 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blog |
|
Oluundje is building a school
11. October 2021 The project plan for a school building in Oluundje is in place. The bidding was carried out publicly and a local construction company from Ondangwa was awarded the contract. We will finance the construction with our free funds and our donation campaign. We are celebrating nine years Soulfood - for the tenth anniversary there will be a school in Oluundje 30. March 2021 The voluntary community workers in Oluundje are meeting every Saturday to promote the erection of the school building. Until mid-May, their plan is to finish the clearing and fencing procedures.   05. March 2021 Last month, we had two very fruitful virtual meetings with our Namibian project partners. Now, we have a detailed project plan for the erection of a community center in Oluundje: we are going to start this year with the building process! First preliminary work (clearing of the area, fencing, etc.) even has started already on a voluntary basis.  The water supply that has been established in 2017 is at the disposal of every Oluundje community member. The water expenses are self-funded with small contributions (4 € / a). In total, we proudly look back to 8 years of trustful collaboration and are now ready to realize the final project. More than 2000 face masks handed out 15. September 2020 Since the beginning of the campaign, five volunteer in Otjiwarongo have sewed 2173 face masks. The protection gear was distributed to schools, hospitals and people in need Otjiwarongo area. Around 650 masks were sold to a minimum price to make the project self-sustained. With the generated income and the donations, groceries for 48 indigent families were provided. Big thanks to all volunteers and donors!!!   28. June 2020 In the past week, 600 face-masks were provided to six schools in the Otjiwarongo area. The donations were received by the headmasters of the schools in a solemn ceremony. The constituency councillor appreaciated praised the support of the voluntary task force and the donations from Soulfood Namibia.   Sewing machines for protection gear 18. June 2020 Your support enabled our partners to purchase five sewing machines, fabrics, a thermometer, and enough sanitizer. Within the next days the Ohote COVID-19 task force will produce more than 2000 face masks an distribute them among people in need in the area of Otjiwarongo.   Update 4. June 2020 We are happy to give you a short update about our recent activities: New board member As decided in our annual meeting we have now a new board member: Alexander Lodermeyer. Simon, whom Alex succeeds, will continue to support us as a “honorary chairman”. Planning next projects Over the last months we had several board meetings via skype to discuss current activities. Since Namibia has also been hit by Corona facing a lock-down, the face to face meetings of our partners had to be postponed. Travelling, particularly between North and South, got highly regulated. Subsequently also kindergarten and schools were shut down. Nevertheless Josef, Isak, Hofeni and Co have gathered cost estimates and construction plans for the school building and a preliminary shelter to store material. As soon as the lock-down is over, we will continue to jointly drive these projects. Sewing school for protective masks After some time in isolation Josef has initiated a task force to help the needy who don’t even have the basics for life. Together we have decided to support the community with the obligatory protective equipment. To do so, Soulfood Namibia has provided 2.500€ for sewing machines and tissues. Volunteers are going to produce 2.000 protective masks for vulnerable community members. After the corona period the emergency tailoring will be redesigned to become a sewing school for the community. So the project will be another example for sustainable collaboration in line with our principles. It’s quite rare to have a partner and friend like Josef who relenlessly helps others out of intrinsic motivation. Through him we are able to make a difference. Josef Shitaleni visiting Soulfood Namibia 14. September 2019 Josef Shitaleni from Namibia, the initiator of our collaborative partnership, is visiting Germany for two weeks. We have the opportunity to discuss the progress on our current projects and futur directions. He was our honorary guest at our annual meeting on September 14th, 2019.     31. Januar 2018 Meet the water committee of the newly installed fresh water pipe in Oluundje. Four representatives were elected during the opening ceremony to be in charge for controlling and monitoring the water pipe. Thereby, the entire community gets involved into decision making and maintainance.    Currently we are elaborating plans
for a subsequent project together with our partner organization
"Mwakotoka Health Project". The focus lies with a community center
including an elementary school and access point for health care. We are
trying to get the relevant ministries, i.e. the ministry of health and
ministry of education to permanently support this project. Therefore,
we are going to enter negotiations with their representatives.
The water is running 16. August 2017 It is done. The water pipeline has been completed and connected to the public drinking water system. On Friday chairman Hofeni Shayuka sent us the message that the first water flows through the pipeline. Hofeni Shayuka: “As we speak, the end of the pipe is waiting to be connected to the water meter, right there... soon and very soon.” Volunteers from the
community dug and installed the 5.5 km long water pipeline. Now around
800
people can be supplied with clean drinking water. Within the next few
days an
additional water tank will be installed – to initiate the
ceremonial opening. This
successful project will foster long-standing ties between us –
Soulfood Namibia
– and the community of Oluundje. The gratitude which was offered
to Soulfood
Namibia from various sides shows this impressively: "Gratitude to everyone who contributed to the successful execution of this project. Many thanks to SoulFood Namibia for the financial assistance towards this project" Isak Hamatwi: “I have to acknowledge and honour the power of teamwork. “ “All that we say, knowing very well that we owe almost everything to SoulFood Namibia […], all what we have seen and received is taken to heart and thus fully considered as service human. Dr. Andrew Niikondo: “Splendid!!! This is a gigantic achievement and great leap to development.” We would like to send a big thank you to everybody who has been supporting this project and especially to everybody who actively helped to built up this development collaboration. During the ceremonial opening the water tank will be installed and shirts and caps will be given to all volunteers.  Summer party in Erlangen 18. Juli 2017 As every year we had a very nice party and a pleasant time together. Many thanks to everybody for helping to prepare the party and for the great atmosphere. We are prepared for the grand
opening of the water pipeline project!!
   17. April 2017 During Easter holidays the community of Oluundje has joined forces to move things forward. Only a few metres are left to complete the water pipeline.    Oluundje community member to set up solar project 26. Februar 2017 Ester Hamatwi, an electrical engineer from Oluundje, submitted an application for initial financing of her model to electrify the community. Now she has reached the second round of the tendering “IEEE Smart Village”. The non-profit organization supports programs for decentral solar energy supply in remote areas of the world. Ester developed an comprehensive application on her own and submitted it for review. Soulfood Namibia acted as consulting partner.   Ester Hamatwi and
the logo of her decentral solar energy project
3.2 kilometers done!! 9. Oktober 2016 Meanwhile 3.21 km of the 5.44 km long water pipeline have been laid down already. The remaining 2.23 km are dominated by dried out swamp land which makes the digging more difficult. There was again an extreme drought in the north of Namibia during this season.  On Saturdays it´s time to dig 17. Juli 2016    Press release 28. Juli 2016 We published an article about our collaboration with the Mwakotoka Community Development Initiative. Our approach takes a distinguished position among the typical devopment aid projects by working in the pace and by the ideas of local experts only. Thereby, the highest degree of sustainability is guaranteed.  Digging work in progress 11. Mai 2016 The construction work for the water pipeline has been resumed after the mahangu harvest during the first months of the year. New pipes had been delivered by the "Mwakotoka Health Project". The installation is supported by the whole community. Even the newly assigned district administrator Hon. Hans Nambodi (in office since end of 2015) supported the workers with a donation of 12.5 kg corn meal.     Construction work for the water pipeline started 25. Januar 2016 Good news from Oluundje: Our friends and partner started with the construction phase for the water pipeline. As you can see on the pictures the first pipes have been bought and delivered to the village. Volunteers from the community are supporting the digging. Isak is going to coordinate the construction phase. The first tranch from our account was transferred last week to buy more construction material.  Community meeting on
December 30, 2015
in Oluundje
 Left:
Isak
(treasurer), Mrs Perpetuwa und Mr Thomas Sheyavali.
Right: Volunteers with water
pipes.
Soulfood members on tour for the climate 10. Januar 2016 Our board member Simon Wiesgickl organized the ecumenical pilgrim path
for climate justice from Nuremberg to Wuerzburg as part of the project
„Just walk!“. The aim was to send a signal for a fair and
binding climate agreement ahead of the Climate conference in Paris.
Volker Strauß also joined the tour and gave a talk about our
project in Oluundje.
 |
