Follow us through Namibia
May 19
Today we drove back to Windhoek from Keetmanshoop - just a 4 hour drive! It seemed very short after the long day of travel we had on Tuesday (we flew from Oshakati to Windhoek, just a 1 hour flight but covered 800km; and then we drove another 800km to Luderitz, 8 hours in the car!)
On our drive Tuesday, we picked up board member Maree Smit, who travelled with us to Luderitz, where Sekolo supports two school feeding programs.
Luderitz is a coastal town, and often quite chilly and very windy. We were lucky and had bright sun and a warm, gentle breeze. Tom and I enjoyed seeing and smelling the salt air off the Atlantic again!
Our first stop in the morning was to Diaz Primary School, where the Principal runs a bakery - to help feed the children at his school, as well as the children at the two other schools in town. Here you can see Tom and Maree with Cassius, the principal.
We visited Diaz just before break time, when the more needy children will receive a bowl of porridge and fish stew - 1 bowl for 2 children.
Our second stop was the Luderitz Secondary School, where Sekolo has supported a soup kitchen feeding scheme for several years. The school has a new principal, and we were very happy to see he is still fully supportive and enthusiastic about the soup kitchen. The school cleaners are an enthusiastic and generous bunch, who volunteer their time to cook the children’s soup. Standing with them is Ms. Orlam, the soup kitchen facilitator with the green folder, and Tom. (We’re looking for a sponsor who can fund some “Sekolo Chef” aprons for these fantastic volunteers - email me if you’re interested!)
The children were happy to see Tom and me, and eager to pose for pictures with their red soup kitchen mugs.
Next we drove to Nautilus Primary School, just behind Luderitz Secondary School. Here they also feed children at break time, and they have a dedicated room where they prepare the food and where the children can eat.
After we finished our school visits, we drove through Zone 7, the newest residential development in Luderitz where many of the children Sekolo supports live.
These one room homes often house large extended families. Three houses share an outhouse toilet, and 12 houses share a communal water spigot.
That afternoon we drove back to Keetmanshoop, to cut our Thursday drive in half. As a final treat, Maree took us to see some cheetahs - check out the pictures on our facebook page!
May 18, 2011
Greetings from Luderitz,
It is Wednesday morning and we are on our way to visit schools today. I apologize for the delay with our postings. We have had very full days.
Sunday we visited Etosha – a national park – where we conducted our own safari. We saw 18 different types animals up close. See the elephant and giraffe pictures from Elizabeth.
Monday we visited Oshakati where Sisi conducts drum, dance and soccer programs for kids living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in one of the poorest parts of the world. One teen stole my heart. An orphan, she tested HIV positive years ago. Under Sisi’s care she has thrived. Dance is where she found herself and her home. Today, with a zest for life, she helps provide direction and guidance to other dancers. Her smile can melt your heart. The pictures capture the joy the kids experience with Sisi.
May 14
It was a beautiful sunny day in Windhoek today! We got an early start today as there was lots to do, plan and prepare. We picked up some fresh baked scones at the Craft Center and headed off to meet two of our Namibian Board members at the Polytech Hotel School for an informal conversation.
We met Bonifatius Morwe, who I’ve known since we taught together at the Mokaleng RC School, back in 2002, and who has been on the Sekolo board since 2006. We also met Gisela Siririka, who I met when planning the Our HIV AIDS workshops, and has also been on the board since 2006.
We chatted and reconnected, and Boni and Gisela got to know Tom a little bit before the serious planning discussions begin. Unfortunately, I was so caught up in the conversations that I completely forgot to take any pictures! Tom has promised to remind me in the future.
After we left Boni and Gisela, Tom and I did a bit of grocery shopping for our long drive tomorrow, sorted out the first aid kit and some other traveling odds and ends, and did some work and email. Rivendell, the guesthouse where we’re staying, is a beautiful place!
We sat down a bit later with a cup of tea to look at the map and plan our drive tomorrow.
It’s really chilly here at night - hope you’re all enjoying some springtime warmth!
May 12/13
We got on the first of three planes early Thursday morning, and have arrived safely in Namibia! Our first flight landed us at London Heathrow’s Terminal 5, just in time for sunset….
Next up, Johannesburg’s Oliver Tambo International Airport, with this helpful guard at the departures board:
After 28 hours traveling, and three long flights, we arrived at the Hoseo Kutako Airport in Windhoek.
It’s beautiful weather here - and great to see the southern cross again!
Here’s our itinerary - check back here for pictures and previous blog posts!
Thursday, May 12
Fly from New York to London, leaving London f3or Johannesburg, South Africa on Thursday night.
Friday, May 13
Arrive in Jo-burg on Friday morning and continue on to Namibia, arriving in Windhoek by 2pm, after over 24 hours of travel!
Saturday, May 14
Meet informally with Namibian Board members
Sunday, May 15
Travel Day: Drive north, via the Etosha Game Park, to Oshakati where Etango Tali Piti are located.
Monday, May 16
Meet with Etango Tali Piti facilitator, Sisi Mukensturm, and visit with the children in the program.
Tuesday, May 17
Travel Day: Flight from Oshakati to Windhoek, where we’ll pick up a car and continue south to Luderitz.
Wednesday, May 18
Meet with the Soup Kitchen facilitators at the Luderitz Secondary School and visit with the students.
Thursday, May 19
Travel Day: Return to Windhoek and prepare for our Board meeting.
Friday, May 20
Board meeting and planning with the Namibian Board of Directors.
Saturday, May 21
Start the journey back to the US!
See more pictures from our trip on Sekolo’s facebook page
While we’re in Namibia, Tom and I will visit our Etango Tali Piti in Oshakati, in the far north of the country, on the Angolan border - at the # 1. We’ll also touch base with the Soup Kitchen at the Luderitz Secondary School, in the southern coastal region of Namibia, by the #2.
Here’s Namibia on the African continent - when we fly in, we traverse the entire continent north to south, stopping in Johannesburg, South Africa for a few hours before our final flight into Windhoek.
