With the title "Place of togetherness", the Community Centre project stands for overcoming disparities and inequalities while bringing together the young and old, as well as nurturing their individual talents.
With the Community Center, we aim to create a place in Rundu, Namibia, that offers security and retreat, meets the basic needs of the local community, and empowers the individual talents of young people. The primary target audience for the Community Center are children and young adults from financially disadvantaged areas within the city.
The first phase of construction was completed in September 2023, and we look forward to filling the site with life soon.
Construction Plan and Project Progress
The Community Center is located on the outskirts of Rundu, close to the financially disadvantaged urban areas. We have acquired a plot of land where we plan to construct a total of five areas in three construction phases, spanning across the 418,000 square meters of the site.
Phase 1 (completed since September 2023):
- Soup kitchen with dining area
- Sanitary facilities (WC and shower)
Phase 2:
- Administration building with an office and two seminar rooms
- Staff house to accommodate a caretaker
Phase 3:
- Large exhibition hall as a multifunctional space and creative workplace with the possibility of flexible partitioning of rooms
In addition to the buildings, we are also planning to purchase chalkboards, chairs, tables, materials for a vegetable garden, school supplies adapted to each grade level, and creative accessories such as paints, brushes, and pens, and depending on the funding situation, musical instruments.
After purchasing the land, clearing and leveling it, we were able to lay the water pipeline by the end of 2022. Following that, the construction of the soup kitchen and sanitary facilities took place. Subsequently, the photovoltaic system was installed, and the perimeter wall of the property was completed. Phase 1 was thus concluded in September 2023, and we are preparing for the opening of the Community Center. The construction plans and cost estimates for Phase 2 and Phase 3 are already prepared. The start of the next construction phase will depend on how smoothly the operation of the Community Center progresses. If you would like to support the financing of the next construction phase, we would appreciate your donation.
How did we get involved?
After completing our large school construction project in December 2021, we had the time and opportunity to focus on a new large-scale project. The idea of establishing a soup kitchen in Rundu, where we could not only provide meals for children in need but also offer recreational activities and community spaces, had been with us for some time. However, we faced the challenge that we couldn't run such a facility from Germany.
During our trip to Namibia in February/March 2022, we had the opportunity to meet many inspiring and dedicated individuals, including the members of the nonprofit organization Ithemba. We discovered that we shared similar goals, and together, we began to develop the vision of a place of togetherness, a Community Center. This marked the beginning of an exciting journey involving concept development, fundraising, land acquisition, and construction.
Project Goal
The Community Center aims to meet the needs of the community in Rundu, especially of financially disadvantaged children and young adults. The heart of the Community Centre is to run a soup kitchen and to provide sanitary facilities to secure people's basic needs. In addition, we are constructing spaces that can be used for recreational programs, educational seminars, psychological support, talent development, homework assistance, and other initiatives.
The Community Center is intended to be operated by the community for the community. Therefore, the community is involved in the planning and implementation from the very beginning. Cooks, teachers, educators, psychologically trained staff, craftsmen, artists, musicians, students, parents, volunteers, anyone who wants to contribute, is welcome. Our Namibian partner association Ithemba is responsible for coordinating the initiatives and managing the Community Center.
Conditions in Rundu
Rundu is the second-largest city in Namibia, located in the economically weak northern region of the country. Insufficient schools and job opportunities, limited government support, and severe wealth inequality have led to poverty, malnutrition, inadequate hygiene, and resulting health issues in the economically weaker parts of the city. Education remains elusive for many children, while motivated young people struggle to pursue a career due to the poor economic situation. With the Community Center, situated near the financially disadvantaged neighborhoods, we aim to contribute to addressing these issues and provide the community with a place for mutual support.
Projects for the Community Center
The core of the Community Center is the soup kitchen, which provides hot meals for children and young people from the area. The sanitary facilities on the premises are available for free use to ensure basic hygiene. Additionally, we collaborate with university students to offer homework assistance. Our goal is to provide a wide range of activities, including an arts and crafts area, craft workshops, singing and music gatherings, as well as recreational programs such as soccer and gardening. We are also working to find locals who are willing to provide educational seminars. Furthermore, we are in contact with the local university to recruit professionally trained staff for the psychological support of children with challenging backgrounds and destinies.
Funding of the Community Center
Investments such as the purchase of the property, construction costs, and the procurement of equipment are financed by Conambiki. We collect donations from individuals and businesses for this purpose and submit project proposals to larger funding organizations. The operation of the Community Center is managed and funded by our Namibian partner organization, Ithemba. Ithemba maintains contacts with local businesses to cover the ongoing costs for food in the soup kitchen, supplies, and other expenses. This division ensures continuous operation. Initiatives and projects within the Community Center receive financial support from Conambiki if they align with our organization's purpose and internal funding guidelines.
