The Namibia SHE knows

My friend Kathy wrote this entry in her blog and I loved it ... She has been working here on and off for 5 years now and I think she has a wonderful personality and outlook on life

The Namibia I know….

• is a place where children walk miles through rain, piercing sun, and soaring temperatures to get to school.


• is a place where people always say good morning.


• is a place where children who have nothing are happy and joyful.


• is a place where mothers are superwomen.


• is a place where people live in the moment, in the day.


• is a place where family is central to life.


• is a place where zebras, elephants and lions roam free


• is a place where people take the time to know and help their neighbors.


• is a place where friends are welcomed like family.


• is a place where grandparents, aunts, uncles, and even strangers take in orphaned children.


• is a place where villagers greet health workers with smiles and waves.


• is a place where children recognize and are thankful for the small things.


• is a place where there is no shortage of smiles and laughter.


• is a place where clear nights bring skies filled with a million sparkling stars


• is a place where children take care of their ailing parents and siblings


• is a place where the elderly are valued for their experience and knowledge.


• is a place where parents dream of better lives for their children and try to make that happen.

Namibia is also….

• a place where children go to bed hungry.


• a place where alcoholism is an epidemic and men spend their family’s money on beer.


• a place where nearly 1 in 4 adults (15-49) is infected with HIV/AIDS.


• a place where teenage pregnancy is extremely common.


• a place where only primary education is free.


• a place where women have little power in relationships.


• a place where rape is common.


• a place where poverty is the norm and % of people survive on less than $2/day.


• a place where few people have more than secondary education.


• a place where orphans and other vulnerable children are turned away from school because they cannot pay for fees or uniforms.


• a place where funerals, especially of young people, are too plentiful.


• a place where hundreds of people are made homeless each year by flooding.


• a place where 40% of people are unemployed


• a place that has the highest income gap in the world.