Newsletter of BüllsPort Lodge & Farm | October 2022
As you certainly know, you can travel to Namibia again without hurdles, just like in the time before Corona.
And there has been a lot going on with us, too. In a nutshell:
• Guests from Germany compensate for flight emissions with a "Give & Take" excursion to the ǂNabasib primary school
• the successfully started sheep breeding at BüllsPort will not be further extended for several reasons
• photos and video clips of experiences at the NAUkLuFT can now be shared with loved ones at home from every room at BüllsPort Lodge.
Guests compensate flight by supporting ǂNabasib
"What an experience." "Very intense." "Touching."
The four guests of BüllsPort were visibly impressed on the way back from their excursion to the nearby ǂNabasib primary school.
Two hours of insight into an area of Namibian everyday life beyond the lodges and animals. And a "give & take", in two respects.
“What an experience.” “Very intense.” “Touching.” The four guests of BüllsPort were visibly impressed on the way back from their excursion to the nearby ǂNabasib primary school. Two hours of insight into an area of Namibian everyday life beyond the lodges and animals. And a “give & take”, in two respects.
This is exactly what the two married couples who were guests at BüllsPort at the beginning of September had wished for. “In view of the increasingly serious consequences of climate change, we want to compensate at least a little for the long-distance flight and support a concrete project,” they had written by email a few weeks before the start of the trip.
“We gladly like to support something you do at Büllsport or at ǂNabasib, in connection with the school for which you built the well. If you have any ideas…” The guests had heard about the borehole project for ǂNabasib in April, from BüllsPort’s newsletter.
They immediately agreed to the suggestion to visit the nearby primary school ǂNabasib. The school management confirmed the date for the tour: Monday afternoon, around 3.00 p.m., thus after classes.
Teacher Augustinus Ortmann welcomed the guests, showed them the secretary’s office and two of the classrooms. He described the daily school routine, listed the subjects and gave them examples from the lessons. These included the spelling and pronunciation of the four click sounds in Khoekhoegowab, the language of the Nama and Damara.
There was no sign of the nearly 200 pupils from grades 1 to 7 who attend the primary school. “From noon onwards, they are in the boarding house next door,” explained Ortmann, who teaches classes 5, 6 and 7 in Afrikaans, Natural Science and Social Studies.
The multi-purpose hall of the boarding home (“Paul Peter Land Heim”) marked the end of the tour. The cherry on the top, as they say. Because here, the whole school was waiting for the guests. At least it felt like it. The cultural group led by teacher Petrina Goeieman sang songs and performed dances of the Owambo, Baster and Nama with obvious joy.
Culture Nama Nabasib School BüllsPort Naukluft Namibia
At the end there was a big mutual “thank you”. And a touching handing over of the envelope with the amount from the four guests for the two-hour activity. Which the government school can use for buying additional teaching materials. The state funds are limited and are only enough for the bare necessities.
At the same time, the income is recognition and motivation for the children and teachers to maintain the culture and tradition of their ancestors. In effect, a double give & take.
But that is not all. On their departure the next day, the two couples donated a considerable amount each to the Naukluft Foundation. Founded by BüllsPort and the Ababis Guest Farm, this foundation supports the ǂNabasib Primary School whenever it is needed. Like in March with the new borehole.
Nabasib School Guided Tour Augustinus Ortmann BüllsPort Naukluft Namibia
