The social pedagogue Christine Leege runs her own kindergarten in Norderstedt, which teaches children environmentally responsible behavior as a KITA 21 institution – she is an expert in her field. This is a great help at our project location in Gobabis, where she has now come to work for several weeks for the sixth time. The teachers and staff of our partner project “Light for the Children” know Christine. She is reliable, never comes empty-handed and organizes a great deal from Norderstedt as well. This year, too, she brought many material donations from the surrounding kindergartens in Norderstedt.

When Christine arrived in Gobabis in February, the new school year had begun there, and she met many new children in kindergarten and preschool. “At first, everyday life was very hectic. It is difficult for the children to get used to the routine at first. There is classroom instruction, during which they are expected to be quiet, then there are breaks, after which they are supposed to return to the classroom, and in addition, the children are expected to wash their hands after going to the toilet,” Christine describes the first few days. “These are all things that the girls and boys are not used to at home. But they learn quickly, because the teachers work with a great deal of love and confidence and are highly committed.”

Many of Christine's ideas were accepted and implemented.

“Of course, a morning like this looks different from those in the kindergartens back home,” says Christine Leege. “The limited availability of materials is noticeable. But a lot is made and sewn as an addition during the teacher workshops and in their free time.”

There are currently eight classes in the mornings with a total of around 230 children aged between two and six. There are between 20 and 30 children in each class. In addition, there are around 200 schoolchildren from Year 1 to 7 in the afternoon. In the meantime, the daily hot meal was cooked on an open fire as a large electric cooking appliance was broken.

From time to time, Christine visits the carpentry workshop, where three craftsmen work and two new apprentices are completing their training as carpenters. The training partner COSDEC, which steps for children / Light for the Children work with, is based in Gobabis and is similar to a vocational school. In addition to carrying out repairs needed at the project and building tables and chairs for the children and for a furniture store in Gobabis, solar ovens are made for sale.

“The teachers’ commitment and everyone’s joy at being involved in the project are great and admirable,” Christine emphasizes.

At the computer school, two teachers provide fee-based lessons to interested citizens, and children from the project also receive continuous computer training. Christine also met the caretaker every day. He takes care of all tasks related to the project and makes sure that nothing is overlooked: he keeps an eye on the fences, electrical systems and clean courtyards. Henk Olwage leads the project and continues to make efforts to obtain funding for the project from the Namibian government as well as local organizations and supporters.

Dear Christine, you are an irreplaceable part of the steps team –
both in Namibia and in Hamburg. 
Thank you very much for your commitment!