A new project is on the horizon: The opening of a kindergarten in Shighuru, a village in northeastern Namibia. The kindergarten had been operational in the past but had to close due to lack of funds. We will now take on the financing of the kindergarten and are seeking sponsors to support us in covering the ongoing costs.
We are excited to present this important project to you.
First steps towards reopening
Leider steht das Gebäude, in dem der Kindergarten früher untergebracht war, nicht mehr zur Verfügung. Unser Partner vor Ort, der namibische Zweig der Methodistischen Kirche des südlichen Afrikas, hat sich jedoch nach unserer Zusage, den Kindergartenbetrieb wieder aufzunehmen, sofort um ein Ersatzgrundstück gekümmert und dort ein Gebäude mit zwei Klassenräumen für die rund 50 Kinder aus Shighuru und Umgebung errichtet. Eine Wasserleitung wurde zum Gelände gelegt, zwei Toiletten wurden installiert und nun planen wir gemeinsam die Finanzierung eines Zauns, der das Gelände umgeben soll. Mehr Informationen, wie ihr uns hier unterstützen könnt, findet ihr weiter unten.
Neben der Schaffung des Kindergartengebäudes benötigten wir außerdem noch zwei Kindergärtner*innen, damit wir den Kindergarten in zwei Gruppen betreiben können. Schnell konnten wir zwei qualifizierte Frauen für unser Projekt begeistern. Für die Einarbeitung der beiden Kindergärtnerinnen erklärte sich eine engagierte Ausbilderin der Methodistenkirche, die selbst Direktorin einer Schule in Windhuk ist, ehrenamtlich bereit, einen fünftägigen Intensiv-Workshop mit den Kindergärtnerinnen durchzuführen. Der Kindergarten folgt damit dem namibischen Vorschulcurriculum mit folgenden Themenschwerpunkten: Myself, My Body, My Family, My Home, My School, My Community, Animals, Water, Plants.
An dieser Stelle noch einmal ein großes Dankeschön für den großartigen Einsatz der Ausbilderin, die für den Workshop über 700 km von Windhuk nach Rundu angereist ist.
How did we get involved?
During our travels through Namibia, we connected with a pastor of the Methodist Church in Namibia. Through him, we learned about the kindergarten in the village of Shighuru, which unfortunately had to close as its operations couldn't be further financed. This closure deprived approximately 50 children in the area of an important early childhood education facility.
Besides playing together, kindergarten attendance is crucial in preparing for school. Children get accustomed to a structured daily routine and come into contact with the Namibian official language, English, through playful means. This is significant as from the third grade onwards, schooling in Namibia occurs in English. Many students struggle to follow classes as they speak one of the local indigenous languages at home. If the children are familiarised with the English language in kindergarten, they have a better chance of successfully completing school. There is a state school available in Shighuru, which means that a kindergarten creates a longterm continuous educational pathway for the children.
For this reason, in January 2024, together with the Methodist Church in Namibia, which will oversee the management and coordination on-site, we are reviving the kindergarten in Shighuru. The Methodist church is providing a site and a building for the kindergarten. So we can get started right away.
What is the long-term plan for the project?
We are implementing the project in collaboration with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa in Namibia, which oversees and coordinates the kindergarten's operations on-site. The project is initially limited to one year until December 2024. If the collaboration is successful, we look forward to supporting the kindergarten in the long term. Our aim is not only to employ caregivers but also to provide a daily lunch for the children. This way, we not only prepare the children for school in a playful manner but also ensure that all children regularly have a warm meal.
How can you support the project?
Kindergarten sponsorship
Would you like to support us with a contribution between €5 and €50 per month? Then simply fill in the sponsorship agreement and send it to kontakt@conambiki.de. We will then provide you with all the information. Thank you for your interest.
What does it mean to be a sponsor of the kindergarten?
We warmly invite you to sponsor the Shighuru kindergarten. Your monthly contribution between €5 and €50 makes a significant difference and helps to improve the educational opportunities of the children in Shighuru. This covers the ongoing costs of approximately €325/month for two caregivers and nighttime security personnel to safeguard the premises. After successfully commencing kindergarten operations, we plan to offer a warm lunch for the 50 children in the future, incurring additional costs of around €325/month.
So that you can see what your monthly donation is achieving, we will be happy to keep you informed about the kindergarten sponsorship with pictures and updates from the kindergarten if you wish.
Donate
If you prefer to support us with a one-off donation, you are welcome to do so by bank transfer or PayPal (more information on our donation page).
If your donation is specifically intended for the kindergarten project, please indicate this in the reference field of your transaction. Here is an overview of how your donation can be used:
Construction of a fence to protect the kindergarten children
The basic requirements (building, furniture, learning and craft materials) for the opening of the kindergarten at the start of the 2024 school year are in place. In consultation with our local project partner, we have also decided to secure the kindergarten grounds with a fence to ensure the protection and safety of the children. This will allow the children to move around and play freely on the site during breaks. The cost estimate for the fence is approx. 910 €. We thank you for your support.
Provision of craft materials for the kindergarten
A kindergarten thrives on the creativity of the children. To enable the children to draw, paint and do handicrafts, we finance blocks, drawing and craft paper, pens, brushes, paints and glue for the kindergarten as required. Craft time in the kindergarten takes place under the guidance of our kindergarten teachers, whereby topics from the curriculum are playfully integrated.
