One Last Trip from Paris to Otjimanangombe

Students give the Omuhaturua Primary School in Otjimanangombe, Namibia the ISP touch—inside and out (photos: ISP).

----------------------------------

Four years ago, students at the International School of Paris (ISP) thought it would be a good idea to complement their textbook learning about developing countries with real life experience: Why not create a project where students could learn more about another culture, while providing much needed aid?

That is how our humanitarian project in Namibia began. This annual student-run initiative has succeeded in building a school in Otjimanangombe, Namibia, as well as providing necessary school supplies.

The ISP team has worked hard to create a clean and safe school environment for children in Namibia, as well as providing a comfortable dormitory for students who live so far away they need to sleep at the school in order to have access to education.

Over the first four years of this five-year project, students at ISP have fundraised approximately 18,000 euros per year through various activities designed to raise both money and awareness in the ISP community.

Students organized a dance, “Boogie for Beds” in order to raise money for beds in the dormitory. Throughout the year, they hold bake sales and sell T-shirts in order to buy necessary school supplies from books and pencils to backpacks and shoes.

However, student involvement has not been limited to fundraising. Each year, a group of 20-25 students and four teachers spend five weeks in Namibia interacting with the local community, buying supplies from local businesses, sanding and painting walls, tiling floors, furnishing the school and dormitory, and experiencing local culture. They are also sponsoring two Namibian students, Delicia and Mashua. ISP students feel a true sense of accomplishment to see this project that started as an idea in a classroom in Paris turn into something concrete that the children in Otjimanangombe can really benefit from.

The humanitarian project in Namibia comes to a close this year, our last trip to this school; but students are already brainstorming ideas regarding where they can be of use, and have some great ideas for their next humanitarian mission.

---

Please fill out the form below if you would like to post a comment on this article:

Nickname

(this will appear with your comments)

Email

Comments

---

Comments

There are currently no comments posted. Please post one via the form above.

MORE FROM

ONLINE ARTICLES