Lucas as a short-term volunteer in Namibia
steps asks – Lucas answers! He is currently serving as a short-term volunteer in Namibia at our Okakarara site and shares a few experiences he has already had here. He may also have a few tips for everyone who is travelling to Namibia soon!
Who are you and when did you join steps and at which location?
My name is Lucas, I am 18 years old and have been taking a gap year between school and university since July 2023. After placements in the USA and Thailand, I have been working for steps for children in Okakarara for four months since the beginning of January, Namibia, together with.
Why did you decide to volunteer in Namibia?
I want to use my gap year to improve my language skills and see the world. I find it exciting to get to know unfamiliar people, ways of life and cultures, and thereby broaden my personal horizons. At the same time, I want to do something good and meaningful. I think that people who have had the chance to grow up in good circumstances should try to give something back to less privileged people. Through my work at steps for children, I hope to combine both: gain new impressions and experiences while also positively influencing the future of disadvantaged children.
Which books did you use to prepare for your time in Namibia?
Everything from travel guides to various documentaries was included. I found it particularly interesting to engage with the history and colonial past of Namibia. Precisely because it is still such „young“ history, this knowledge actually often helps you to classify and understand things you see and experience.
What is your favourite way to spend the evenings after your work at steps?
As the other volunteers have already written, we lead a typical shared-house life here in the afternoons and evenings, with everything that goes with it: Cooking together, playing board games and enjoying movie nights. The sunsets and the night sky here are indescribably beautiful. Sitting outside late in the evening with some music and looking up at the stars is an incredible feeling.
Are there any tasks that you particularly like at steps?
What I enjoy most is sports lessons. When everyone is still a bit tired in the morning, a bit of exercise is exactly the right thing to start the day. It is always lovely to see how much joy the children get from being able to let off steam.
What has been particularly challenging on your trip or during your stay so far?
In the project and in Namibia in general, I settled in quite quickly – that was not a challenge for me at all. The bureaucratic obstacle course, however, was applying for my visa. The Namibian government had just switched the process to an e-visa at the time, and at first it was not at all clear which documents were actually required. In the end, though, everything went completely smoothly.
What surprised you the most during your stay?
The openness of the people. It is incredible how quickly you are welcomed and integrated into the community here. We really do a lot with the locals – whether it is shared choir afternoons, church visits or barbecue evenings. If you, like me, come from a bigger city in Germany, you first have to get used to the fact that people greet you constantly in the street, sometimes even people you do not know at all. It also happens quite often that a child runs up to you to demand a hug. An unusual but lovely feeling.
What are you grateful for?
I think I would answer this question very differently today than I would have before my stay: here you learn to appreciate the simplest things that you previously took for granted and often never questioned: a reliable electricity supply, comprehensive mobile coverage or a fully automatic washing machine are not a given here.
I am also grateful to be able to experience and get to know a „different world“ here and to collect so many great impressions and experiences.
What should you definitely try when you are in Namibia?
Definitely Braai rolls, which are really incredibly tasty. The name is a little misleading, because Braai is the local word for grilling. Anyone who has ever eaten stick bread at nursery school will immediately be reminded of the taste.
I wish...
... that the time here does not pass as quickly as everyone else says it does, and that I am still able to make many wonderful memories with the children, teachers and other volunteers.
Dear Lucas, we are very pleased that you are helping so actively at steps for children in Namibia! With your commitment, you are an enrichment for the children and young people on site – thank you very much for your support. We wish you many valuable experiences and continued a great time in Namibia!
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