A tour of Namibia – and how it came about
In an interview, Christa and Tews Koll report on their experiences during their tour of Namibia in autumn 2023. They talk about the steps facilities they visited and the Schutzengel children they met, but also about what you should definitely do when you are there.
Dear Christa, dear Tews,
for more than half a decade now, Tews, you have been active for steps for children in Germany – and by now, steps has also become a matter close to your wife Christa’s heart. This year, you published your first ever steps calendar featuring wonderful photos from the steps facilities in Namibia, which you give to friends and interested people. It has also been given a prominent place in our office. In addition, you reported on your trip at the general meeting of the Steps for Children e.V. support association., of which you are both members. We would now like to find out more about how you came to hear about us and the areas in which you are also involved.
How did you come across our foundation?
I (Tews) have been volunteering for a long time. My love of the sea and ships first led me to the Duckdalben Seafarers’ Mission , where I volunteered for an extended period.
Through my general interest, my family connections and my past – I lived in Namibia for almost two years in my early childhood – I began looking for volunteer work connected to southern Africa and learned about the steps for children foundation at the Aktivoli volunteer fair. And I was quickly able to convince my wife Christa too – she also lost her heart to steps.
In which areas have you already been involved with steps for children?
We have already helped at information stands, celebrated several birthdays together in aid of steps and also sold some of our own collectibles in aid of steps. Last year, we visited the projects in Namibia and helped out there, meeting the children.
Among other things, Tews regularly runs information stands in and around Hamburg to tell interested people about steps.
Christa reports on the trip through Namibia at the general meeting of the Steps for Children e.V. supporters’ association.
We have various steps initiatives – in other words, social and income-generating measures that people can support: for example, the guardian angel children, the vegetable garden or the soup kitchen. Which areas are particularly close to your hearts?
The guardian angel children are particularly close to our hearts, as this is a sustainable way to support children from families with limited educational opportunities. But we are also fascinated by the vegetable cultivation in Ongombombonde. It is a fantastic project that really impressed us. During our trip through Namibia, we were also able to stay in the steps guesthouses, giving us a direct insight into the work of steps. It is a meaningful idea: on the one hand, to generate income and provide jobs for the local population, and on the other, to give supporters and other tourists the opportunity to experience the facilities in Namibia in person.
Guardian angel young people in Okakarara listen attentively to Christa and Tews’s presentation.
In September and October last year (2023), you travelled through Namibia together. Was this your first trip to the continent?
No, it was not our first time on the continent. Because of various family connections, we had already visited southern Africa several times and taken longer trips through South Africa, Eswatini, Botswana and Namibia. We love the openness and the people in the region.
During your trip, you were able to visit steps locations as well as other destinations along your route. What was the highlight of the trip for you?
We visited two steps for children locations – the Bridge of Hope facility in Rehoboth and the one in Okakarara. At both locations, we spent a long time talking to the sponsored children and young people: using a map we had brought with us, some personal photos from our lives and other impressions, an interesting exchange developed. We were particularly impressed by the commitment of the educators: they care for the children with great empathy.
Another highlight was the sponsored children in Okakarara and the vegetable garden. A tour is definitely worthwhile here!
The tour of the vegetable garden was great – so many things are growing there!
What advice would you give holidaymakers who are planning a round trip through the country for the first time?
In general, we would advise against driving overly long distances in one go and recommend spending a few days in one place rather than just one night. This makes it easier to get in touch with the local population and explore the surroundings more thoroughly.
You should also not only visit the tourist highlights, as there are very many of them. And you should allow a little more time to settle into Namibia – in our view, a visit to Namibia is only worthwhile from two weeks onwards. And our special recommendation: plan an overnight stay at one of the steps guesthouses, for example in Okakarara.
Christa, on the left of the picture, tells the sponsored children in Rehoboth about snow and what Christmas is like. The sponsored children then explain how they will celebrate Christmas themselves.
How did the children react to you?
The children were open and most of them were very interested. At both facilities, we were able to hold an afternoon discussion with the sponsored young people. We told them about Germany and showed them our home city of Hamburg on the map. Alongside a map of Germany, we also brought a world map and a map of the European countries to show more precisely how far away the country we come from is. We also looked at more photos of the garden covered in snow and during the Christmas season, and at the Elbe with its cargo ships and barges. The fact that our rivers in Germany contain so much water was fascinating for the children, because in Namibia the rivers are completely dried up for most of the year, apart from a few moments.
A pre-school group in Okakarara sings a song to Christa and Tews and is delighted that the two of them are there.
What did you take back to Germany from the trip?
Many people in Namibia welcomed us with great openness and interest, which was wonderful. We were also reminded even more clearly of how important and precious water is!
What do you wish for the steps children in Namibia?
Many unforgettable moments, especially during the many steps activities and with the local participants – seeing how much the children can absorb and take away from them and make something of it.
Is there something you are grateful for?
We are very grateful that we are doing so well here in Germany and would like to give something back wherever possible. We have so much here in abundance and are sometimes not really aware of it. We are delighted when we can give something back through our commitment!
Dear Christa, dear Tews, we sincerely thank you for the interview and your extensive, wonderful commitment! steps simply cannot be imagined without you anymore, and through your activities you are a huge help to the steps children and young people on site. Wherever we went on our 2023 project trip, children and educators enthusiastically told us about your visit!
