News

Fundraising appeal for caretaker flat and classrooms

Monday, May 14, 2018

On our request, on the 10th of May we received from the Chinese builder who built the rainwater channel last December a quote for the remaining elements on our building plan of 2009, which have not yet been realised:

  • a flat for our caretaker (urgent, the ‘temporary solution’ of an old caravan without any facility has become an affront) and
  • initially two more classrooms with ablution block (although there are three more classrooms on the building plan).

This was quoted for N$1,583,951 / €106,000.  

This is a huge sum of money, but far below the estimates we had received from the Quantity Surveyor and realistic and fair according to our architect.

Embarking on this project became an opportunity when we asked what the company would charge if we wanted to add yet another classroom, the last one on our building plan. They then offered to do the third classroom for an additional N$100,000 / € 6,666 which basically is a present keeping current building costs in mind!  The company offered to do so because there is a lull in their project activities at present (they just missed a huge tender) and they would like to make a contribution to our project. Only, they want to start latest mid-June and will only do all-in-one.   

The rationale for the three additional classrooms is to add one to our present preschool (we maintain a waiting list every year as we lack spaces) and to rent out the other two in order to finance part of our running cost and help ensure the long-term sustainability of the centre.  Furthermore the timing is right as the architect and present principal are leaving, but right now can still support and supervise this project.

The revised quote (for three classrooms, toilet and flat caretaker) is N$1,657,361 / € 110,491. We still have €7,000 / N$105,000  reserved for building projects and therefore are looking for N$1,552,361 or €103,491.       

Key question is where to find such a sum of money in the next few weeks?

We have applied with the funds that have supported as in the past, but that will not be sufficient. We appeal to all our visitors to share any tips you may have!

You can contact us at:

wakeupdaycare@iway.na or phone (264) 81 4535880

Let's realise our dream in order to invest in the future of Wake up!

Wake up! welcomes two new volunteers

Sunday, January 14, 2018
Welcome to our two new volunteers, Jule and Lea

We are very happy to welcome our new volunteers: Jule Seidel and Lea Heldmann. We hope Wake Up! EEC can serve as your home away from home.

The centre welcomes any volunteer who is enthusiastic, energetic and willing to make a clear commitment: gap-year students, seniors, international and local volunteers. We can always use extra hands, energy and creative ideas in the classroom or the afternoon care. Furthermore we have various projects which need extra manpower (such as development of the playground and vegetable garden).

We have partnered with a South African organisation called Claim Victory Tours who recruit volunteers mainly in Germany. This organisation takes care of all the admin and has started to offer us candidates on a regular basis. In 2017 during the first term we had two young school leavers from Germany, Melissa and Selin, who were happy to do any odd job and made great friends with the teaching staff.

We have also had a local volunteer for a while who has been helping with fundraising, baking cookies with parents. As unemployment in Namibia amongst young people is very high, there is a lot of potential to recruit young local volunteers, who can gain some exposure and experience with us in various fields.

See our page on volunteering for more information.

Trip to National Art Gallery

Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Trip to National Art Gallery

We have been fortunate recently to have had an intern from the College of Arts, Ms Lulu, who came and gave our children a few presentations on Arts.

Miss Lulu, with the assistance of Ms Loes our Principal, shared on the theory and physical expressions of creativity through showing them pictures of paintings and a and a physical demonstration of sculpturing. It had been really informative and fun, especially when they took a field trip down to the National Art Gallery and the Owela Museum on The African Child Day.

Snake awareness session with the experts!

Friday, October 21, 2016

Thank you to Francois Theart, Ipinge Agapitus and colleagues from the Snake Conservation Association of Namibia for visiting Wake up and giving a most enlightening presentation on snakes today. They focused on teaching us 3 rules today: Stop, Retreat and Call an Adult. There was also time for questions and answers about snakes and for the children to interact with a non-venomous snake. I am sure this experience has raised our childrens' awareness and respect for snakes.

For more information about snakes and the work of the Snake Conservation Association of Namibia, see the Snakes of Namibia Facebook page.

Fabulous learning experience with Design School for Children

Sunday, May 8, 2016
Fun with the Design School for Children

The older learners at Wake up! (5-6 year olds) recently had a first hands-on craft experience, known as protoyping, initiated by the Design School for Children from Italy. The idea was for the children to make an everyday object from a range of materials they were provided with. As an object ‘a box’ was chosen.

The aim of this exercise was that by going through the process of constructing an object, the children would enhance and strengthen their manual skills through the selection of materials of different textures, consistency and sensorial feeling. Through the process of making, the child is engaged in problem-solving, finding ways to overcome challenges along the way, and by producing a 3 dimensional model of an idea they grow in self-confidence.

See more at https://www.facebook.com/thedesignschoolforchildren