The Harnas tree is growing branches

Harnas is growing and developing by the minute, and its people are getting involved in many different departments of conservation and development. Its tree is growing branches. Harnas Wildlife Foundation has successfully managed to support local communities and people on Harnas and the nearby area for many years. Harnas makes sure to provide the locals with a sustainable education for their children and offering basic training for adult men and women. With the help of Bank Windhoek Namibia, Harnas was able to buy several pieces of woodwork, welding and electricity equipment to help aid the men in their basic training. So far 15 students have received their certificates after in-service training on Harnas. Harnas has been actively creating work opportunities for the locals, integrating them into the various projects. This year Harnas is moving further not only with its Bushmanland cheetah release and community outreach, but also getting involved with the Epako outreach project, Light for Children. ?We consider ourselves fortunate to be able to contribute in both humanitarian work, as well as wildlife conservation, this is a great achievement.We see now that it is possible to be the change we want to see in the world, and that wherever you reach out a hand you also inspire others to get involved in the fighting for the important causes of our world. ?One of our biggest privileges this year was getting to know Primary School principal Mr Anthony Millward of the Windhoek International School and Mr Henk Olwaoe, founder of the Light for Children project.? Light for Children is situated in the squatter area of Epako, Gobabis. The total population of Gobabis is approximately 30 000 people whom 13 000 are living in this area. It is an area of poverty and the unemployment rate soars as high as 85%.Light of Hope is mainly a pre-school where children are also fed once a day. Here the children have the opportunity to be stimulated and prepared to enter formal schooling. They also have classes that cater for older children, providing them with a second chance.

This is a great challenge, since gaps on different levels have to be addressed within a large class. At this stage they feed 300 children a day, and they need your help to keep this sustainable.Epako is an area that needs complete attention, an area of emergency, an area that needs immediate help. Dr. Olwage and his team depend completely on sponsorships to keep their programme running.

The Harnas Wildlife Foundation has been busy working with Dr Olwage to establish a volunteer outreach programme into this area. Here the working guests will help out with the feeding of 300 little hungry children, assist with teaching, sport activities, cleaning and the organizing of the kids, put up a water pump to provide the area with around the house water supply and the maintenance of two greenhouses so the project can grow vegetables that can be used for feeding the kids and to add quality to the kids? nutrition.

Through a wonderful intervention the Windhoek International School donated a big carpet, a computer and several toilets to the Harnas Wildlife foundation. Together the decision was made that the Epako Light for Children project needs these items desperately and the items were therefore given directly to them.

If you are interested in getting involved in helping the Epako Light for Children project, joining the new volunteer outreach programme there, donating money or items towards its Christmas outreach, please do not hesitate to contact Dr Henk Olwage at [email protected] or Schalk or Jo van der Merwe at [email protected] for further information.