Diversity Tour

Diversity Tour is a trip that takes learners from all over Namibia and brings them together to learn about each other and their beautiful country.  This year, we've had four learners from Omahila apply to go.  Although the selection has not yet been made, the kids are all very excited about this wonderful opportunity to see the capital, Windhoek, the ocean at Swakopmund and animals in Etosha National Park.  As the nominating volunteer, I had to write a short recommendation for each learner.  As I was writing these testimonials, I realized how amazing these kids are, how lucky I am to be their teacher and how much they'd benefit by going on the diversity tour.

Ndapewa is a teacher’s dream – she’s smart, outgoing, helpful and trustworthy.  At this point she simply works hard to gain the approval of her teachers, but soon she will reach the age where the motivation to stay in school (baby-free) will have to come from within.  The experiences she’d gain on the diversity tour, like meeting other kids from around the country and seeing new places, would be a big step toward gaining this all-important internal motivation.  Ndapewa made an immediate impression on me when I first met her as a 5^th grader.  Now, as a 7^th grader, I know she’d leave you with good memories as well.

Gerson is my favourite student in 8^th grade.  He doesn’t get good grades, but he’s a smart kid with a huge smile and an outgoing personality.  He’s not afraid to give it a try or speak in English like many of the other kids are.  He’s outgoing but he struggles at writing and reading.  He often loses his homework and pen, but has recently turned over a new leaf and is being more responsible.  I’m not exactly sure what Gerson’s home life is like,b ut based on his appearances and his the group of friends he hangs out with, I think it’s pretty rough.  As he gets older, I fear that he might drop out of school so an experience like the diversity, would make an incredible, positive impact on his life – it would show him what he might achieve through hard work and perseverance.  Gerson is not Namibia’s future president, but I guarantee that if you take him on this trip he’ll leave you with a big smile on your face.

Johanna is a very unassuming child.  She’s quiet, sweet and polite.  She always completes her homework and does well on written work, but doesn’t often participate in class.  She’s intelligent and hardworking and I see great potential in her, but I feel that her shyness is holding her back.  An experience like the diversity tour would expand her horizons and might give her the confidence to open up more.  She lives with grandmother and her living parent is absent from her life so this is an opportunity she would never otherwise have. 

Absalom has the best work ethic of all the learners I teach.  Over the past two years, I can’t think of single time when he didn’t have his homework done.  Academically, Absalom is somewhere near the middle of the class, but I admire how hard he works.  Last year, he go an “E” on the April exam.  When December exams came around he earned a “B”.  Moreover, Absalom is incredibly polite and respectful.  He’ one of those quiet kids that a teacher can’t help rooting of because he’s so hard working and well behaved.  He always gives 100% and I know some day that’ll allow him to go far.  Seeing Namibia will give him a goal and the motivation to keep up his hard work.