Witvlei Childrens Home, Witvlei (Namibia)

On May 13, 2010, in Posts in English, by Javier Leandro Sobradillo
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Also called ‘Nora Nependa Orphanage’, Witvlei Childrens Home is 157 Km East from Namibia’s capital along the B6 road, in a small village called Witvlei, shortly before getting to Gobabis. Nora Nependa is a local woman, an entrepreneur who leads this orphanage since 2001. There are more than 30 children and teenagers, and Nora takes care of them providing shelter and food, with help of her own means and occasional donations.

The Children!

How can you help?

Any person visiting Witvlei Childrens Home can help. You can simply camp there and pay the night’s fee, or you can stay longer and help Nora with the vegetable garden and the goats. Nora’s plan is also to produce enough fruits and vegetables to sell them for a profit. They only ask that you give them a call in advance (+25462570023 / +264813083886), so they can prepare for your visit. Also, if you want to bring them anything, it is better to call them and ask what they may need instead of guessing and bringing something they might already have.

Last time we were there, Nora was preparing and collecting funds for the children to have a trip around Namibia and see their own country. It is shocking when you think of it, how many tourists come and travel around Namibia, but the very people who live here cannot afford to do it.

We personally love this place, because we found it through a series of coincidences due to our own dumbness! Our first plan that day was to get from Windhoek to Gobabis (200 km). We thought we would certainly find a gas station along the road, so we left with only 1/4 our tank full. By the time we were in Witvlei, we were seriously worried because the tank’s red light was screaming for a refill. We stopped in Witvlei and asked in Ziggy’s Guesthouse (see map below) about the Gas Pump by his guesthouse, but to our dismay it had been dry and closed since the company operating it decided it wasn’t profitable enough.

Ziggy was very kind and gave us a Jerry can. Our plan was to keep driving slowly towards Gobabis until the car gave out, then hitchhike/walk with the jerry can, fill it up and come back for the car. In the end the gas miraculously lasted enough, and we could fill our tank in Gobabis and return to Ziggy’s, having learnt an important lesson: Always fill your tank in Namibia when you can, don’t wait.

Back in Witvlei we told Ziggy the reason of our trip: We were looking for entrepreneurial locals, especially women who would be happy to receive tourists. Ziggy told us about Nora’s Orphanage and we went on to visit her.


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Contact: Nora Nependa Orphanage (Weeshuis)
Post: Founder
Address:
P.O. Box 55
Witvlei
Tel: +25462570023
Cell: +264813083886
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Penduka, Windhoek (Namibia)

On May 5, 2010, in Posts in English, by Javier Leandro Sobradillo
7

When in Windhoek, Penduka is a great place to visit, either to sleep as accommodation or just to visit their facilities and learn about their important work. It is in Katutura, the township created during the apartheid by the government in the fifites. In their own words:
“PENDUKA is a non-governmental development organisation working with women in Namibia. In the Oshiwambo and Otjiherero languages the word Penduka means “Wake Up!” Through our programme we encourage and support women throughout the country to take charge of their lives.”

Penduka started in 1992 with 4 employees, and now a total of 110 people are on the payroll, which gives an idea of the strength and determination of these women. They support specially women in a poverty situation, handicapped, ill or with low education levels. The objective is to empower them through craftmanship and tourism. These women learn:

  • Crafting skills, so they can later sell what they product overseas (The Netherlands and Norway for example)
  • Tourism. They offer accommodation, have a restaurant and also a conference room.

They also fight Tuberculosis (TB). All the women suffering from this disease receive health education and drugs on top of the Crafting and Tourism education.

How can you help?

The work done in Penduka is tourism-oriented. All the money generated by its touristic activity gets to the women in need and largely helps to improve their quality of life. Any tourist coming to visit Penduka will be able to:

  • Visit the workshops. Monday to Friday through a guided visit you can see the workshops and see how the women produce the crafts and beautiful cloth that later will be sold abroad. It is also possible to purchase some of these in the shop.
  • You can also sleep in Penduka. They have newly renovated rooms (2009). It is a much quieter and authentic place to be as in the center of Windhoek. They offer also catering for breakfast, lunch and dinner in their excellent restaurant, with wonderful views to the Goreangab Dam.


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Contact: Evelyn Breuer. Contact here
Post: Hospitality Manager
Address:
P.O. Box 7635
Katutura
Windhoek
Namibia
Tel: +26461257210
Fax: +26461257210
Web: www.penduka.com


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Chameleon City Lodge, Windhoek (Namibia)

On May 4, 2010, in Posts in English, by Javier Leandro Sobradillo
0

Chameleon City Lodge is one of the best places in Namibia’s Capital to get your adventure started and exchange information with other travellers returning from their trips.

We are including it in our Baobab guide for Namibia because, although the owners are not local -they are Australian-, the whole place is a living example of what we like when travelling responsibly. The hotel employs a lot of local people, having a real impact in the community. Moreover, it earns high points on Sustainability: Solar Panels for electricity and water heating, signs reminding you of not leaving the tap running and raising your awareness of the ecological footprint of tourism makes us give it a big thumbs up.

Beyond that, It is only a short walk from the city center, the atmosphere is quiet and relaxing. They have two computers with the best internet connection that we have experimented in the whole of Namibia. Continental breakfast is included so you can help yourself in the open air kitchen every morning. You can also cook your own stuff in the kitchen. The rooms are nice and spacious, with lockers, and there is also a small camping site for your to pitch your tent. And don’t forget they’ve got a swimming pool!

Also, they always help you by calling taxis, or ordering food, organizing guided tours of the city and selling you Windhoek beer!


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Address:
5-7 Voight St
Windhoek
Namibia
Tel: +264 (61) 244347
Email: info@chameleonbackpackers.com
Web: http://www.chameleonbackpackers.com

Chameleon city lodge is included in the Guide to Namibia for responsible Travel by Baobab Guides.

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