Where
We are excited to be returning to Namibia! Each year we hope to expand our outreach activities and we invite you to join us on this journey.
Christianity came to Namibia by way of Lutheran Scandinavian and German missionaries during the early nineteenth century. We partner with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN). The church owns and runs 18 of the boarding facilities to allow the children to attend school. Many parents cannot afford the cost of housing, but the boarding facilities work together as a community to accept and accommodate every child. Due to an extreme lack of funds, many of these boarding facilities have fallen into serious disrepair. Some have one working bathroom for over one hundred children, some do not have enough beds so multiple children need to share bunks without mattresses.
We are grateful to partner with ELCRN to help improve the children’s living conditions, hygiene, and nutrition, so that the kids of Namibia can do well in school and build a brighter future.
Skills
Construction!!!
Located in sub-Sharan Africa, Namibia sits along the Alantic Ocean with neighboring South Africa between the Namib and Kalahari deserts. Namibia’s history is closely tied to South Africa, and South Africa’s apartheid laws extended to Namibia. Namibia gained their independence in 1990, making it one of the youngest countries in the world. While roughly twice the size of California, Namibia is the second least densely populated in the world after Mongolia, with a population of only 2.5 million.
In recent years, Namibia has had over 20% unemployment rate. Due to this, many Namibians take the work they can find, and this is often on remote game farms or mines. There are no schools in these remote areas for their children to attend, so the children must live in boarding facilities in centralized locations nearby primary and secondary schools.
What We Will Do
When visiting with children, you will have an opportunity to distribute “Dress a Girl” dresses, school supplies, play sports and games with children while encouraging them at school or in their community. Lastly, you have the unique opportunity to attend church and local church events with our ministry partners, giving a chance to encourage and give hope to the pastors and their church family. Each trip is unique and supports our long term partners and programs.
You’ll experience firsthand…
the smile of a child able to attend school for the very first time
the joy of a community celebrating the gift of clean, life-sustaining water
the thanks of a widow whose hands you have held in support
the rich culture of a different country
