Windhoek
Namibian learners who recently returned from an exchange programme in Germany have described their experience abroad as unique.
Frank Scriba from Delta Secondary School says he had so much freedom and even though he stayed in a small village he had the time of his life. “I was in a village with about 200 people. Every morning I would climb in the bus and go to school. The teaching is not that different from our teaching here in Namibia. We are doing almost the same things. I loved the experience and would do it again,” says Scriba.
Rusta Kalomho from St Paul’s College says although it was her first time to leave her home country, she had the chance to experience a different country in diverse ways and was quite surprised to find how friendly the people there are.
She describes the atmosphere in Germany as vibrant and fascinating. “I would only hear people talk about the country, but being there was different. My guest family was nice and I wish to go back,” says Kalomho.
She adds that the school she attended was two years ahead and they do things very differently there compared to Namibian schools. “They are quite advanced. I was in a good school. The things they do in Grade 9 is what we do in Grade 11 and the teachers are really good at what they do,” she says.
“I can advise everybody to take part in a student exchange. It is a unique experience that you will remember fondly for the rest of your life,” Ramona Hälbich from Otjiwarongo Secondary School reflects enthusiastically.
The pupils, drawn from various schools in Namibia, were last week invited by Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Christian Schlagga and representatives of the Association of German School Societies in Namibia (AGDS). Pupils who went on the exchange programme were invited to the newly-opened Goethe Institute to share their experiences.
The 23, all of them ambitious learners of the German language at school, were accommodated in different towns in Germany and attended their partner children´s schools for the duration of their stay. They not only experienced German life, but also showed Namibian culture and way of life to their German friends and other people.
The German Embassy has supported the exchange programme financially and logistically for many years. Last year it cost the embassy more than N$80 000 especially in supporting the participation of youths whose parents could not otherwise afford it.
Schlagga was impressed by the good German language skills of the youth and is satisfied with the success of the exchange programme: “This multi-week exchange probably provides the best opportunity for the young people to intensively occupy themselves with the German language while at the same time experiencing daily life in Germany.
“They form new friendships and thus make an important contribution to the German-Namibian friendship. With their acquired German language skills many of the youths will be able to complete one of the official German language certificates (for example DSD), and later perhaps study in Germany.”
“It’s a good thing that during their stay these students did not experience any problems. It was a good composition and I am looking forward to selecting ambassadors next time,” Schlagga said.
The AGDS, together with the Association for German Cultural Relations Abroad (VDA), has been organising a 10-12 week stay for Namibian youths in Germany for several years now.
The participants returned in the middle of January with many new impressions and experiences as well as good German language skills. In return, the Namibian learners will from June to September receive guest children from Germany, who want to get to know Namibia and her people.