Social pedagogue Christine Leege runs her own kindergarten in Norderstedt, which teaches environmentally conscious behaviour to 21 children - 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 a few weeks for the sixth time. The teachers and employees of our partner project „Light for the Children“ know Christine. You can rely on her, she never comes empty-handed and organises a lot of things from Norderstedt. This year, for example, she has also brought along many donations in kind from the neighbouring kindergartens in Norderstedt.
When Christine arrived in Gobabis in February, the new school year was starting and she got to know many new children in kindergarten and pre-school. „Everyday life was very hectic at first. It's difficult for the children to get used to the routine at first. There are the class lessons, where you have to be quiet, then there are breaks after which you have to return to class and the children also have to wash their hands after going to the toilet,“ says Christine, describing the first few days. „These are all things that the girls and boys are not used to from home. But they learn quickly, because the teachers work with a lot of love and confidence and are very committed.“
Many of Christine's ideas were accepted and implemented.
„Of course, a morning like this looks different than in our kindergartens“, says Christine Leege. „The limited availability of materials is making itself felt. But in the teacher workshops and in our free time, we do a lot of crafting and sewing as a supplement.“
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 Joinery, where three craftsmen work and two new apprentices are completing their training as carpenters. The training partner COSDEC, with whom steps for children / Light for the Children work together, is on site in Gobabis and is similar to a vocational school. In addition to repairs in the project and the construction of tables and chairs for the children and for a furniture shop in Gobabis, solar ovens are produced for sale.
„The commitment of the teachers and the joy of everyone involved in the project is great and admirable,“ Christine emphasises.
In the Computer school two teachers give paid lessons to interested citizens and children from the project also receive continuous PC training. Christine also met the caretaker every day. He takes on all tasks relating to the project and makes sure that nothing falls by the wayside: He keeps an eye on fences, electrics and clean yard areas. Henk Olwage manages the project and is still trying to obtain funding for the project from the Namibian government as well as local organisations and sponsors.
Dear Christine, you are an irreplaceable part of the steps team -
both in Namibia and in Hamburg.
Thank you for your commitment!
