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In mid-August we said goodbye to our four weltwärts volunteers Janna, Lisa, Katharina, Sophia and Patrizia – she was on site for three months. For one year they devoted themselves to our projects in Gobabis and Okakarara with a lot of heart and energy, and here they describe in three words what made this time special and what working and living in Namibia did for them.

Okakarara

Katharina: UNFORGETTABLE – HEREROS – SHARP

UNFORGETTABLE: For me, the decision to spend the year here was certainly one of the best I have made so far, and I am infinitely glad to have been able to experience it. So many experiences, people met, things learned. Had so much luck with so much (steps, Okakarara, Phia as fellow volunteer, Sonja as boss, etc.) that one often can hardly believe it!

HEREROS: Both working life and private life here are incredibly strongly shaped by Herero culture, and many of the problems and behaviours can be traced back to Herero culture. We experienced 100% Herero culture in that year and can now better understand and anticipate many problems that arise, and have also discovered some things that we Germans could perhaps take a leaf out of…

SHARP: Sharp is a South African expression for „great, okay“, which we have now integrated into our vocabulary. Whether a task has been done, the weekend plans are set, or the kids have once again done something good, basically anything can be „sharp“! And the last 12 months were definitely sharp too!

 

Sophia: COMFORT ZONE – KATHI – TJIRUMBU

COMFORT ZONE: in the sense of leaving it and daring to try something new and look beyond the end of your nose.

KATHI: because she was there almost the entire year, 24/7, and without her it certainly wouldn’t have been nearly as lovely.

TJIRUMBU: is Otjiherero and means something like „white person“. We were shouted this after us day in, day out, and it stands for the cultural differences that have to be overcome.

 

Patrizia: CONTRAST – KAPANA – PETOSHA

CONTRAST: If you spend a weekend in Windhoek with its huge malls, which are just as modern as large shopping centres in Germany, and the next in a traditional village without electricity and running water, you can hardly believe that all of this is the same country.

KAPANA: The food that local women sell by the roadside represents for me part of the Herero culture as I came to know it: food, and almost exclusively meat and carbohydrates (maize porridge or noodles).

PETOSHA: The children in the project had problems pronouncing my name or remembering it; in trying, all sorts of funny versions of „Patrizia“ came out, among them „Petosha“. Phia and Kathi then called me that for three months too, which is why I will certainly never forget this word.

 

Gobabis

Janna: OUTER WIDENESS – INNER DEPTHS

A year in Namibia, at first almost impossible to get through and at the end yet still too short. I would never have expected that a country could captivate me so much with its diversity, its landscape, its people, who are as open and friendly as I have never experienced anywhere else. 

I learned an incredible amount, not only about childcare, Namibia's culture and how to make fat cookies, but above all about myself. Who I am, who I want to be, where I want to go in my life. 

It has been like a long journey to myself, accompanied by wonderful people, exciting and every day anew challenging work and the beauty of Namibia. 

Namibia has become a „home away from home“ for me. 

Lisa: MADISA – UP AND DOWN – SURPRISE EGG

MADISA: means „Hello, how are you?“ in Khoekhoegowab. And it is the language spoken most often in our project. Whether in English or in Khoekhoegowab (the language most of the children at our pre-school speak), you are asked how you are as a greeting – even if you just happen to meet in the street, for example. I think it shows a special kind of openness that does not exist in Germany in the same way. This greeting formula has now simply become part of everyday life and a habit for me.

UP AND DOWN: That’s how it was here in Namibia throughout my year. There were many ups and downs, especially in the project work, with the initial homesickness and in my own feelings.

SURPRISE EGG: Everyday life in Namibia, with all its facets, is like a giant surprise egg. You never know what to expect on that day.

Without spontaneity, flexibility, adaptability and improvisation, many moments would not have become so unforgettable and beautiful.

 

Many thanks for your wonderful and empathetic commitment!

Your steps team

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In mid-August, we had our four weltwärts volunteers Janna, Lisa, Catherine, Sophia and Patrizia – adopted – it was for three months on site. A year and have worked with a lot of heart and energy in our projects in Gobabis and Okakarara and describe here three words so special this time and what has moved the work and life in Namibia with them.

Okakarara

Katharina: UNFORGETTABLE– HEREROS – SHARP

UNFORGETTABLE: For me, the decision to spend the year here is certainly one of the best I have made so far and I am immensely happy to have had this experience. So many experiences, met people, learned things. We have been so lucky with so many (steps, Okakarara, Phia as fellow volunteer, Sonja as boss, etc) that we often can not believe it!

Herero: Both work and home life here is incredibly strongly influenced by the culture of the Herero, and many of the problems and behaviours can be attributed to the Herero culture. We have experienced 100% Herero culture over the year and can now better understand many problems and even anticipate them, and also discovered some things that we Germans could perhaps learn from …

SHARP: Sharp is a South African term for „great, okay“, which we have now integrated into our language. Whether you carry out a task that has been standing all weekend or the kids have again done something well, actually everything can be „sharp“! And sharp were definitely the 12 months!

 

Sophia: COMFORTZONE – KATHI – TJIRUMBU

 

COMFORT ZONE: leaving your comfort zone in the truest sense of the word and daring to think outside the box.

Kathi: because she was there most of the year 24/7 and it certainly would not have been so beautiful without her.

TJIRUMBU: is Herero and means something like „white“. That being here day after day and being called after is the cultural differences that have to be overcome.

 

Patrizia: CONTRAST – KAPANA – PETOSHA

CONTRAST: If you spend a weekend in Windhoek with its huge malls that are just as modern as the large shopping centres in Germany, and then the next in a traditional village with no electricity or running water, you can hardly believe that this is all the same country.

Kapana: The food that local women sell me at roadside stands as part of the culture of the Herero, as I got to know it: food, almost exclusively meat and carbohydrates (corn porridge or noodles).

PETOSHA: The children in the project had trouble pronouncing my name and remembering it; while trying all kinds of funny versions of „Patrizia“, among other things „Petosha“ came out. So then I was also called Phia and Kathi for three months, so I will certainly never forget this word.

Gobabis

Janna:  EXTERNAL WIDE – INSIDE DEEP

 

A year in Namibia, at first hardly to get through and at the end then too short. I would never have expected that a country could captivate me with its versatility, its landscape, its people, who are so open and friendly, as I have never experienced it differently. 

I have learned so much, not just about parenting, Namibian culture and how to make Fatcookies, but especially about myself. Who am I, who do I want to be wherever I want in my life. 

It’s been like a long journey to myself, accompanied by wonderful people, exciting and every day ’new challenging work and the beauty of Namibia. 

Namibia has become for me a „home away from home“. 

Lisa: MADISA – UP AND DOWN – SURPRISE EGG

MADISA: means in Khoekhoegowab „Hello, how are you?“ And is the language which is spoken the most in our project. (The most children speak the language with us in preschool) Whether in English or in Khoekhoegowab one is asked to welcome as it goes to one – even if encountered, for example, only on the street. I think it is a special kind of openness which is not available in Germany. This greeting phrase is now simply part of everyday life and has become a habit for me.

UP AND DOWN: My year in Namibia went like this. Especially in the work in the project, with the initial homesickness and within my own feelings, there were many ups and downs.

Surprise: Everyday life in Namibia in all its facets is like a huge surprise. You never know what to expect on this day.

Without spontaneity, flexibility, adaptability and improvisation many moments would not have been so memorable and beautiful.

 

Thank you for your wonderful and empathetic commitment!

Your steps team

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