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The first group of 14 Volunteers arrived in Namibia on September 9, 1990, less than six months after the country became independent. By January 1991, the program was in full operation. The primary role of these early Volunteers was to teach English, in support of the new government’s declaration of English as the country’s official language. Classroom teachers also assisted in the transition from Afrikaans to English as the language of instruction in upper primary and secondary schools. In the early 1990s, Volunteers also provided assistance to drought relief efforts and began to work in youth development offices. The number of Volunteers peaked in the late 1990s, reaching a high of almost 150 people. This spike was largely driven by a collaborative effort with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide school-based teacher training throughout the rural north. Today, about 90-100 Volunteers work as primary and secondary school teachers, resource teachers, and community health workers.
[edit] Future of Peace Corps Programming in Namibia
Peace Corps/Namibia has made substantial contributions to the reform of the educational system in teacher training, classroom teaching, and subject matter support to teachers, especially in English, mathematics, and science. In addition, Volunteers have provided direct support to parents and other community members to increase both school and community materials and human and financial resources. Activities that have become part of Volunteers’ primary or secondary duties include recreational sports, library development, girls clubs, HIV/AIDS awareness activities, environmental conservation projects, adult literacy, and community development.
Since 2002, Peace Corps/Namibia has supported the government of Namibia’s efforts to stem the spread of HIV/ AIDS through more effective educational programming and youth outreach and community-based activities. In the future, the Peace Corps may expand to other critical development areas such as youth development, the promotion of healthy lifestyles through sports and support for expanded employment opportunities.
