Namibia: Introduction

Hello All!

My travels pick up once again, yet this time, I hope to give something back.  In just a couple of weeks I will on a plane to Windhoek, Namibia.  This young country (independent since 1990) is located just west of  Botswana and South Africa, and south of Zambia and Angola.  It is the second least densely populated country in the world (Mongolia is the least) as it is made up of vast amounts of savanna and desert. However, that does not mean the country doesn't have it's fair share of history and culture, both good and bad..  Namibia has been through genocide, colonization, and continues to battle the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  But the people seem to remain strong, placing value on family, their countryside, and their independence.  They have also made a commitment to education, placing an emphasis on strong schooling and leadership for all of their students.  But because of HIV/AIDS and the lack of educational training institutions there are not enough teachers to go around.  I feel that every child, no matter their circumstance has a right to an education and a helping hand to guide them on their way to success.  The government of Namibia feels the same way and has allowed programs such as Harvard's WorldTeach to allow foreign teachers to volunteer and create this reality.

I'll be going with another group of twenty volunteers to teach in Namibia for two months.  We will be dispersed around the country where we hope to enrich the schools that we are placed in, just as they are teaching us.  I will be located in northern Namibia, the Oshana region, in Eloolo CS.  The school is located in a village, about fifteen miles from the nearest city and a mile from the nearest road.  Grades one through ten engage in the various subjects such as math, english (which is there national language, but most do not speak it) and the usual core subjects.  I will be teaching computer skills, helping with english, and hopefully designing some fun and active extracurricular activities.  

I hope to keep everyone as informed and involved as possible.  Many have donated their time, money, and best wishes to this cause and I am grateful for the support.  The internet is still questionable, but I hope to use Skype so that my students will be able to interact with the world abroad.  At the very least, I will keep this blog updated with as many pictures as possible, I'm sure my students will be more than willing to take some candid photos.

Till June 1,

Best,

Alex