The Town Okakarara

Okakarara, about 3 hours by car from Windhoek, is close to the Waterberg. Here the decisive battle between German colonial troops under the command of General Lothar von Trotha and Herero fighters took place in 1904.

On the side of the Hereros, by that time one of the biggest ethnic groups in Namibia, more than 30,000 people lost their lives; also German soldiers were killed.

Today Okakarara itself has about 6,000 inhabitants, mostly Herero speaking people, but also San (Bushmen) and members of other ethnic groups. In the greater vicinity of Okakarara live another 2,500 people. There are 4,200 children and youths under 18 in and around Okakarara.

With an unemployment rate of 65% Okakarara ranges well above the Namibian average of 35%. There are very few employers and almost no development projects which could help to change this situation in the near future.

The estimated HIV/Aids rate of more than 30% is above averageas well. Amongst the pregnant women tested, even 6 out of 10 (60%) are HIV positive.

About half of the population live in big poverty. The average income is about N$ 1,200-00 (€ 150,-) a year. More than 400 orphans have been counted. Expansive alcohol abuse in the town worsens the situation of these children.

In Okakarara there are a primary school and a secondary school with the possibility to move on to high school.

A supermarket and several small corner shops offer a limited choice of goods. Furthermore, there are two banks and a service station. The permanent stone houses along the main road are connected to water and electricity and have toilets.

The children attending our preschool, however, mostly live in zink or clay houses far from the road and without water, electricity and toilets. Many live with older women who take care of up to 10 children from their own family or of the neighbours.

More information on Okakarara and Namibia:

www.namibia-info.net/zentralnamibia/okakarara.html