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So that the students no longer have to eat outside in all weathers

2022-01-22T10:20:23.477Z


So that the students no longer have to eat outside in all weathers Created: 01/22/2022, 11:00 am By: Veronica power Eating outdoors: Regardless of the weather, the children at the Morukutu school always eat outside. The association "Outjenaho - radiant children's eyes eV" from Ottenhofen wants to change that and build a dining hall. © Outjenaho Association/Private The association "Outjenaho -


So that the students no longer have to eat outside in all weathers

Created: 01/22/2022, 11:00 am

By: Veronica power

Eating outdoors: Regardless of the weather, the children at the Morukutu school always eat outside.

The association "Outjenaho - radiant children's eyes eV" from Ottenhofen wants to change that and build a dining hall.

© Outjenaho Association/Private

The association "Outjenaho - radiant children's eyes eV" from Ottenhofen has set itself the goal of supporting children in Namibia and promoting intercultural exchange.

Not an easy task, especially in times of a global pandemic.

But the newly elected board of directors started the year with a lot of zest for action - and has big plans for it.

Ottenhofen

– Almost 450 children between the ages of six and 16, from pre-school to seventh grade, attend Morukutu Primary School in Otjiyarwa in the Omaheke region of Namibia, near the Botswana border.

Most of them, around 300 girls and boys, stay at school during school hours and can only go home when there are no school days.

All students have three meals a day.

"Whether it's 40 degrees in the shade or 0 degrees in the morning in the cold winter time - the children of the Morukutu school always eat their meals outdoors," reports Martina Zoglowek, chairwoman of the association "Outjenaho - radiant children's eyes eV" from Ottenhofen, and makes it clear: "We want to change that." A dining hall is to be built, which can be used not only as a dining room, but also as a meeting room.

Funding applications for the construction project have already been submitted

Almost two years have passed since the first idea to the present day.

During this time, despite the difficult Corona situation, there were on-site visits during which the project was discussed and defined in more detail with the Ministry of Education, the municipal council, parents' representatives and teachers.

As reported, representatives of the association visited the construction company Polycare near Windhoek, which convinced them to be the right company for the project through sustainable and alternative construction methods.

There are already architectural plans that architect Andreas Schmitt, also a member of the association, has made available.

In order to be able to support the project financially, foundations were sought and applications for funding submitted.

And things are currently "looking pretty good": In December, two out of three applications were already approved.

The club hopes to start construction in the second half of 2022

In February, the Outjenaho representatives want to fly back to Namibia and make some administrative preparations. Provided that all the funds - funding from foundations and the association's own funds - are secured, the Dining Hall should be built in the second half of 2022. Zoglowek: “We're really excited and can't wait for it to finally get going. Please keep your fingers crossed that the financing will work out. The students of the Morukutu school would be really happy if they could finally eat at the chair and table and no longer, as is currently the case, on the ground in the sand in all weathers.”

In addition to the large "dining hall" project, there are other activities on the program this year - such as a trip to Namibia with primary school pupils under the motto "We get to know our country".

The children and teenagers also get school fruit, for which the girls and boys of the Ottenhofen primary school, as a partner school, had collected donations before Christmas (we reported).

School partnership should be intensified again

Speaking of school partnerships: the association wants to intensify them again, because due to the corona virus, only a few active “partnerships” have recently been able to take place. "But during a visit to the elementary school in December, we found that the students and teachers are totally motivated and interested in actively shaping it again." They followed the stories and pictures of Chairman Martina Zoglowek spellbound and immediately began to think about how they can support their friends in Namibia. "We think it's great and will certainly do a few projects together next year," promises the association.

Further support for the Morukutu school during the corona pandemic is also on the agenda.

Because the pandemic has also led to quarantine, block-by-block classes and stricter hygiene measures from wearing a mask to washing hands regularly with soap.

In 2018, the association made sure that the latter is possible at all: a well was built on site with donations and subsidies as well as a lot of personal work.

Visiting teachers from Namibia is still planned

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been many Covid infections among teachers and students - including the loss of friends and acquaintances.

Nevertheless, we are looking ahead and want to actively shape the future even in difficult times.

This includes the association resuming visits by Namibian teachers to Ottenhofen.

As reported, last year's planned visit had to be canceled at short notice due to the pandemic.

Everything was already prepared - from visas to flight tickets to activities and events with the community and the Bavarian Ministry of Education.

Outjenaho's new board: Uli Stiegler, Thomas Hameter, Claudia Einsiedler, Anna Zoglowek, Martina Zoglowek and Edgar Wilinski (from left).

© Outjenaho Association/Private

A board of directors, which was recently elected at the third ordinary general meeting, is now taking care of the many projects.

The management team remained largely unchanged, but Ottenhofen's mayor Nicole Schley, previously 2nd chairwoman, withdrew from the board work due to lack of time.

New on board is Uli Stiegler, who has been a member of the association for some time, has already supported him with project tenders and is now taking on the role of deputy chairman.

The new board

President

: Martina Zoglowek


Deputy President

: Uli Stiegler


Treasurer: Claudia Einsiedler


Secretary: Thomas Hameter


Assessors: Anna Zoglowek, Edgar

Wilinski

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-01-22

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