Peter and Anne Dreyer
Peter and Anne Dreyer
Imkerhof Children's Home
Web site at www.imkerhof.org
Namibia
Peter and Anne Dreyer from Limekilns have spent a lot of time working in an orphanage in Imkerhof, Namibia.
They have given us regular updates about their work and, most recently, gave a fuller account of their experience at one of the New Life Services.
A small taste of what is being done at Imkerhof is outlined here.
Imkerhof Bible School
Namibia
Namibia is a country in the south western corner of Africa and is mostly desert or semi desert. Unlike many other African countries, it is rich in minerals such as diamonds, gold and uranium. Germany annexed the country in the late 1800s but, after the First World War, it became a mandatory state of South Africa. In 1990 it gained its independence and changed its name from South-West Africa to Namibia, after the Namib Desert.
The country covers 320,827 square miles and has a population of 1.8 million. A country 2 or 3 times the size of Britain with a tiny population. 87% of the population is black and those are made up of different ethnic groups such as Ovambo, Kavango, Herero, Damara, Nama, San Bushman and Caprivian. Their official language is English but German and Afrikaans is still widely spoken with all the indigenous languages as well.
Like the rest of Africa HIV has swept across the country. In 2004 210,000 people were affected by Aids, 16,000 of whom have died. Many of these were breadwinners and as a result the country is getting desperately short of qualified people in all walks of life but more seriously, children are left without parents. Under normal conditions the extended family would take care of orphaned children but at present grandparents are often left with up to 14 grand children; an impossible situation. So many of these children are left to fend for themselves.
Udo & Kathleen Wahl
Imkerhof was originally set up as a Bible College. It is situated some 350 Km from the capital Windhoek. It takes a good three hours drive on a mixture of tar and gravel roads to get there. This journey has to be made at least twice a week to get supplies and take any patients to the hospital.
Three years ago the leaders, Udo and Kathleen Wahl, realised the enormous need to take some of the orphaned children into care and so started Imkerhof Children's Home.
At present there are 20 children in care and another 30 children belonging to the various members of staff. It soon became apparent that these children grow up and need schooling.
They opted for the ACE system (Accelerated Christian Education) but always employ local people wherever possible. Being so far out in the bush has its advantages but at the same time makes recruiting of suitable and willing staff quite difficult. At present the home is staffed by the senior housemother, Evelyn; the house father, Nghidipo, in charge of the boys, and Sophie in charge of the little ones
Ehrenfried and Michaela
The school staff comprises of Kathleen Wahl, Ehrenfried, Michaela and Rosa and Sophie Pre School teachers.
Volunteers from Germany and Britain go out to help for varying periods of time ranging from 2 weeks to one year.
Anne and Peter Dreyer, members of the congregation, spent 3 months, October 2007 to April 2008 at Imkerhof and were accompanied by Lachlan Fotheringham, who was doing a gap year.
Lachlan worked in the school, initially alongside Kathleen and latterly with the help of an ex-bible student whilst Kathleen & Udo visited Europe.
Lachlan teaching tennis
As well as supervising in the school he taught tennis, basketball, recorder and spent hours playing with and reading to the children.
Peter did his usual building and fixing jobs, taught science in school, fixed punctures, taught swimming and generally helped African kids to be African! Along with Anne, he tried to keep an eye on Imkerhof whilst Kathleen and Udo had their annual trip to the UK & Germany.
Peter doing DIY
For the first 3 months Anne was chief cook and bottle washer for the 'house'. This is mainly cooking for European staff and volunteers which may number from 6 to 16. It is an exercise on how many ways you can cook kudu, oryx and warthog!
Bible covers made by the children
Anneliese came in January to take over the cooking and Anne was able to concentrate on doing crafts and cooking with the children. We also made a wedding cake for Nghidipo and Rosa.
"Altogether it was hard work but very rewarding being surrounded by boisterous, lively youngsters with a chance in life."
Peter and Anne Dreyer