I'm Aaron, 22 years old and I completed my training as a carpenter at VEDDER.
In November 2019, I read a report in the newspaper about a social project in Namibia that was looking for trainees and young craftspeople. With the support of VEDDER, I was able to take part in this project for three weeks at the end of January and turn my manual skills into social commitment.
I attended two preparatory seminars in Düsseldorf through the supporting organisation Engagement Global. There we talked about cultural exchange, marginalisation of marginalised groups, teamwork, self-reflection on our own statements and actions and the sustainability goals of the 2030 Agenda. I also learnt a lot about my country of assignment and was really looking forward to Namibia. A country about 2 ½ times the size of Germany, but with around 70% fewer inhabitants was waiting for me!
Our journey began on Saturday, 25 January 2020. We were six craftsmen from different trades and were accompanied by a teacher who was to guide us on site. Our project was to build a soup kitchen for a primary school in Windhoek - the capital city. The construction of the 10 x 30 metre building was a pilot project to achieve two of the UN's sustainability goals: combating hunger and expanding quality education.
We worked from 08:00 to 16:00 and were even supported by eight local trainees. The work ranged from making formwork, concreting and bricklaying to laying column foundations. Due to the dry, uneven ground, a lot of the work had to be done without machines, which meant that we quickly came into contact with the locals and worked hand in hand. In temperatures of around 35°C and blazing sunshine, the hard, physical labour was a challenge, but it was great to learn that craftsmanship really does bring people together!
We had free time at the weekends. On the first weekend, we travelled to Swakopmund by the sea. We stayed in a bungalow there, went fishing and had a barbecue in the evening. The following day, we primed and painted the wall of a kindergarten in a poorer neighbourhood. On the second weekend, we travelled to Etosha National Park. Just 10 minutes after crossing the gate, we came across a herd of zebras and oryxes. Later we also saw buffaloes, giraffes, jackals, antelopes and springboks.
In conclusion, I can say that I was enriched by the experiences I had during my internship abroad. I learnt a lot about the country and the people in Namibia, but above all we were always treated in a friendly and respectful manner. We laughed a lot with the workers and I was impressed by how they were able to improvise in many situations.
It was my first time on the continent of Africa and I would recommend it to anyone!
