Mother W. I. N. Afrikaner Private Hostel

Weihnachtsüberraschung von BDO

katharinawyss — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:28:41 +0000

Es war eine große Überraschung für die Kinder des Kinderhaus „Mother W. I. N. Afrikaner Private Hostel“ in Katutura. Die Firma BDO wählte das frühere Moria Grace Shelter und ein weiteres Projekt aus von rund 46 Waisen- und Kinderschutzhäusern in Namibia, um den Kindern ein großzügiges Weihnachtsgeschenk zu machen. Nach Altersgruppen eingeteilt gab es viele Überraschungen im Rucksack. Doch dieser allein war bereits die größte Freude der Kinder. Als sie ihre alten Schultaschen, die fast auseinanderfielen, auf den Hof holten und freudig durch die Luft warfen und einen neuen zu empfangen, wurde klar, wie wertvoll diese spontane Idee von einem der vier BDO-Mitarbeiter war, die diese Aktion vorbereiteten. 56 Kinder hat das Kinderhaus im Moment. Einige von ihnen sind Waisen. Doch die meisten stammen von Familien, die sich nicht mehr um die Kinder kümmern können oder wollen. Einige wenige besuchen am Wochenende oder in den Ferien ihre Familien. Fruchtbar waren ebenso die anschließenden Gespräche. Einer der BDO-Mitarbeiter möchte privat das Projekt weiter unterstützen, deshalb wird schon ganz konrekt ein Gemüsegarten auf dem Gelände ab 2012 angedacht.

Moria Grace Shelter ist seit dem 6. Dezember 2011 ein registriertes Hostel mit neuem Namen. Betreut werden die Kinder von Wilhelmina Afrikaner und ihrer Tochter Nicoline.

Text/Fotos: Katharina Wyss

Moria Grace Shelter – a private initiative since 25 years

katharinawyss — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:02:21 +0000

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

katharinawyss — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:45:51 +0000

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.

Photos: Katharina Wyss

Thanks to GOALS CONNECT

katharinawyss — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 08:52:26 +0000

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

katharinawyss — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 14:32:45 +0000

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.

It is the intention of the Trust to report to donors, partners and friends of the Moria Grace Shelter on a regular basis in the light of the fact that there are many people worldwide who have a genuine interest in the well-being of the children of the Shelter.

Julius Klein Diamonds Namibia, has been a committed contributor to several community projects in Namibia. Moria Grace has been one of those recipients. All funding from JKD Diamonds has been used towards the completion of the building. Thank you for your commitment to us.

Gravel Travel Namibia has been supporting Moria Grace for more than 10 years now. It is through their tireless efforts through their partners in Germany that the building have been designed and built up to where it is today. Thank you Ralf and your team!

We will keep you posted on the progress – now with the new school year we have many kids who came from all places to school in Windhoek. Through Moria Grace it is possible to provide them with a safe place where they can pay attention towards their studies.

God bless,
Philip Ellis Chairman

Thanks to all musicians, artists and children

katharinawyss — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 08:45:14 +0000

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).6) Symphony Brass Orchestra Katutura – the hole group came spontanously!
7) Theater performed by the children of Moria Grace with Mother Wilhelmina – about „streetkids loo king for a new home – and at the and find their way to Moria Grace“
8) Dance Group Moria Grace – girls performance between the age of 14 and 16, modern style and dynamic!

Dancegroup Moria Grace Workers and Symphony Brass
Orchestra Katutura, Photos: Katharina Wyss

At the end of the big party. Everybody was happy. We finished the evening around the fire. // Many thanks to Finkenstein Quelle for all their donations (100 bottles of delicious mineralwater, homemade fruit tea and many cakes), to Plastiprint (Blohmst./Windhoek) for free printing for our flyers and posters, to Margret Bried (Waldorf School) – who made 100 little Giraffe stickers together with grad 3 (Alex from Eventstudio – he built up the stage/PA) and thanks to all the others helpers including the allgemeine zeitung.

> Picture gallery

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

katharinawyss — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 16:30:43 +0000

> 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

katharinawyss — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:06:01 +0000

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

katharinawyss — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:54:30 +0000

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

katharinawyss — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 20:52:00 +0000

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.