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Location
Southern Africa
Capital
Windhoek
President
Hifikepunye Pohamba, SWAPO Party
Borders
Atlantic Ocean, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Angola
Size
More than half the size of Alaska!
Population
Only ~ 2,000,000!!
Environment
Namibia is generally hot and consists mainly of desert and savannah with little rainfall each year. It contains the Namib Desert on the west
coast (Skeleton Coast) and parts of the Kalahari Desert in the east. Some of the oldest deserts in the world, and they boast the largest dunes
in the world. The environment suffers from prolonged periods of drought and desertification. A few regions in the north benefit from more
reliable rainfall and lush vegetation due to the Kunene and Zambezi River borders.
Resources/Economy
One of Namibia’s main contributor’s to the economy is tourism! Namibia is also the world’s 4th largest exporter of non-fuel minerals in Africa.
Namibia is rich in and mines for diamonds, lead, zinc, silver, uranium, and tin. Although Namibia appears by some research to benefit from
moderate wealth, it suffers from one of the highest income disparities in the world. This interpretation often conceals the greater part of the
population who is suffering from poverty and unemployment.
Health
Namibia is in the top SIX countries in the world affected by HIV/AIDS (21.3% infection prevalence).
Life expectancy: 43 years
Other common high-risk diseases: Tuberculosis, Typhoid, Bacterial Diarrhea, Hepatitis A, Malaria, and Schistosomiasis.
Aside from common disease, many Namibians suffer from malnutrition, alcoholism and unhealthy lifestyles/environments.
Namibia’s population is small, thus greatly feeling the effects and suffering of 210,000 people with HIV/AIDS. Initiatives are in place across
the country to try and slow the infection rate of this deadly disease and others. Education and empowerment of the youth to make healthy,
educated decisions about their bodies and lifestyles is key. They must learn to find value themselves and in the prospect of their future, that
there is hope.
Education
Learners in Namibia are taught in their mother tongue from grade 1-4. From grade five through to university level, the medium of instruction is
English. English was declared a national language and mandated as medium of instruction only after independence in 1990. This abrupt
transition is not easy for most kids whose parents may not even speak English. It is crucial for learners to speak, read and comprehend
English if they are going to further their education. This is often complicated further since English is usually a 3rd or 4th language for the
teachers themselves. Reading books and dictionaries in English are rare to find in government schools where almost all text that remains is
that of Afrikaans.
The education system in Namibia has been recently re-developed to attempt a more student centered learning approach. While this is
preferred and appealing on paper it is often hard to transfer to an over-crowded, under resourced classroom with no electricity. There is
minimal government funding to support schools in necessities like textbooks, therefore schools must charge a school fee to stay open. This
however prevents some learners from attending school at all.
Brief History
Namibia (formerly South-West Africa) is a new country, only ending apartheid (racial segregation) and gaining independence from South Africa
in 1990. Before South African rule, Namibia was a German occupied colony. After independence, Namibia decided to make English their
national language. This decision is based on the desire of most blacks to abandon the "language of the oppressors (Afrikaans)" and to help
unify the 6 predominant tribes and 13 languages.
Namibia is divided into 13 geographical regions. Socially, Namibia is divided along tribal and ethnic lines with approximately 87.5% black, 6%
white, and 6.5% mixed. The predominant tribe is the Owambo tribe which has 7 distinct groups within it. The other tribes are the Herero,
Damara/Nama, Himba, and Khoisan (bushman). The tribes in Namibia range from the most primitive traditional practicing groups to highly
modernized individuals living in the city. EVERYONE has a tribal identity. Tribalism became even more practiced as a result of the racial
segregation Namibia suffered through South Africa’s apartheid rule (this can most commonly be related to Americas form of racial segregation).
Namibians are warm and friendly people who come from a long history of oppression. By gaining Namibian independence and installing a new
government led by the SWAPO Party (South-West Africa People’s Organization), they have asserted this new found freedom. However, the
remnants of apartheid will take generations to overcome as Namibians face the struggles and injustices of poverty, HIV/AIDS, racial and gender
discrimination, tribalism, unemployment, illiteracy, and a weak educational and healthcare system that often fails at providing the most basic
needs for its people.
Fun Facts
Namibia is where Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt had their baby!!!!
The Damara tribe of Namibia speaks an African “click” language called KhoeKhoe Gowab!!
Namibia is home to almost every wild African animal you can imagine! Lions, giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, leopards, rhinos, hippopotamus,
kudu, etc...the list goes on and on!! Come and visit Etosha National Park and you can see everything in its natural habitat!!!
Southern Africa
Capital
Windhoek
President
Hifikepunye Pohamba, SWAPO Party
Borders
Atlantic Ocean, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Angola
Size
More than half the size of Alaska!
Population
Only ~ 2,000,000!!
Environment
Namibia is generally hot and consists mainly of desert and savannah with little rainfall each year. It contains the Namib Desert on the west
coast (Skeleton Coast) and parts of the Kalahari Desert in the east. Some of the oldest deserts in the world, and they boast the largest dunes
in the world. The environment suffers from prolonged periods of drought and desertification. A few regions in the north benefit from more
reliable rainfall and lush vegetation due to the Kunene and Zambezi River borders.
Resources/Economy
One of Namibia’s main contributor’s to the economy is tourism! Namibia is also the world’s 4th largest exporter of non-fuel minerals in Africa.
Namibia is rich in and mines for diamonds, lead, zinc, silver, uranium, and tin. Although Namibia appears by some research to benefit from
moderate wealth, it suffers from one of the highest income disparities in the world. This interpretation often conceals the greater part of the
population who is suffering from poverty and unemployment.
Health
Namibia is in the top SIX countries in the world affected by HIV/AIDS (21.3% infection prevalence).
Life expectancy: 43 years
Other common high-risk diseases: Tuberculosis, Typhoid, Bacterial Diarrhea, Hepatitis A, Malaria, and Schistosomiasis.
Aside from common disease, many Namibians suffer from malnutrition, alcoholism and unhealthy lifestyles/environments.
Namibia’s population is small, thus greatly feeling the effects and suffering of 210,000 people with HIV/AIDS. Initiatives are in place across
the country to try and slow the infection rate of this deadly disease and others. Education and empowerment of the youth to make healthy,
educated decisions about their bodies and lifestyles is key. They must learn to find value themselves and in the prospect of their future, that
there is hope.
Education
Learners in Namibia are taught in their mother tongue from grade 1-4. From grade five through to university level, the medium of instruction is
English. English was declared a national language and mandated as medium of instruction only after independence in 1990. This abrupt
transition is not easy for most kids whose parents may not even speak English. It is crucial for learners to speak, read and comprehend
English if they are going to further their education. This is often complicated further since English is usually a 3rd or 4th language for the
teachers themselves. Reading books and dictionaries in English are rare to find in government schools where almost all text that remains is
that of Afrikaans.
The education system in Namibia has been recently re-developed to attempt a more student centered learning approach. While this is
preferred and appealing on paper it is often hard to transfer to an over-crowded, under resourced classroom with no electricity. There is
minimal government funding to support schools in necessities like textbooks, therefore schools must charge a school fee to stay open. This
however prevents some learners from attending school at all.
Brief History
Namibia (formerly South-West Africa) is a new country, only ending apartheid (racial segregation) and gaining independence from South Africa
in 1990. Before South African rule, Namibia was a German occupied colony. After independence, Namibia decided to make English their
national language. This decision is based on the desire of most blacks to abandon the "language of the oppressors (Afrikaans)" and to help
unify the 6 predominant tribes and 13 languages.
Namibia is divided into 13 geographical regions. Socially, Namibia is divided along tribal and ethnic lines with approximately 87.5% black, 6%
white, and 6.5% mixed. The predominant tribe is the Owambo tribe which has 7 distinct groups within it. The other tribes are the Herero,
Damara/Nama, Himba, and Khoisan (bushman). The tribes in Namibia range from the most primitive traditional practicing groups to highly
modernized individuals living in the city. EVERYONE has a tribal identity. Tribalism became even more practiced as a result of the racial
segregation Namibia suffered through South Africa’s apartheid rule (this can most commonly be related to Americas form of racial segregation).
Namibians are warm and friendly people who come from a long history of oppression. By gaining Namibian independence and installing a new
government led by the SWAPO Party (South-West Africa People’s Organization), they have asserted this new found freedom. However, the
remnants of apartheid will take generations to overcome as Namibians face the struggles and injustices of poverty, HIV/AIDS, racial and gender
discrimination, tribalism, unemployment, illiteracy, and a weak educational and healthcare system that often fails at providing the most basic
needs for its people.
Fun Facts
Namibia is where Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt had their baby!!!!
The Damara tribe of Namibia speaks an African “click” language called KhoeKhoe Gowab!!
Namibia is home to almost every wild African animal you can imagine! Lions, giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, leopards, rhinos, hippopotamus,
kudu, etc...the list goes on and on!! Come and visit Etosha National Park and you can see everything in its natural habitat!!!