Author: Hannah Wind
Location: Germany
Photo Credit: Private Collection (Together We Travel | Miteinander Neue Wege Gehen E.V)
SUMMARY
The small town of Omaruru in Namibia faces many issues rooted in geopolitical factors. Especially vulnerable groups, including children and disabled people, are, therefore, often left behind with insufficient means to sustain themselves, afford food or access education. ‘Together We Travel’ (TWT), a German association, wants to change this by providing children in Namibia with security and better development opportunities.
BACKGROUND
Namibia, a country in Southwest Africa, endures severe drought conditions, especially in the Namib desert, to which the state owes its name. Its colonial history, marked by German rule and later South African mandate, exposed Namibia to apartheid, a system of segregation based on race. The impacts of apartheid are still partially visible today. These geopolitical factors have contributed to the country’s struggling economy, leaving many unemployed. Moreover, the most vulnerable populations, particularly children and disabled members of society, often do not have access to sufficient food, adequate healthcare, or educational opportunities.
A Place Called ‘Omaruru’
A place where these circumstances are visible at first glance is Omaruru, a town North of Namibia’s capital, Windhoek. As Gerhard and Gabriele Zeiler, co-founders and members of ‘Together We Travel’ told me, the town owes its name to a river, splitting it into two parts, thereby reflecting Namibia’s history of apartheid: On the one side of the river reside mostly the White, predominantly ethnic German people, whereas the other side, ‘the location,’ is home to a mainly Black population.
While this segregation fosters support for the political opposition and, therefore, remains a political issue, as many people feel left behind, another factor that exacerbates the problems faced by the locals of Omaruru nowadays is the nearly dry Omaruru River. According to The Namibian, “Omaruru is the only sizeable community in Namibia that is not connected to NamWater,” the national pipeline network. This forces Omaruru’s citizens to supply water from boreholes that are now feared to be close to depletion. Due to these conditions, the people of Omaruru, particularly those living in ‘the location,’ suffer financial problems and are dependent on help to cover their basic needs.
Omaruru.
‘Together We Travel’
Aiming to provide the help needed in Omaruru, the German association ‘Together We Travel’ (TWT) (German: Miteinander Neue Wege Gehen E.V.) was established in 2003 by Werner Eglinger. Charitable work in Omaruru was originally an initiative of Father Johannes from the St. Ottilien Monastery († 2015), who, amongst other things, launched a children’s home for orphans and those living on the street. TWT was founded only later to support his work and to carry on his legacy after he returned to Germany for health reasons. The association, thereby, does not pursue any political or religious goals but strictly concentrates on supporting individuals in need, with a clear focus on children.
The association finances itself through sponsorships, donations, and the help of locals, as well as volunteers. It gained legal status as an organisation in Namibia in 2020 when it took over the operation of a kindergarten, which it had earlier supported with material donations and the work of volunteers. Restarting the kindergarten in Omaruru in 2021 after extensive renovations, TWT has expanded one of its seven projects to help people in and around Omaruru.
The new kindergarten ‘Fatima.’
A Variety of Projects
Kindergarten ‘Fatima’ and Study Time
The kindergarten run by TWT prepares around 35 children for school free of charge for their families. The children are selected based on their needs and, thus, often come from destitute, marginalised families. The kindergarten is financed through sponsors and donations and employs two local teachers, one cooking lady, and two helpers. Along with two volunteers, the staff sings and plays with the children, shows them the basics they need for school and provides them with breakfast, snacks, and lunch.
Older children have the opportunity to visit the so-called ‘study time’ in the afternoon. The study time is free and offers 50 to 60 children help with their homework or preparations for exams, which would otherwise be hard to accomplish due to the difficult circumstances in which people in Omaruru live. Being able to go there and receive help is a welcome change for the children, seeing as free time activities such as sports and art projects are often also integrated.
Support for Children and Young Adults
Other children who are financially in need and often have parents who are not able to work due to health issues receive support. This sponsorship covers food and hygiene articles and sometimes even school fees, as well as materials, uniforms, and medical costs. Sometimes, if the pupils are very motivated as they grow older, sponsors also cover secondary education, giving young adults the opportunity to learn a profession they could otherwise not afford to study. In recent years, the association and its sponsors could report their first successes regarding the sponsorship of young adults, with some of those who were in kindergarten in the early 2000s, when TWT was founded, graduating from university.
Medical Aid for HIV Patients and Disabled
A final project in Omaruru is the support for HIV patients, as well as disabled people. In collaboration with the local hospital, TWT supports HIV patients and addicts regularly with food and sponsors any other medical help. Additionally, disabled people receive occupational therapy, and TWT provides a number of wheelchairs.
Ozondati Elementary School
School in Ozondati.
In addition to the projects in Omaruru, TWT also supports an elementary school in Ozondati, a town 80 kilometres North of Omaruru. TWT has contributed to enlarging the hostel of the school and increasing its capacities over the past 15 years, making it possible to provide education to around 120 children, nearly four times more than in the beginning. Through donations, it was possible to build several educational houses, a dormitory with beds and mattresses, sanitary facilities, and a connection to water pipelines. Moreover, TWT helps with monthly food supplies and even built a refectory in which the students obtain daily meals and can spend their free time.
A Volunteer Reports…
Sharing her own experience, former volunteer Laura Mahler told me more about Omaruru and the impact the projects have on the local people, as well as those who go there to help. Laura went to Omaruru in 2015/16. As a volunteer, her main tasks included teaching English and Mathematics to kindergarten children, along with her volunteer partner Henri and the local teacher. Moreover, she was involved in distributing ‘foodpackies’ and helping older children with their homework and exam preparation in the afternoon.
The old kindergarten in 2015/16.
Although much has changed since Laura went to Omaruru, seeing as the kindergarten was renovated and restructured in many aspects, her impressions still apply, as more recent volunteers confirm in their reports. The children in Omaruru are visibly grateful for the opportunities TWT gives them, and it fills the volunteers’ hearts with joy to accompany them through their learning process and watch them grow.
However, seeing the children learn and improve is not only rewarding while volunteering but also has a long-term impact on those who go to Omaruru. Laura says that her main takeaway was that she could inspire others to learn, help them to be motivated, and gain more and more motivation herself from the achievements of the children. She also got to get deep insights into their culture, learnt their languages to a certain extent, and had a place she could visit years later.
Laura even returned to Namibia to write her thesis in African Studies, which, according to herself, changed her outlook on the situation once again; it helped her to gain an even deeper understanding as to why the work of TWT is essential. Today, Laura is still active for TWT as part of the organisation team. Thanks to her and a team of other organisers, volunteers are still going to Omaruru every year to enhance the projects, and – as Sina, who went to Namibia in 2021/22 expresses it – “help people to help themselves,” to make their life and that of future generations better.
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A special thanks to Gabriele and Gerhard Zeiler, as well as Laura Mahler, who so kindly took the time to introduce me to their association, answer all my questions, and provide me with pictures of the projects in Omaruru.
REFERENCES
Hartman, A. (2023, December 5). Omaruru fears taps may run dry next year. The Namibian. https://www.namibian.com.na/omaruru-fears-taps-may-run-dry-next-year/
MNWG | Miteinander neue Wege gehen E.V. (n.d.). https://mnwg.de/
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