Schools International Partnership Programme

The 2 week field expedition to Namibia is the focal point of the partnership, where students spend one week at A.Gariseb School renovating facilities and the following week on a trek through the desert learning to navigate and about the desert's ecosystem.

In 2005 King Alfred's School from Hampstead, London signed a long term twinning partnership agreement with A.Gariseb Primary School and EHRA, with the aim to provide funds and manpower for the renovation of classrooms, dormitories, toilets, showers and with what seemed to be a huge task; to install a fully functioning computer classroom.

In 2005 King Alfred's bought the first computers and printers from the UK and in 2006 EHRA secured a donation of 20 computers from Siemens in Switzerland via Tobias and Anne Durrer who had volunteered for EHRA in 2004.  EHRA joined forces with SchoolNet in Namibia to install educational software in line with the Namibian curriculum onto each computer and to provide training for teachers and pupils.  Over the years EHRA volunteers have also assisted in training teachers in computer skills.  In 2009 the computer room was decorated internally and in 2010 it is hoped that an internet facility will be installed at the school.  

Every year since 2004 King Alfred's school has recruited pupils to join the expedition and have renovated classrooms, dormitories, toilets and showers, office blocks, playgrounds, a kindergarten, library and computer rooms for A.Gariseb Primary School. Students have to raise a minimum amount of sponsorship which forms the budget for the renovation project.

 Showers pre and post renovation!

Main Classroom block 2004 and Main classroom block renovated externally in 2007

A.Gariseb Primary School now looks FANTASTIC! The partnership scheme with EHRA and King Alfred's has had a huge impact on the school.  Teachers and pupils are now very proud of their school.

The children at A.Gariseb Primary live in relative poverty, yet it is a happy place and it is an incredibly rewarding experience for all involved.  Elephants wander along the river just 200 meters from the school!

In 2009 a fully functioning library was installed and renovated, thanks to Doreen Niggles, EHRA US Director and The East Hampton Library.  This library is the first for the school and now forms an integral part of the schools curriculum. King Alfred's have renovated an old disused building which has become the community kindergarten.  In 2009 Felsted School, also from the UK who came through World Challenge, built a playground and constructed a shaded area around the kindergarten.

Every year pupils bring clothing and shoes which are distributed to the children most in need at A.Gariseb Primary.  EHRA has also donated new mattresses and blankets.

The second week then sees the children walking over 100km through the desert on a team building and self awareness journey. The final day of the challenge sees the group navigating alone from A to B putting to use the map reading skills they have been taught throughout the week.

Below: Students learning about compasses

The itineraries roots are firmly based on a ‘vision quest’ philosophy encompassing Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory.  The children firstly have to fundraise and then do renovation work, thereby opening their eyes to their wider community and it’s well being.

The second week also illustrates the importance of ‘teamwork’ interacting with others, finding and enhancing their own skills and finally realising the input they make as individuals.  The trip is a real eye opener, being forced into living in a basic community based system where iPods and PlayStations loose their importance and remembering the importance of living in balance with nature.

We know that the trip influences the children in an incredibly positive manner.  For interested teachers we can put you in touch with the representing teachers from King Alfred’s, who will tell you of comments such as ‘What happened to Buster in Namibia?”!

If you would like to receive an information pack on the partnership please contact Rachel here