11 neue Ausbildungen
Als Weihnachtsspende eine Ausbildung finanziern?
Margret und Joachim Knoche waren bis Mitte November wieder in Namibia. Von berichteten sie folgendes:
In Omaruru hatten wir die 12 angesetzten Interviews mit den eingeladenen Bewerber*innen für unser neues Ausbildungsjahr 2026. Das waren sechs Stunden intensive Arbeit, aber es war sehr schön, junge interessierte Namibier jeweils eine halbe Stunde zu sprechen. Einer kam nicht, aber der war wohl auch nur von seinem Vater angemeldet und hat wohl selbst kein Interesse. So etwas gibt es in Deutschland auch. Die anderen jedoch waren pünktlich und sehr motiviert.
Wie wichtig ist es doch, dass wir mit jedem Bewerber ausführlich reden. So lernen wir die Motivation kennen und können auch die eine oder den anderen neu beraten.
Patricia z.B. möchte gerne Lehrerin werden und hat sich aufgrund ihrer unzureichenden Noten nun erst einmal als Sekretärin beworben, um so schon mal in die Schule zu kommen. Da sie schon regelmäßig als Nachhilfelehrerin arbeitet, habe wir ihr die 1 ½ jährige NAMCOL Online Ausbildung als Erzieherin empfohlen. Mit dieser Ausbildung kann sie schon bis Klasse 3 in der Schule unterrichten und sich dann als Lehrerin weiterbilden.
Oder Numeri, eine 20-jährige junge Frau, die gerne Kochen lernen möchte, um später ein kleines Restaurant zu eröffnen. Mit ihrem zurzeit noch ungefestigtem Wesen wollen wir sie nicht zu COSDEC nach Swakopmund schicken, wo sie sehr selbstständig leben und lernen muss. Sie haben wir nun für ein Jahr bei Anestemi in Usakos vorgesehen, wo sie durch Lessle Beukes wohl wesentlich mehr Aufmerksamkeit, Begleitung und Hilfe findet. Aber das private Anestemi-College kostet deutlich mehr als COSDEC.
Silolin, eine junge Frau mit kleinem Kind und wenig Schuljahren aus Okombahe, war wohl die einzige, der wir nicht zutrauen, jetzt schon eine Ausbildung zu beginnen. Sie wollen wir in einer der beiden Suppenküchen in die Pflicht nehmen, ob sie es schafft regelmäßig aufzustehen und einer geregelten Arbeit nachzukommen. Falls sie das schafft, können wir sie in ein oder zwei Jahren vielleicht auch weiterbilden.
Ein junger Mann, McRoss, arbeitet schon in einer Autowerkstatt in Omaruru und möchte sich gerne weiterbilden. Nun suchen wir zusammen mit dem Inhaber der Autowerkstatt eine Möglichkeit, wie er angestellt bleibt und sich zusätzlich theoretisch weiterbilden kann.
Zusammenfassend waren die Gespräche mit den jungen Namibiern wirklich toll!
Drei Schweißer, eine vorerst einjährige und eine dreijährige Krankenschwester, ein Elektriker, der noch 1 ½ Jahre benötigt, zwei einjährige Kochausbildungen, eine dreijährige Sekretärin, eine Erzieherin, ein Autoelektroniker, - 14 jungen Namibiern wollen wir nächstes Jahr mit den Dreien, die schon im Programm drin sind, eine Ausbildungsmöglichkeit geben.
Ich traue Gott zu, dass er uns die finanziellen Möglichkeiten dazu gibt.
Eltern-Workshop Kindergarten in Namibia
Margret und Joachim Knoche sind seit Anfang Oktober wieder in Namibia. Von dort aus berichten sie folgendes:
Es ist 17:30Uhr und Margret Knoche und ich (Joachim) kommen gerade von Okombahe an die Martin-Luther-High-School in unsere kleine Wohnung zurück. Hinter uns liegen zwei Workshops mit den Eltern in den beiden Kindergärten. Beide Kindergärten in Okombahe haben seit einigen Jahren eine Beziehung zu den Kindergärten in Pfedelbach-Heuberg.
Roceline, unsere ausgebildete Erzieherin und Martinus, der gerade in der Ausbildung ist, haben zusammen mit Margret diesen Eltern-Workshop ausgearbeitet. Wir bezahlen in beiden Kindergärten je 20 Elternbeiträge, damit deren Kinder täglich in den Kindergarten gehen können. Speziell für diese 40 Eltern waren die beiden Workshops gedacht, obwohl auch andere Eltern dazukommen konnten. Margret wollte den Eltern praktische Ideen mit an die Hand geben, wie die Erziehungsberechtigten ihre kleinen Kinder auch zu Hause fördern können.
Drei Lernfelder wurden dabei geübt: erste mathematischen Kenntnisse: größer-kleiner, schwerer-leichter, höher-tiefer, … erstes Verständnis von Mengen und Größen, zweitens: die Überkreuzbewegungen mit Händen und Füßen und die Feinmotorik mit den Händen.
Dabei wurden Wäscheklammern beklebt und Farben und Zahlen zugeordnet. Diese praktische Arbeit für eine Stunde brachte viel Bewegung und Kreativität in den Raum und die Begeisterung der Eltern war schön mitzuerleben, trotz der ca. 38°C draußen im Schatten.
Natürlich musste es anschließend einen kleinen Snack geben, Fanta, eine doppelte Scheibe mit Peanut-Butter und eine Mandarine. Am Schluss gingen sie alle glücklich nach Hause und auch wir waren zufrieden geschafft.
Zwei Tage später waren wir zu Besuch in unserer Suppenküche für die Kindergarten- und Grundschulkinder. Dabei sah ich Rosmary, wie sie ohne meine Aufforderung mit den kleinen Kindergartenkindern den Farben-Zahlen-Pappteller ausprobierte, den sie bei dem Elternworkshop selbst hergestellt hatte. Ein kleines Zeichen mit den ersten Früchten des Elter-Workshops mit den Kindergarteneltern.
Training in cooking and hospitality
Margret and Joachim Knoche They have been back in Namibia since the beginning of October. From there they report the following:
We have now been to the Anesthesiology College in Usakos, in which mainly young women spend one or two years in Hospitality business and cooking be trained. Daryl and Lessle Beukes They run this school, which is also supported by Germany.
In July they were for five days in Okombahe for a training course for our two soup kitchen teams and for the primary school hostel. They gave us a detailed, unvarnished report about the workshop, and we discussed how to proceed and to what extent we could also send our own trainees to them.
Perhaps we should introduce the young female employees in Albertina's soup kitchen one after the other, Emely and Rosmary, send them to college for a year each, so that they can gain more knowledge and skills and also have a little training for the time "after us".
Ben at MLH
Ben is currently a member of our club, a high school graduate, for two months here at the Martin Luther High SchoolHe has settled in well and is coping well with some difficulties (frequent lack of water, upset stomach, different culture, etc.). He is working here at the school as an assistant teacher and The new German teacher provides support, especially in grades 11 and 12. and also helps with the students' leisure activities. The day before yesterday there were Ben and Alina, who is in Okombahe for the third time, together with us. Ben He told us about his visit to Japan, just before his time in Namibia. What a difference: the glittering, highly industrialized world of Asia, and here in Namibia, it's lonely and many people lack the basic necessities of life. And yet, he feels at home here. Contact with people makes up for a lot.
More than half of his time here at MLH has now passed, and he was starting to feel a little wistful. On Sunday afternoon, we went with Ben and Alina a trip to the neighboring Ai-Aiba Lodge. In such a large country, that can easily add up to 90km on a bad road. But the swimming pool, the good food, and the lazy afternoon made it all worthwhile.
Ein voller Erfolg für den guten Zweck beim Pfedelbacher Bierdorf
Einnahmen unterstützen ca. 20 Kinder in Namibia
Herzlicher Dank gilt allen Besuchern und Besucherinnen, die beim Pfedelbacher Bierdorf das Angebot des Namibia-Vereins am Vereinsstand genutzt haben. Durch den Verkauf der namibischen Bratwurst, der Bananenwaffeln, des Windhoek Lager Bieres und der Biercocktails kamen beachtliche Einnahmen zusammen, die nun einen wichtigen sozialen Beitrag leisten: Dank IHRER großzügigen Unterstützung ist es möglich, etwa 20 Kindergarten- und Grundschulkindern in der Suppenküche von Albertina in Okombahe ein Jahr lang regelmäßig zu versorgen. Dreimal pro Woche erhalten diese Kinder dort nun eine nahrhafte, warme Mahlzeit – ein wertvoller Beitrag, der Lebensfreude und Hoffnung schenkt und zudem die Gesundheit der Kinder nachhaltig fördert.
Der Namibia-Verein dankt allen Helfern und Helferinnen, allen Spendern und Gästen, die mit ihrem Engagement und Genuss dazu beigetragen haben, dass diese Hilfe möglich wurde. Solche Aktionen zeigen, wie gemeinsames Feiern und solidarisches Handeln Hand in Hand gehen können – ganz im Sinne einer besseren Zukunft für Kinder in Namibia.
Namibia Association is involved in the Pfedelbach Beer Village
Enjoyment for a good cause: Support for children's and school projects in Okombahe
The Namibia Association from Pfedelbach cordially invites you to the Pfedelbach Beer Village on September 12th/13th, 2025, starting at 6 PM each day a!
By visiting our stand, you directly support our children's and school projects in Okombahe, as 100 percent of the proceeds go towards these important local initiatives.
Let yourself be swept away by the joie de vivre of Southwest Africa: Try the refreshing Windhoek Camp – a genuine Namibian beer – and discover our fruity beer cocktail “Tropical Spritz”, which is also available alcohol-free. Food and drinks will be provided by Namibian bratwurst (“Boerewors”), produced by the regional butcher Hack from Lindelberg, seasoned with original Namibian spices.
Discover the diverse culinary delights of Namibia and do good at the same time! Come and enjoy our specialties and help shape the future of children in Okombahe. The Namibia Association looks forward to your visit to the Pfedelbach Beer Village!
Come for food, drinks, and conversation!
African Vocals sang in Pfedelbach
The African Vocals, a male a cappella group from the townships of Swakopmund in Namibia, gave a concert in the well-filled Protestant church in Pfedelbach.
On a very hot Sunday, those interested gladly came to the cool church in Pfedelbach. After a brief welcome by the chairman of the Namibia support association and a few explanatory words from the volunteer manager couple, the event began. Regine and Michael Hink The eight young Namibians entered the church singing and immediately filled the entire church space with their powerful voices. They radiated African joie de vivre and enthusiasmThe African Vocals concert was full of energy, rhythm, and emotion. They sang very different songs, sometimes funny and fun, but also calm, serious, and contemplative. Many of their songs, as worship and praise songs, were well-suited to the church setting. The audience in Pfedelbach was surprised and delighted by how the Namibians embodied song, dance, and charm. After three hours, the visitors left the Pfedelbach church enriched and uplifted with new melodies.
Although admission to the concert was free and African Vocals received their agreed fee, the Namibia Support Association received additional income for its ongoing projects in Namibia. thank you to to all donors and at the African vocals, that they now for the fourth time appeared here in the areaare.
13,704 km
Three weeks of STATRADELN in Pfedelbach are over and in “Team Namibia” were 53 active cyclistsThese 53 people are total 13,704 km cycled and even did the second place among all Pfedelbach teams and the tenth place all teams in the Hohenlohe district achieved this. The average per capita was 259 km, two people even cycled over 1 000 km in the three weeks.
Congratulations to all drivers and to team captain Margret Knoche.
The entire team cycled to raise money for the club's projects in Namibia. Thirteen (13) Sponsors had pledged their support. 1 cent each Kilometers driven to donate to school and children's projects in Namibia.
The sponsors are:
- · Bauer Printing Company, Pfedelbach
- · Mr. Rode from the Kosmas Pharmacy in Pfedelbach,
- · Fabian Sinn of Erdbau GmbH from Oberhöfen,
- · Hack Butcher Shop, Lindelberg
- · Dr. Gunter Hermann, dental practice Öhringen
- · Winzerstube Lösch, Windischenbach
and
- · seven private donors
13 cents per kilometer, that's 13 times 13,704 cents. total €1,781.52.
Many thanks to our generous sponsors and supporters!
A special thanks This also applies to the Protestant parish in Pfedelbach. Christian Dengler has advocated that Eberhard Bauer from the Bauer printing company the result of the “Team Evangelische Verbund-Kirchengemeinde” with 4556km for the Namibia Association will be donated.
This will increase the proceeds for Namibia by a further €45.56.
With the money raised from sponsors, we can
· either sponsor 15 children in a state-run boarding school for one year
· or provide for 22 children in a soup kitchen for a year
· or open our educational playroom (Toy Library) for 1 year.
· or finance a trainee for one year
Do good while cycling!
This year, the event is also taking place City Cycling in Pfedelbach it will take place again.
Friday, May 9 to Thursday, May 29, 2025
The “Team Namibia” with Margret Knoche She's participating again as captain!
The people in Okombahe, Namibia, benefit from this. City cycling in Pfedelbach.
How can you do good in this context?
1)Register in “Team Namibia” and cycle as much as possible during that time.
2)Or will you sponsor for the “Team Namibia” (1 cent per km).
Last year, approximately 50 drivers participated, and there were also 12 sponsors.
1)Do you want in the “Team Namibia” ride alongThen please contact us at: https://www.stadtradeln.de/pfedelbach to.
2)Are you ready as sponsor the “Team Namibia” Would you like to support us? Then please contact us at contact@namibia-verein.de to.
The people, especially the children in Namibia, are happy about Your positive decision.
Joachim Knoche, Chairman, 07949 940269
This also applies to non-residents of Pfedelbach!
a) For the "Team Namibia" You should join our club beforehand.
b) They do not need to act as a sponsor.
The "African Vocals"
visiting Pfedelbach
The "African Vocals", An a cappella group from the townships of Swakopmund/Namibia, following highly successful tours of Germany in 2023 and 2024, will come to Germany again this year and present a new repertoire that reflects the diversity of Namibian culture, music and traditions.
The group consists of 19 singers aged between 20 and 35, who are represented by eight members on the German tour.
On Sunday, June 22, 2025 to 7 p.m. Are the African Vocals performing live in the Protestant Church in Pfedelbach to experience it even before from 6pm Is there a Standing reception with drinks and a small snack. You can also Namibian handicrafts acquire.
For African Vocals, music is more than just art – it is hope, unity, and a means of change, and it builds bridges. All members of the group come from the townships of Swakopmund and have experienced discrimination and difficult living conditions there. Today, they are actively involved in the community, have founded a children's choir, and support other social projects to give children hope, guidance, and future prospects.
The African Vocals see themselves as ambassadors of their Namibian homeland and aim to convey a positive and hopeful image of Africa. They bring this to life on stage with their impressive singing in various Namibian ethnic languages, accompanied by drums and fitting choreography, in a dynamic and interactive way. Their songs are influenced by gospel music, but also tell of love and everyday life, the beauty of nature, and life in the townships.
Let yourself be enchanted by the fascinating world of African vocals and experience an unforgettable evening full of captivating rhythms, harmonious songs and touching stories.
The Admission to the concert is free., but it will for a donation for the musicians and for the ongoing projects of the Namibia Support Association eV requested.
Visa requirement for Germans
A major topic is the introduction of a pre-approved [fee/provision] Visas available from April 1st. for approximately 100 new countries. Last year, the government realized that Namibians are only allowed to enter about 30 countries without a previously applied-for visa, but require a visa for all other countries.
Last year, Namibia contacted all countries requesting that they change their visa requirements. Anyone from a country that has not changed its visa requirements will now need to apply for a visa before entering Namibia.
Also Germany is not an exception, but rather a shameful example. There are many accounts of Namibians, both white and black, being humiliated and disgraced upon arrival at German airports, treated almost as illegal refugees and "parasites." And even here in the country: what do respectable and wealthy Namibians have to submit at the embassy in Windhoek just to apply for a tourist visa in Germany!
And until now, we Germans could simply enter Namibia without a visa. That will now change. from April 1st It's over. The tourism sector fears a major decline. We'll see. The visa will cost approximately €85; that's only a small amount for a trip to Namibia.
Minimum wage in Namibia
Margret and Joachim Knoche have been back in Namibia since the beginning of February. From there they report the following:
On Friday morning, I (Joachim Knoche) drove unannounced very early to the elementary school and wanted to Emely and Rosmarie They were supposed to meet. The plan was for them to prepare 80 sandwiches in the evening and hand them out to the 80 hungry students in front of the school the next morning. And indeed, they were there, and everything went according to plan. It's wonderful that they are both so conscientious, and also... Albertina She regularly bought the bread and peanut butter. With the teacher in charge. Vlermuis I immediately discussed how we could supplement this simple breakfast with vitamins on some days. She will develop a proposal, which we will then discuss together.
Since Namibia introduced an official minimum wage this year, we want to significantly increase our expense allowances for our volunteer staff. This has been discussed. Emely and Rosmarie, Those who have been conscientiously performing their daily work for the past year and a half were very pleased. The general minimum wage is now 90 cents; domestic workers, security guards, and farm laborers earn even less. The first effects of the minimum wage are now being discussed in the newspapers: many companies are only hiring their workers for a few hours a day so they don't have to raise wages. There are still full-time employees earning between €50 and €150 per month. With the higher cost of living in the cities, this is far from sufficient; in rural areas, where life is still somewhat cheaper, many have to make do with this.
But I wasn't only able to announce a significant salary increase to Emely and Rosmarie, but also to... Roceline In our educational playroom (Toy Library), the staff member who has now successfully completed her two-year training as a childcare worker is pleased to receive a 50% increase.
Initially, we thought our staff could manage the aid projects on a voluntary basis with a small stipend. This might work for the state-paid teachers who look after our students in the dormitories. But those who have no income themselves depend on being properly compensated for their work. As a result, our organization now has almost 10 people for whom we are responsible here on site.
Online training completed!
Roceline Uises, A young mother with two small children completed her two-year training as an early childhood educator. In 2020, during the pandemic, Roceline applied for our open position at the Toy Library in Okombahe, where she would guide young children in play and creativity. She had a high school diploma, but for the past five years, she and her partner had been living in a simple mud hut with electricity, but no running water or toilet, and she also had two young children of her own. During her interview, she impressed us with her freshness, spontaneity, and thoughtful approach. I was amazed that this person could live so cheerfully, yet with such serious goals, despite her very impoverished circumstances. "Yes, my stepmother is a teacher and explained a lot to me," Roceline explained, justifying her ideas for working with the children.
For two years, she regularly and very reliably opened our educational playroom (toy library), three hours in the morning for the kindergarten children and three hours in the afternoon for the elementary school children. She thanked God for her new opportunities as a young family, especially since her partner also got a job as a security guard at the same time. Until then, they had both been unemployed and only received occasional support from their extended family. Now life was beginning anew, and she proudly showed me a piece of paper on which she had drawn her dream house – “sometime in many years!”
Her untrained yet creative work with the children impressed me, and I asked her to look into further training opportunities. A two-year online course to become an early childhood educator was her wish. She enrolled, the association paid for the laptop and course fees, and alongside her family work and toy library duties, she diligently learned a great deal. She had to significantly improve her English skills with our help. Now, after two years, she has passed all the exams and is a well-trained early childhood educator in Okombahe, already with new goals in mind. With her certificate, she can also apply to the primary school for the youngest grades. We will give her a suitable salary increase so that she can continue working with us for the time being. The Toy Library will be preserved.
More than 70 students can go back to school.
The new school year started in Namibia on January 13th. More than 95% of children in Namibia attend at least primary school.
This year, the Namibia Support Association is once again enabling more than 70 pupils to attend a student residence, allowing them to go to school every day.
Namibia is a very large and sparsely populated country, and schools in rural areas are widely separated. As a result, 50% of children must attend a boarding school from the age of five to go to school every day. They stay there year-round, only being allowed to visit their families during the two main school holidays and a few "home weekends." This is everyday life in Namibia. Only children who grow up in larger towns can live at home during the school year. While tuition at public schools is free, many parents struggle to afford school uniforms and supplies for their children. We support the parents of more than 70 children and young people in six boarding schools. For the state-run boarding schools, we need approximately... €120 per yearWe need a place in the Catholic Waldfrieden Primary School in Omaruru or in the Protestant Martin Luther High School boarding school near Okombahe, including school clothes and some school supplies, for approximately... €240 per year.
If any of you would like to support a place for a child or young person in a student residence, you are welcome to transfer funds to our association's account.