OTJIWARONGO – The Goethe-Institut Namibia once again took an active role in the national Readathon Week, an annual event held in September in schools and libraries throughout Namibia. 

This initiative intends to promote the significance of reading among children and adults. In support of this cause, the Goethe-Institut contributed approximately 2 000 books from the Booksprint Namibia series to primary school students in grades 1 to 3 as well as to local libraries. 

This donation represents the largest book contribution ever made by the Goethe-Institut in Namibia.

This year’s Readathon Week, coordinated by the Educational Library Services, was centred around the theme ‘Discovering the Strength of Arts and Culture through Reading’. 

The official opening ceremony took place at the Mokati Stadium in Otjiwarongo, hosted by the Directorate of Education, Arts and Culture of the Otjozondjupa Regional Council. 

The event saw the participation of over 1 000 students from 10 different schools, with the opening address delivered by Faustina Caley, the deputy minister of education.

A notable feature of the opening event was the performance by magician and storyteller Tangeni Nambinga, organised by the Goethe-Institut. 

His enchanting act, which intertwined classic narratives from the Brothers Grimm with mesmerising illusions, thoroughly engaged the audience. 

His rendition of the tale The Star Talers was particularly striking, as it created the illusion of “gold coins falling from the sky”, leaving spectators in astonishment. 

Cultural presentations by student groups also brought joy to the attendees, with a Hip-Hop performance by the Ombili and Spes Bona Primary School Cultural Groups earning a standing ovation. 

The following day, the Goethe-Institut conducted a training workshop, entitled ‘The Art of Storytelling for Early Childhood Education’. 

This workshop attracted 25 teachers and librarians, focusing on innovative storytelling methods tailored for early childhood education. 

Given the enthusiastic feedback and interest, further workshops are anticipated in future. 

Through this initiative, the Goethe-Institut Namibia reaffirms its dedication to fostering literacy and cultural education within Namibia.