MISSION TO NAMIBIA

 A UNIQUE MISSION EXPERIENCE AMONG ABANDONED AIDS ORPHANS

Maryknoll and Catholic AIDS Action in Windhoek, Namibia’s first church-based response to the country’s HIV /AIDS crisis is looking for volunteers to assist in their After School Program for AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children. Creativity, flexibility and a LOVE of children is just about all you need.

Come here and be part of the action! Come run all over the gravel fields and play soccer with the little pumpkins! Come jump into the swimming pool with Daniel, Michael and Martha! Come teach Xavier the ABC’s in the computer room! Come and read stories to  Adelaide, Jessica and Shawn.  Come play tennis with Esme and Eddelsine. Come play chess with Giddeon. Come to get your hair braided by Salome and Meroldi. Come and put Denzel and Sha into the hug machine. Come and lose your heart to Ruru, Bam Bam, Basanda and Claire. For kids who have been shown very little love, they sure have plenty of it to share. I love them, and you will too.

Project Director: MS. MARYBETH GALLAGHER

Job Description:  

Work, play, teach, and pray with orphans who have been abandoned by parents who have died from AIDS.  Build playgrounds, paint murals for kindergardens, help other AIDS organizations.

Duration:  

3 months maximum (due to visa restrictions).

Housing: 

The director will offer lodging when available.  When not available, Volunteer must pay for room rental. 

Costs:  

The volunteer will pay for his/her own airfare.  Food costs will be at the expense of the Volunteer.  The currency exchange is 8 Namibian dollars to 1 US dollar.  The volunteer would be responsible for any other needs she/he may have.

Support:  

Maryknoll is a key member of Catholic Aids Action (CAA) which  is backed by the Namibian Catholic Bishop’s Conference as Namibia’s first church-based response to the country’s HIV /AIDS crisis, which had already reached pandemic proportions.  Volunteers can count on Maryknoll's four priests, two Brothers, and four Sisters working in this ministry as a source of support.  Mary Beth Gallagher is also a permanent member of this pastoral team in Namibia.

Challenges: 

The Windhoek AIDS Center is a well organized pastoral center with many different programs and functions taking place each day.  One is never alone there!  The Windhoek complex and other AIDS projects sponsored by the Catholic Church is a safe environment, so one need not be concerned about personal security when walking around.  English is the major language spoken in the country.