The Beginnings

<< Previous: The Region

It was in 2000 that more and more Angolan people started to move across the border to the Mayana area as a consequence of the Angolan War. The Okavango river forms the natural border between Namibia and Angola in the Caprivi Strip. The refugees lived with their families on the Namibian side of the river, in relative security, yet in dire circumstances.

Today, about 2000 people are estimated to live in the area.

In 2002, after the end of the Angolan War, the refugees decided to stay on and build more permanent structures on the spot they had formerly occupied on a provisional basis. At the time the Angolan War ended in 2002, Valerie was still working as a teacher at a local school. A Canadian guest who stayed at their N’Kwazi Lodge and brought a donation of books for the Mayana School thereby “accidentally” initiated the idea of helping the school on a permanent and organised basis.

In 2002, Valerie and Wynand were able to send the first seven children to Mayana Primary School for whom the school fees were entirely paid by donations. Three children out of this “bunch” of seven made it through to grade twelve!

Hopefully, many more children will be able to follow this good example in the future with the aid of donations.

>> Next: The Community Dance