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Here is an excerpt from my placement letter from the field director in Namibia. I'm so pumped!
Dear James,
Greetings from Windhoek! I hope you are getting excited for you year in Namibia. As you know, after much consideration, I have decided to place you at Mangetti Combined School. Mangetti CS is a combined school teaching grades 1-10 with about 360 learners and 14 teachers. It is located in the southern part of the Kavango Region in north-east Namibia. The local language of the area is Rukwangali and you will learn a bit during orientation to get you started. You will be the first WorldTeach volunteer at the school.
Currently, you are slated to be accommodated in teacher housing on school property. I did talk to the principal today, though, and indicated again that you are very interested in becoming involved with the community, which he was happy to hear. In fact, the school is overjoyed to receive a volunteer and the principal even said that the staff "jumped from excitement" when he told them. Mangetti is a very rural school, quite far from other towns. Therefore, it seems that the school and community feel somewhat marginalized. I think that your presence will do a lot to lift the morale of the school and community.
The two closest major towns are Grootfontein and Rundu. The principal says that many of the staff go to Rundu on the weekends and so it should not be a problem for you to get there for grocery shopping, etc. (There will be four WorldTeach volunteers in Rundu next year.) There is also a small shop at the NDC where you can find some basic needs. As I indicated, there is not electricity connected to the school at this time, though the wiring is in place and, this being Namibia, it could happen at any time or not at all.
Mangetti CS is interested in having a volunteer teach English and math Grades 8-10, and they say that your interests will be valued. I cannot emphasize enough that your assistance is greatly needed as they have difficulty attracting and retaining quality teachers due to the school's isolation. I am sure that you will be an amazing help and advantage to the school staff and be able to start many other projects and extracurricular activities that interest you.
LEATOTO-Swahili for "To Raise a Child." (I was originally going to Kenya) Through the non-profit organization, WorldTeach, I volunteered in Namibia in 2009. I taught English and Math to 8-10th graders in the Mangetti Combined School in the bush in the Kavango Region. This was by far the most amazing, humbling and eye opening year of my life. Enjoy.
About Me
- James
- This is my blog about my adventures as a WorldTeach volunteer in Mangetti, Namibia. I hope you enjoy. One love. "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi
UPDATED ADDRESS
James Butler
c/o Kalihonda Markus Sipapo
PO Box 2413
Rundu
NAMIBIA
c/o Kalihonda Markus Sipapo
PO Box 2413
Rundu
NAMIBIA
My Phone Number
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Yellowhouse Media made a very generous donation of $1,000!! MANY THANKS!
4 comments:
That's so exciting! Wow, that must feel great to be going where you are even more needed than expected! Congratulations, I know you'll thrive and life that community right off its feet!
Whooops, that was supposed to say "LIFT," not "life"
Your placement sounds perfect. As much as they need you in their lives, I'm sure you'll find that you need them that much, too. This is going to be a great year for you!
james!
high school math. those kids will love you just as much as you will love them! enjoy the rest of your time in elyria.
em
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