Windhoek
Twenty-three learners from different schools in Namibia departed for Germany on a student exchange to Germany during the summer holidays.
The students, all of them ambitious learners of the German language at school, will be hosted by German families and will attend their partner children´s schools for the duration of their stay. They will not only experience German daily-life, but will also show Namibian culture and way of life to their German friends and other people.
Anwar Majiet (16) from the Deutsche Höhere Privatschule (DHPS) is looking forward to the visit to Germany since he loves their culture and language and wants to make new friends. Charlene Labuschagne (16) from Windhoek High School wants to see many castles, as well as the Christmas markets. She is also looking forward to seeing snow for the first time.
In return, guest children from Germany will visit Namibia during their summer vacation to get to know Namibia and her people. The exchange has been financially and logistically supported by the German Embassy for many years. This year’s exchange is financially supported by the embassy with about N$80 000.
This especially supports the participation of youth whose parents would not be able to afford the exchange otherwise. Representatives of the Association of German School Societies in Namibia (AGDS) and the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Namibia, Christian Schlaga, bid the group farewell before departure and wished the young “Namibian Ambassadors” an interesting and exciting stay in Germany.
The AGDS, together with the Association for German Cultural Relations Abroad (VDA), has been organising a 10-12 week stay for Namibian youth in Germany for many years.