have to hope that their extended family will support them.
We received a particular cry for help this week. In Namibia, the salaries of pastors in various churches are not paid through taxes, but directly by the congregation, and church leaders receive funding through a percentage of the congregation's levy. Pastors earn their money through Sunday offerings and through baptisms, funerals, weddings, and confirmations. Now, in these times, there are no longer any services or church sacraments taking place in Namibia, and as a result, all church representatives no longer have any income. I hope and pray that individual congregation members recognize their personal responsibility toward their pastors and do not abandon them. But even there, concern for one's own well-being is no more pronounced than it is here.
If you feel compelled to help the pastors in Namibia financially, please mark your next donation with "Grant for the Pastors in Namibia." We will try to get this money to the church representatives in need. back
Continuation of Current Notes from Namibia 4 April 2020
During the first two weeks of our stay, we had the opportunity to visit our various projects and discuss them with the people in charge on site. In Namibia, too, schools were closed in mid-March, and students were sent on early vacation. The vacation, originally scheduled for the end of April or beginning of May, has been brought forward, and as of today, April 6, 2020, normal classes are scheduled to resume on April 20—including during the original vacation period. Yes, fear of the coronavirus now has a firm grip on Namibia. Exuberant, warm greetings and hugs are no longer the norm; friends greet each other briefly with a bent elbow and laugh: "That's how we do it in times of Corona!"
Namibia also sealed itself off until the week after Easter, with serious consequences, especially for the poorer population: All soup kitchens for children and the elderly, as well as school meals for primary school students up to grade 7, have been suspended and are no longer operating. Tourism, a very important pillar of the Namibian economy, has been reduced to zero, and all plans for the coming months have been canceled or scrapped. Many ordinary service workers are out of work and have been sent home.
What makes me particularly happy at the moment are two recent requests from donors who, especially in times of Corona, are concerned about the situation of the people in Namibia and would like to help with our projects.
Please, please, don't forget the people in poorer countries in your understandable concerns in Germany! There won't be large government aid packages here to cushion the greatest hardship! In conversations with me, employers have repeatedly emphasized that they will continue to pay their employees during these times and will not lay them off. That's good and hopeful! But there will also be many other fates that will now increasingly rely on soup kitchens, but also on self-initiative. back