The Namibian SMS

Metaha,

This is the SMS I sent to The Namibian newspaper in response to the article and other sms's. Maybe it will help open the eyes of others.

SMSES OF THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2009

THANK you to The Namibian and to Christof Maletsky for the story on the Opuwo volunteers and OVC in Monday’s paper. Everyone loves the article and the children love seeing their pictures in the paper. If anyone would like to learn more about the OVC class or would like to offer any support feel free to look at our blog at www.omapitiroweyuva.blogspot.com or email me at ewyni119@gmail.com. Thanks again!
– Edward Wynimko, Opuwo

Uhara Nawa

Response From Article

Metaha,

This is one response the article received via a sms from a kind person in Windhoek. So great to get the word out about the program! Thank you to The Namibian for the great article.

Volanteers making a difference

* THANK you to Christof Maletsky of The Namibian newspaper for your story on ‘Volunteers bring new hope at Opuwo’. I hope he and others in his profession will continue the focus on remote areas of our country and constantly remind us of those less fortunate in our society. In particular, I salute the young volunteers at the OVC project. Your compassion, patriotism and kindness shall forever be applauded.

– Dr Elijah Ngurare, The Secretary for the Swapo party Youth Leauge, Windhoek

Uhara Nawa

Article in The Namibian

Metaha,

Here is an article that was written in The Namibian newspaper on Monday October 5th. The article and pictures are from Christof Maletsky of The Namibian. Hope you enjoy!

NATIONAL NEWS

05.10.09

Volunteers bring new hope at Opuwo

BY: CHRISTOF MALETSKY AT OPUWO

Rauna Shilongo and Blaundina Petrus, two of the Volunteers at the Opuwo

Red Cross Centre taking care of the orphans and vulnerable children.

Polytechnic graduate Florence Nunes is one of the volunteers taking orphans and

vulnerable children from Opuwo through afternoon classes at the Centre.

One of the children concentrates on his task of

coloring at the Opuwo Red Cross Centre.

THIRD-GRADER Makina Gabriel Armando is all smiles.

Even though he lost his sister a week ago and his mom is ailing,

he is glad to hold a biscuit and a cup of cooldrink in his hands.

Every Friday afternoon Armando (11) joins a group of up to 40 other children at the Red Cross Centre at Opuwo where they are taught life skills, are helped with homework and also get school uniforms and toiletries.

They are a group of children that Red Cross regional co-ordinator Kakarandua Mutambo got into the local school hostels after they used to walk around 20 kilometres to school and back home every day.

They have since joined the OVC project set up by US peace corps volunteer Edward Wynimko, who has helped the locals to plant a big garden on the outskirts of Opuwo for sustainable food production.

He has also been involved in the distribution of condoms as health workers and others try to stem the spread of HIV – the disease that causes AIDS and leaves children as orphans.

Although Opuwo and surrounding areas do not have a high HIV prevalence rate because the Himba people have over the years jealously guarded their customs and traditions, those same values now threaten to wipe them out.

That is because of customs such as polygamy, where rich older men marry several young girls to bear children who help herd his cattle.

Mutambo said they started the project with 17 children who used to sit around idle.Now all of them are in school and the project workers keep a register to monitor their progress and attendance.

“Initially most dropped out of hostels because they did not have blankets, clothes and toiletries but we managed to get donations for them. They have now stabilised and enjoy school,” Mutambo said.

Most of them are children of people who are taken care of under the Red Cross home-based care programme.

“That is why we also set up the big garden to plant vegetables which our clients can eat and also sell,” she said.

A local chief gave the Red Cross a 10-hectare piece of prime land some eight kilometres outside Opuwo and they have already had their first harvest but still need funds to build a proper irrigation system.

In the meantime, fewer than half a dozen local young women volunteer their Friday afternoons to teach Armando and the other children how to care for others.

“We hope that one day one of them will reach some heights in life. You never know who you prepare for tomorrow,” said Mutambo.

Evaluations and Spotlight!

Metaha,

This was the first week of a two week evaluation. The children are taking a test to see if the class is helping and to find out what we need to focus on more. The evaluation results will then be compared to the results from the first one that the children took in March.

This week is also the first week for the spotlight child. Every week we will pick one child and they will be interviewed by one of our volunteers. We will then post their picture and the interview for your reading pleasure. I will try to leave the responses to the questions in their original form but as the children have varying levels of English, I may occasionally need to interpret their responses which I will include with the edited response in parenthesis. Hope you enjoy reading as much as they enjoyed the interview!

Spotlight on Anna!

Q1. What is your full name?

A1. Anna Jonas

Q2. When and where were you born?

A2. Here in Opuwo in 1995

Q3. What are the names and ages of your brothers and sisters?

A3. Tageni 21, Rainhold 7, and I have no sisters.

Q4. What is your favorite color?

A4. I have 2. Yellow and orange.

Q5. What grade are you in?

A5. Grade 6D.

Q6. What is your favorite subject in school?

A6. English.

Q7. What do you do for fun?

A7. I like to tell stories.

Q8. What is your favorite food?

A8. Oranges.

Q9. If you could have one wish what would it be?

A9. To be educated.

Q10. What is your favorite part of the Omapitiro Weyuva After School Class?

A10. I like that it helps my studies.

Thanks Anna!!!

Uhara Nawa.

September 11

It is Friday, and we gather once again around the conference room of the Red Cross office. The children are quiet, their heads diligently bent over their worksheets. Colored pencils and crayons are scattered haphazardly on the tables, and the children quietly exchange colors, attempting to complete part one of the worksheet with maximum color and speed. “Match the words with ‘oo’ and color them the same,” one of the older girls patiently explains. The younger children quickly follow her instructions, filling the boxes with brilliant hues of red, yellow, and green.

The second part of the worksheet is slightly more complicated, and the volunteers hurry around the room fielding questions: after reading a story, the children must look at a list of words and decide which words were included in the story. Some of the children had to re-read the story a couple of times, but ultimately all were able to move on to part three—spelling! One of the boys giggles, “‘loock’ is not the proper way” he exclaims. He marks the correct word “look” on the page, and proceeds to the next word pair.

While English comprehension varies from child to child, it becomes obvious while glancing around the room that they are all equally committed to learning. The recent school break seems to have renewed their focus, and the volunteers patiently clarify instructions and give guidance when necessary. After diligently pasting their completed worksheets in their journals, the cool drinks and cookies are distributed, thus bringing to a close another great class!

Until next time… Uhara nawa!

Holiday

Metaha,

For the next three weeks the children are on holiday. While the children are away the volunteers will be working together to plan some more classes. Can't wait to see what their great minds come up with.

For now, Uhara Nawa

2+4=FUN! X 2

Metaha,

In light of the success of last week’s class, the volunteers decided that the kids could benefit from further math instruction. They broke out the workbooks and abacuses once again, and kicked off our second week of math fun. The children were eager to get to work and learn, and this was reflected in their level of participation. At the end of the class we decided to do a question and answer game on the white board. The children love to show off their skills and this was a great time for everyone to help each other. When the class was finished the children were very pleased with the new math skills they had learned.

Couple boys working on some calculations.

Using the Abacus is better than your fingers!

Answering some in class math questions.

Using the white board to do a full class activity.

(pic 1) - Youngest learner getting help from Blaundina.

(pic 2) The problem 13-5=____

(pic 3) Still working!

(pic 4) Final Result! 13-5=8!!

For now, Uhara Nawa.