Kari Teaching in Cool Places : Meeting Windhoek

Hi from sunny Windhoek! We are on our third day exploring and learning about this amazing place. This Thursday and Friday I will be going to my new school for my first ever teacher workshop days. It should be interesting ...well hopefully. At this time I am hoping to finally know what grade and subject I will be teaching! It makes me nervous and anxious not knowing yet, because school starts Monday. All part of the adventure!!

In the mean time, it has been fascinating learning about Namibia and Windhoek these past three days. Here is a quick overview! Germans took control and colonized Namibia around 1915. After Germany’s defeat in WWII the country was then in control from England. England was unsure what to do with this country so they gave it to South Africa to watch over and govern. In the 1960s South Africa forced the people in Windhoek to relocate to the outskirts of the city. This was the time of the apartheid. To eliminate the chances of unity people were segregated by tribes and races. Because of the oppression South Africans enforced, Namibian’s continue to have tension with South Africa. In 1990 after public pressure from the Lutheran church followed by more religious organizations and then the UN, South Africa gave freedom and independence to Namibia. It is wild to think that all of the adults we will be working with in the schools were not born free. My generation in Namibia is now referred to as the “born free” generation.

My new school is located in Kataura. Driving through Kataura we saw a sea of shanties made of tin and scrap materials. They have no running water or electricity. Kataura is the forced relocation of the blacks during the apartheid. South Africa allowed the black community to name their new land, so they called it Kataura meaning “ Place no one wants to live.” South Africa did not know what it meant so they allowed them to keep the name. Even after they gained independence they continue to keep the name Kataura because they have grown to be a close-knit community.

As I walked around Katatura for the first time I noticed everyone was happy and smiling. It was amazing to me since I’d rarely seen such poor living conditions. Later, I was informed that they are happy and grateful to finally live freely and not be controlled by South Africa. Their recent freedom has given them so much joy and a greater appreciation for life! It was incredibly humbling and made me so grateful to have this opportunity to be teaching and learning in this community next week.

Here are some picks of our explorations...