Choto Pre-school, Katima Mulilo (Namibia)

On May 18, 2010, in Posts in English, by Javier Leandro Sobradillo
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Choto Pre-school is a kindergarten started in 1999 by Catherine Mukur (+264 81450971), with help of the Namibian Ministry of Gender and Equality. Everyday 46 children between 0 and 6 years old attend the preschool. This kind of Pre-school performs an extremely important social function because the parents can leave the children and go to work. However, they face many problems: the parents can’t always afford to pay the pre-school fees and it gets sometimes vandalised by the street children, who remove the external fence. It also lacks running water and electricity systems.

Catherine with the children

How can you help: In the pre-school they are always in need of materials and donations. The best thing if you want to collaborate is to ask Catherine what they actually need. Also, if you are going to bring something try to buy it locally in Katima Mulilo instead of bringing it directly from overseas. This way you will be promoting local businesses.


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Contact: Catherine Mukur

Post: Manager

Tel: +264 81450971

How to get there: Once in Katima Mulilo, follow the map above. Most streets have no names, therefore it is not so easy to explain in words.

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Garment manufacturing projects, Katima Mulilo (Namibia)

On May 18, 2010, in Posts in English, by Javier Leandro Sobradillo
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As in Rundu, the Namibian Government is helping local women in Katima Mulilo to start-up their businesses on the far en of the Caprivi Strip through the Ministry of Gender and Equality.

It is interesting to visit some of these to experience the daily effort of these women in improving their businesses and thus their lives. The following three are together in a government-owned building in the centre of Katima Mulilo (see map below):

Never Give Up: Mainga Ukwa Judith (+264 813221619) founded this small company in 2005 with two other women. In their words they have one purpose: To earn money for their families and never give up, by focusing on solving one problem at a time. They didn’t really get any help from the government, but simply rent their work space from the Ministry of Gender.

Their main activity  is to make school uniforms for children attending school. They rely on only one sewing machine for their work, and they get their materials in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, which is quite a journey, over 800 Km. Remember that Katima is as far as you can be from Namibia’s capital, Windhoek (1200 Km), and still be in the country. For the people in Katima, it is easier to travel to Lusaka.

Hope Manufacturing Project: Three women created in 2003 this company with the same intention as ‘Never Give Up’: To produce suits, trousers and also school uniforms. It is quite shocking to see some ‘dead sewing machines’. These machines break down and because of the high cost of new spare parts coming from as far as Windhoek and the special skills needed to repair them, they end up just collecting dust, resulting in a huge waste of potential.

Katima Shoe Making: Six people work in this project since 2008 in the manufacture and repair of shoes and leather belts. (Contact: Siburu Gladys +264 813000037 y Sisinytze Jescah Maria +264 812389400). They’ve got a chronic shortage of customers and materials.


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How to get there: Once in Katima Mulilo, follow the map above.

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Salambala Community Campsite, Katima Mulilo (Namibia)

On May 5, 2010, in Posts in English, by Javier Leandro Sobradillo
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Salambala Community Campsite is a quiet campsite right in the middle of the Salambala Conservancy, very close to the border with Botswana in the Katima Mulilo area.

It is the perfect place to relax and enjoy nature before continuing onwards. The income generated by this campsite goes directly to the local community, as it usually happens with all the Nacobta supported accommodation.

Hoot for attention!

We arrived here very late, it was dark and the path from the main road is not the best in the world. With a 4×4 you won’t have any problems. The different campsites are far from each other, giving you a sense of “privacy in the middle of the woods”.

As it says in the reception building, we “hooted for attention” and shortly thereafter a couple of very friendly workers came out and showed us around. They prepared the hot water for next morning’s open-air shower and provided us with dry wood for the campfire.

When we left the campsite to continue our journey, they asked for a ride to the Ngoma Bridge border, which we of course did. Be aware that communications are not very good and people really appreciate if you can give them a ride, it can save them many hours walking.

Yes, the toilet


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Address:
P.O. Box 1797
Katima Mulilo
Tel: +264 66252108
Web: Salambala Community Campsite in Nacobta
Email: office@nacobta.com.na

How to get there (from the Nacobta website):
“From Katima Mulilo head south towards Ngoma for about 50 km. A signpost on the left indicates the turn-off to Salambala on the right. There is a small cuca shop at the junction. The last 5 km of the way lead through Mopane woods. Even though the track is sandy in patches it is suitable for ordinary vehicles. During the rainy season (October to May) it turns muddy and may at times only be accessible by four-wheel drive.”

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