Moria Grace Shelter – a private initiative since 25 years

Moria Grace Shelter celebrated their 25th anniversary in october 2011. More than 200 guests, supporters, friends and neighbors came to congratulate Wilhelmina Afrikaner and her daughter Niconline, both of whom run the private iniciative. The last two years have been rough for them, but they are taking slow but steady steps towards a more stable future. About 35 children who have been neglected or abandoned by their parents live here. The Moria Grace team continues to work tirelessly on improving the school’s structure. It has been recognized as a welfare organisation for a long time, but official accreditation as a hostel is yet to be achieved.

A big surprise at the birthday party was the King of the Khomas region’s visit. It was impressive to see how well known Moria Grace has become over the years in Katutura.
> here you will see more pictures (Flickr)

Thanks to all sponsors from Braunschweig

Its always nice to have visitors from Europe! It was one day in june 2011, when all moria grace children spend time in there old building – the old, small and first Moria Grace place. Its not far away from the new and spacious building. Sigrid Heintorf and her partner Harald Resesky came to visited all Moria Grace children. Sigrid collected clothes, toys, crayons, books and many things more in Braunschweig, Germany, over months. Once a year she is organizing the shipping transport to Walvisbay Port. The second transport (container) this year is leaving Hamburg in the next days. Thanks a lot for your great support! Sigrid Heintorf is Member of Moria Grace Katatura e.V. in Germany.

Sigrid and Harald bought with Katharina Wyss together fruits and vegetables for there short visit. To have enough food every day for all children at Moria Grace Shelter is still a challange. Katharina Wyss guided them to the Moria Grace Shelter in Katutura and gave both a an overview and project update.

Thanks to GOALS CONNECT

We spend a great soccer afternoon together. Soccer profi „Lolo“ Goraseb joined us during the professional children soccer training sponanously, thanks to Shareen from Moria Grace Trust Namibia. Chris, Stefan and Lisa came to visit us and we all had a lot of fun together! We could not believe, that you traveled four months the hole way from Germany (Leipzig) to Windhoek – and finaly to Moria Grace. Here you can read more about it (Allgemeine Zeitung Namibia)
> “Fußball verbindet Kontinente” az Online 1.2.2011
> Flickr-Photostream
> www.goals-connect.org

Moria Grace Shelter: A New Beginning

The new Moria Grace Shelter, which was a construction site until as recent as six months ago, has now been nearly completed. In a township that is home to mainly poor and low-income families, it stands tall as a beacon of hope to those children who have nowhere to go. Once completed, the new building will be able to comfortably accommodate children in a modern, clean and spacious environment. Having a larger building naturally brings along new challenges, and requires improved staff structures, efficient administration, increased funding and dedication from all involved.

Thanks to all musicians, artists and children

This was our first BENEFIT CONCERT. We all spent a wonderful, bridge-building afternoon and evening together – for the Moria Grace children, the neighbourhood and actually for everybody to come together. At the entrance, all the guests first got a little giraffe sticker to put on their shirts. The giraffe represents peaceful communication, a big heart and is also a symbol of Namibia. > Picture gallery. Here you can read who joined us:

Elemotho solo and jamsession with Julian Stauffer

1) Children circus Lumino – three artistic clowns! They manage their trainings, costumes and program completely without adults. They are pupils of the Waldorf School.
2) Dance Group of the Katutura Art Centre – two groups, two ages – they called us just one day before! It was a powerful and joyful performance.
3) Cordula Weiss (cello), Jürgen Kriess (violin) and Ulrich Busch (guitar) – they gave out many percussion instruments to the Moria Grace children and then played together – the children loved it!
4) Traditional Dance of the workers of the Moria Grace Shelter – unbelievable!!!
5) ELEMOTHO (singer/guitar) – his voice is brilliant, he played Namibian songs and later started a jam session with Julian Stauffer from Switzerland (percussion).

Welcome to our 1st BENEFIT CONCERT 25/09/2010

> How you find us: our map

in Moria Grace Shelter for Moria Grace in Windhoek-Katutura/ Namibia: Saturday, 25.9.2010, 4 p.m. / Entrance: Donations

We are proudly to present:
ELEMOTHO, famous singer/songwriter of Namibia, www.elemotho.com
Ulrich Busch, Concert guitar, www.ulrichbusch-konzertgitarre.de
Children Circus Lumino, Waldorf School Windhoek
Cordula Weiss, Cello
Percussion and more :–)

Join us with friends and neighbours and a homemade cake, the kids will love it. Everybody is welcome. We will have a great mix of different cultures and instruments. Jam session at the end possible! Lets have fun together and make the children of Moria Grace Shelter and their great and openhearted Mother Wilhelmina HAPPY. They don‘t always need donations, but connections, inspirations and to know that they are not alone. Neighbours in Windhoek are invited to share time together so we can have a multicultural, inspiring and happy afternoon.
At our bar we offering drinks and delicious cake-donations. See you!

HOW YOU FIND US: > visit our map
The event is inside at Moria Grace Shelter, Sinagoge Str. 18-20, Katutura
Parking: in Front of Moria Grace, for your safety we have parkingguards

Contact: Katharina Wyss +81-340 23 79 // wyss@goldboerse.net

Fred Donaldson visited Moria Grace

Fred Donaldson, an international expert for ‘natural play’, gave his first workshop in Namibia. During his stay, he spent an intensive hour on his floor mats with kids from the Moria Grace Shelter in Katatura, Windhoek. Mama Wilhelmina – the ‘mother’ of all kids was just as excited as the little ones who were all over Fred, riding, rolling and pulling his beard. Natural play is all about individual and flowing instinct to play, which has nothing to do with values, never damages and is without competition or fight. The movement of play and gentle touch are healing for the soul and creates a strong connection between all players. Around 40 teachers, therapists and parents joined the workshop on the 4/5th of September in the ‘House of Science’ and experienced how conflicts can be managed in a very simple, nonverbal and effective way. Foto: Katharina Wyss

LINKS: http://www.originalplay.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=symgGM_774s

Unser Plakat für die 1. Jugendumwelttagung

Mit diesem Plakat, wofür die Moria Grace Kinder begeistert und mit viel Konzentration Postkarten gemalt haben, sind wir gemeinsam zur ersten Jugendumwelttagung Namibias in Windhoek-Katutura in das Habitat-Zentrum gefahren. Schüler der 11. Klassen aus verschiedenen Schulen Namibias präsentierten ihre Poster und hielten engagierte Vorträge. Wir erlebten gemeinsam mit zwei High School Schülerinnen der Waldorf School Windhoek einen intensiven und anregenden Nachmittag. Krönender Abschluss: Ein Abgeordneter des Ministery for Education der Khomas-Region nahm unser Plakat dankend als Geschenk entgegen – um umgehend sein Büro damit auszuschmücken. Im nächsten Jahr sind wir wieder mit dabei, ganz sicher mit einem neuen Kunstwerk.

Einer der wichtigen Sätze dieser Tagung: „Nachhaltiger Schutz der biologischen Vielfalt setzt den Schutz kultureller Vielfalt voraus.“ > weiterlesen auf www.katharina-wyss.com

Das wird gesucht

1) Schlafsäcke. Für die nächsten Winter in Namibia suchen wir für unsere Kinder schöne warme Schlafsäcke, dann können sie sich von Kopf bis Fuß wunderbar einkuscheln. Gern holen wir in Windhoek auch selbst ab. PS: Die Anschaffung von mobilen Heizgeräten ist z.Z. noch zu teuer.

2) Bücher für die Kinderbibliothek. In den Sprachen Englisch und Afrikaans.
3) Papier zum malen und basteln. In allen Formaten und allen Farben.
4) Kuschelkissen in allen Größen und Farben. Für die Spiel- und Leseecke.

> Für Geldspenden. Jeder Euro zählt! Hier geht es weiter zu den Bankverbindungen.