Facts about Namibia
The nearest town with electric power is 15 miles
· Crop damage is a regular occurrence, following floods in the early part of the year
· The range of crops that can be grown is very limited as the ground is mainly sand
· The staple diet is Mahangu, a green porridge like food made from millet
· Health problems include:- HIV/Aids, Malaria, Hepatitis A, & Cholera
· The average life expectancy is 49 yrs for women and 45 yrs for men
· Approximately 25% of the children in Omboloka combined school are orphans
· Children walk to school, this can be as far as 10 miles to and from home
· There are no local doctors or dentists, there is however one clinic with a resident nurse.
The Journey
After driving to Stanstead an 11 hour flight overnight followed, landing in the Capital, Windhoek in the early hours of the morning.
The following day, after loading the vehicle with food and water, the 400 mile drive north began.
The third day of travel heading east from Ondangwa was over more difficult terrain, the last 15 Miles being through soft sand, only navigable with a 4 wheel drive vehicle.
Priest Phillipus Shinangala seen here in the striped shirt, gave a warm welcome.
Vilho in the blue shirt is the youth exchange student.
On the far left, another exchange student- Miriam, on the far right is Matildra, who cares for orphans in Omboloka.
At the back is Lazarus, a Church Youth worker and HIV/AIDS counsellor.
Our accommodation comprised 2 tents within the church compound.
We were very well looked after and in addition to the food we took we were given goat.
St Mary Magdalene Church
In addition to this church Phillipus is responsible for 5 other parishes, and has to spread his time accordingly.
The other churches are spread over many miles, and he travels like averyone else, on foot.
During our visit we attended a service at one of the other churches, St Pauls- rather more basic, made entirely from sticks.
The church bell is that piece of metal hanging in the tree to the left of the church.
This picture shows the road to the rear of the Church and is typical throughout Omboloka. Children (and teachers) walk many miles along such terrain, to go to to and from school each day.
Omboloka Combined School
The school has different types of classroom.
The first is the rendered building seen in the above sequence of photographs, which is around 40 years old. Other classrooms are made out of a combination of sticks and metal sheeting. The last class area involves lessons outside, sat on a log in the shade of a tree.
The Head Teacher Lazarus Shapwa (2nd in from left on front row) and staff with the gifts we took, including pens, pencils football and so on. Surprisingly pencil sharpeners were a most needed item.
The school does not provide food for the children.
In some of the classrooms we noticed light fittings, unfortunately to be able to use these lights a generator has to be borrowed.
Text books are scarce, to copy text for the children involves a 30 mile round trip on foot to the nearest town.
A generator and copier would make a world of difference at the school.
The people of Omboloka and their lifestyle
After a midweek service in the church gifts were exchanged and we met some of the local people.
The gentleman in blue with black hat is the father of the village headman.
We also met members of the Mothers Union, some of whom walked for miles to see us, they are seen here in both uniform and traditional dress.
There is also a bushman displaying his bow and selection of arrows.
The family home
These images show Vilho at his home. Vilho holds for the first time his new born baby brother.
The home is made up of many different rooms, but rather than we have all squashed together in one building, each room is a separete structure, set in an area of about a third to a half an acre, all surrounded by a stick fence.
The pace of life is laid back and the people are warm, welcoming, and happy to share what they have with us, a most humbling experience, one you have to experience first hand to fully appreciate.
Vilho also shows us around his room, bed on one side and somewhere to hang his clothes on the other.
Water is eithether pumped from a well or raised with a winch, usually carried with the help of a donkey.
Too much water in the early part of the year, from heavy rainfall resulted in heavy crop damage. The tall plant you see here is a healthy one, whereas in reality the crops are much smaller.
The Field
To help feed the many orphans this field has been given to the people of Omboloka by the Government, but as seen elsewhere crop growth has been marred by the flooding.
The Clinic
There is no resident doctor, just a nurse.
Power is provided by solar panels.
What Next?
Whilst we were in Omboloka we asked what would be useful in their lives, that we could try and help with.
It appears that electricity would make a difference to both the School and Church. When the sun sets at around 6.00 pm it is dark, no street lights, just the moon!
Generous cash gifts and donations (including a Lap Top Computer) have already been made, and in conjunction with St Andrews Primary School we will continue to raise funds in order that a better communication link may be established.
The Bishop of Manchester has recently returned from a visit to Africa, which should have included meeting the people of Omboloka.- Further info to follow asap. (written 30 Jan 09)
-Unfortunately due to a gruelling schedule the bishop was unable to visit all of the places he would have liked, including Omboloka.
UPDATE- LATEST NEWS AS AT 6 March 09
Thanks to much generosity from many, funds of approx £2,300 have been raised since the first visit to Africa
During the summer of 2009 we are delighted to report that solar power will be provided to Omboloka Combined School, at an approx cost of £1,250.
Further fund raising will enable us to do similar for the school, this is a fantastic start, further continued efforts will make a massive change to the children and thier learning.
Thank you to all who have contributed.
NAMIBIA UPDATE 27 Jun 09
*Wardle High School are using our link with Africa to assist in their studies, and will be helping to raise funds for the project:- More details to follow
* The Rotary Club of Rochdale East are holding a Garden party and concert to raise funds on Sunday 28 June by kind permission of the late Rotarian Raymond Matthews.
If you have any ideas as to how we may continue the fundraising dont keep it to yourself, please let us know.
One item that would be welcome in the school is a football strip- so if you know of a local youth football team who may have changed thier colours, then the old strip would be most welcome.
Finally
After leaving the village we had the chance to see various animals as we travelled through the National Park.
Any pictures you see on this web page may be purchased, with all profit going to help the people of Omboloka.
Click here to see video clips of our visit to Omboloka