Lin 4

LIN Life in Namibia

edition 04 2015

your FREE lifestyle magazine

A ofphilosophy life and nature “

Fine art photographer Brooke Shaden questions the definition of what it means to be alive.

She began creating self-portraits in order to have full control over the images; self-portraiture for her is not autobiographical in nature. Instead, she attempts to place herself within worlds she wishes we could live in, where secrets float out in the open, where the impossible becomes possible.

She describes to LIN the process she went through recently when she started a new project.

“For the new series I first looked at my older work and went through my entire portfolio to look back at what it was about certain images I liked more than others. What it was that I was drawn to, what stimulated me visually?

I realised it was foggy images, set in a field. I wanted to continue that visual theme and unify it.

Then I looked beyond the visual and started looking at themes – the theme that I was drawn to is human versus nature. How they interconnect and how they repel each other. The tension between humans and nature, how they can work together or how they can pull each other apart.

I decided to do a series on that subject, literally combining something manmade and something of nature, and then really pushed posing and how posing can tell a story and portray emotion.

My process when creating an image, whether it’s a single image or a series, is to write everything out; what my intentions are for that image … whether conceptual or technical. So I will write things like how it’s going to be imposed, as well as technical information for myself, so that I don’t forget. For example, in a photo of a bird’s nest balancing on three ladders and a girl sitting on the grass, I built the bird’s nest and shot it on a white background, so that I could then easily move it in Photoshop. I also write the dichotomy between human and nature and how I will portray that through posing of the image. In this case, what the character has been through. She was in a nest, but now she is on the ground – did she fall out? I usually shoot at magic hour, which means I have about 40 minutes before the sun is down!”

Brooke works to create new worlds within her photographic frame.

By using painterly techniques as well as the square format, traditional photographic properties are replaced by otherworldly elements.

Brooke’s photography questions the definition of what it means to be alive.

Brooke inspires you to live a passionate life on her blog “Promoting passion” www.promotingpassion.com

CAUGHT IN A DREAM

CREATING SOULS

LIN

i

Life in Namibia

nside

EDITORIAL

PUBLISHED BY Shadowlight Publishing P.O. Box 2225 Swakopmund Namibia

Brooke Shaden Photography 01 Green by Nature 04

PUBLISHER Karin Retief karin.r@iafrica.com

Story Teller, Image Maker 10

COPY-EDITOR Maureen Miller

ADD 26

Farm/Art House 18

Healing Power of the Brain 28

JOURNALIST Elaine Thompson

Dyslexia 30

PHOTOGRAPHER Marta Majo

Self-Esteem or Perfection?

CONTRIBUTORS

Bright star of a boy with Autism 32

Brooke Shaden Anne Schauffer Sean Braine Maretha van Dyk Liz Weaver Nadezna Swanepoel Hans & Maria Hoffmann Michelle Pfaffenthaler Claudia Mascia Wotan Swiegers

Homeward-bound 34 Shishani 40 Tiny Art 42 St Nowhere 52 Libertina Amathila 54 1000 Drawing Berlin 56

Front cover: Brooke Shaden Potography

To Captivate the Senses 60

ADVERTORIAL

CORRECTION Apologies to Gaby Tirronen for mentioning in LIN 3 she is a tour operator but in fact is a tour guide

Swakopmund Properties 16

COPYRIGHT RESERVED Shadowlight Publishing accepts no liability of any nature arising from or in connection with the contents of this magazine.

No material published in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without prior written permission from the publisher.

2015 LIN/Shadowlight Publishing

02

Edublox 27 WCFM 29 Auas Safari Lodge 46

Garden CafĂŠ Swakopmund

NATURE

green

Nina Maritz, architect from Windhoek, is best known for projects such as the Habitat Research and Development Centre, and Twyfelfontein Visitor’s Centre. Those were her springboard to the future she strives for, where sustainability in design isn’t considered remotely special, but is the norm.

Words: Anne Schauffer

T

here’s a delightful line in Nina Maritz’s curriculum vitae describing her “scavenger mentality”, creating an amusingly unscientific picture of an architect who’s made a significant name for herself, locally and internationally, around innovative designs with recycling and sustainability as her lodestar.

Nina worked for Kerry MacNamara Architects in Windhoek during her varsity holidays and for part of her post-graduate practical year – she travelled extensively in Europe, including a three-month work experience at Bela Berke Architects in Zurich, Switzerland, for a student experience year.

Nina Maritz’s Windhoek-based practice has over the years earned prizes and praise and garnered a range of awards.

“I was thrown in at the deep end at Kerry McNamara Architects to design the original Maerua Park. It has since undergone many transformations and evolved into a mall, with no trace of the original design.

She has been invited to present papers internationally, all focused on her deep-seated commitment to vernacular architecture and the symbiotic relationship between a built structure, human beings and the environment.

“I’ve always been fascinated by space – all my own childhood photographs are of buildings, townscapes and landscapes.

At home, we often had interesting visiting architects stay with us. My parents would also bring student projects home to review, spread them out over the lounge floor, so we also had a look and asked questions.”

04

Nina’s passion for sustainability wasn’t an overnight epiphany. “We used to go on family hikes in the veld and forests, and I’ve always been interested in nature, especially plants.

“I started gardening as a small girl, and my father created an indigenous garden decades before it became fashionable.

“The project was on a fast-track basis with very few resources, so a steep learning curve for me. The engineers and QS on the project were wonderfully patient with me, and I realised then the value of a strong consulting team!”

“We touched on the subject at university, but not in depth and I tried to apply the principles to my work … but my level of knowledge was low and superficial.

In 2002, the competition for the Habitat Research and Development Centre provided me with an excuse to research sustainable architecture. The competition entry proposed that the construction of the entire undertaking in itself should be a research project, and that was probably what swayed the jury to award it to us.”

Since starting her own practice in Windhoek in 1998, Nina has been involved with a wide variety of projects which allow her to indulge her interest in sustainability, alternative building methods and community development.

Winning that competition was definitely a major turning point for Nina, for it allowed her to seriously pursue her interest in sustainable architecture, and as she says, “put us on the map as far as sustainable design is concerned.”

Nina has completed other interesting projects, such as the Twyfelfontein Visitors’ Centre and numerous others.

“The BDO offices in a prominent position in Windhoek gave me an opportunity to investigate passive design principles in a more commercial arena.

“Passive design is an approach to designing a building so that it needs less electrical-mechanical equipment to run it, such as using daylight instead of artificial lights in the daytime, natural ventilation instead of airconditioning, orientating the building so that it gets sun inside in winter to warm it, but keeps the sun and heat out in summer, and so on.”

She’s just as enthralled by modest projects as she is by grand. “There were a number of other projects, and as most architects do, we started small.

buildings with complex requirements, including a high sustainability profile.”

“One project was House van Zyl in Regenstein, the first nature estate in Namibia. It’s still one of my favourites, as we based the concept on a bird landing in the landscape and created a home that nestles in the natural environment as if it had grown there. The owners have lived there 10 years now and love it.

“Namibia is simply spectacularly beautiful with a diverse range of unspoilt natural habitats. Although our conservation track record is one of the best in the world, we still need to safeguard our land.

“There’s the Fish River Canyon Lookout Point in the south, and the Sorris-Sorris Information Centre, with Endri Wilken, which allowed us to experiment and do something poetic.

“Recently, the three Regional Study and Resource Centres for the Millennium Challenge Account have been a fabulous challenge and I’m really excited at how they are turning out. These are large-scale

Nina is truly passionate about Namibia.

“The small population means a single person can have a big impact and make a real difference. It’s also easy here to forge connections with people who share the same principles and ideals. Namibians don’t like pretension.”

She firmly believes that we need a change of mindset. All buildings must become green or sustainable, not just special ones. Buildings shouldn’t have to be defined as that, it should be a given.

www.ninamaritzarchitects.com This article was first published in Flamingo Magazine

BE STILL Be still and know That I’m with you.

Be still and know That I am here.

Be still and know That I’m with you.

Be still, be still and know.

When darkness comes upon you And covers you with fear and shame.

Be still and know that I’m with you And I will say your name.

If terror falls upon your bed 06

And sleep no longer come Remember all the words I said Be still, be still and know.

When you go through the valley And shadow comes down from the hill.

If morning never comes to be Be still, be still, be still If you forget the way to go And lose where you came from If no one is standing beside you Be still and know I am.

Be still and know That I’m with you.

Be still and know I am. Lyrics by Isaac Slade

Meditation Centre & Holiday Accommodation SWAKOPMUND

BE STILL AND KNOW

9 Kraal Street Swakopmund Mobile: + 264 811240707 E-mail: niekerk@iafrica.com.na Web: www.be-still.net

comfortable s n o o z e Photo: Sean Braine

This remarkable image of a Peringuey’s adder (also known as the side winding adder) was taken by Sean Braine while guiding an Eco Dune tour for his company, Batis Birding Safaris. Sean, who specialises in birding and photographic tours, says, “I managed to get in quite low for a more natural angle, as most images of this type tend to be taken from a ‘birds eye view’ ( they are venomous snakes, after all!). With my Nikon D300S and using extension tubes on my 100mm macro lens, I achieved a shallow depth of field in order to accentuate the eyes and blend the cryptic background while achieving a close-up experience of the subject.”

08 08

Sean’s passion for wildlife is a direct result of growing up in the wild. His father Steve worked for Namibian Conservation, first in the Skeleton Coast Park and then in the Eastern Zambezi Region. Sean spent his teenage years in the unspoiled wilderness and wildlife area of the Hobatere Concession. “My interest in photography developed from an old hand-me-down Nikon F2 camera I got from my father, and I naturally progressed to digital when it became accessible.” Sean currently guides specialised birding and photographic tours throughout Namibia and beyond its borders, as well as desert tours from Swakopmund. http://www.batisbirdingsafaris.com/

Kelping Hand

10

Linda

Louw story teller image maker documenting still and moving images painter with light

Bare Soul

Gold Navel

12

Revealed

Linda Louw is a visual storyteller, an image maker caressing life, capturing slow, fast or still images, a painter with light.

For me a still image only works if it’s stripped of clutter and other forms of artificial attributes, if it demands your attention in its simplicity.

Living life should be like that … stripped of all clutter.

My camera, video or still, have always been my light and my right hand, my shadow and trusted companions.

It is that magical funnel with a shutter that allows me to express feelings I can never verbalise.

My choice of lifestyle is also one of simplicity.

This reflects in my still images, which are stripped to the bone … to the mere essential.

I believe my images say, “Here I am, no pretense, no lies.” I am ‘naked’ in my presentation of the self as well as my photographic or video images.

I can sit on the sideline and watch life for hours.

That surreal experience can never be recaptured in the same way. It’s my life’s own constant research, really. I have an innate sense of life’s immediacy,

14

Dusted - Desert Rain

energy, of life’s soul. All living organisms fascinate me – rust, people, wildlife, a plant or tree growing in my garden, the rhythm of nature.That moment when someone stops spontaneously in front of an image of mine and lingers, with the desire to touch it, wanting to feel the texture, just staring – that moment for me is priceless.

Life’s real magic happens when another soul connects with mine. My happiness is not measured in material things, but rather in the joy I experience when I see the energy of the living things around me. I enjoy the here and the now, and capture timeless moments, be it video or stills.

I feel very blessed to just observe and capture.

Beautiful and serene images will always resonate with me and will always be understood universally, irrespective of language, race or culture.

Contact Linda for Video Productions, Photography and Fine Art Prints: lilo@mweb.com.na Swakopmund

approach

Groundbreaking … … literally and figuratively,

a

as a fresh approach to property development and ownership emerges in Swakopmund.

fresh

The purchase of property is the biggest and most important investment most people will make in their lifetime.

As such, it is often an intimidating and extremely stressful process, fraught with many potential pitfalls. While this is universally true, a new generation property agency operating in the very active Namibian coastal market is offering clients a fresh approach to property ownership and development, and going a long way to making the process easier.

Swakopmund Properties is a property agency engaged not only in the conventional buying and selling of property, but also in offering clients property solutions through the developing and building of well-priced and wellconstructed developments in good locations, subsequently retaining the sole mandate on sales in these developments.

According to agency principal Maria Esterhuyzen, the developments offer clients a way of purchasing a property in such a way that both their financial risk as well as the headaches associated with property acquisition are mitigated.

“We plan our developments around people’s needs, so we try to offer them solutions. For example, one development is aimed at families, so these townhouses have gardens and even a separate one-bedroom, one-garage flat that can generate income for the family.

“Another development has only single storey townhouses, ideal for older people not keen to negotiate stairs anymore. With all our developments a 10 percent deposit is required upon purchase, with the remainder of the payment only needing to be made upon registration of the finished property. This means that for the duration of the construction of the development, which is between 12 and 14 months, your capital is growing.”

In order to offer their clients a holistic service, Swakopmund Properties and its allied businesses, Léstreux Contractors and Finishing Touches, provide a “one-stop” service with regard to kitchen and bathroom fittings and finishes. This enables clients to personalise their homes by selecting their own finishes, without having to engage and manage

independent contractors. Clients enjoy the flexibility of making their own choices, without the stress of project management.

Currently Swakopmund Properties has seven developments in various stages of planning or construction.

16

Recently there was reason to celebrate as the first occupants moved into Desert Oasis, the first development to be completed – the beginning of a happy new chapter in the lives of the homeowners, but also the beginning of a new way of becoming homeowners in Swakopmund.

ADVERTORIAL

Web: www.swakopmundproperties.com.na Address Swakopmund C/O Sam Nujoma & Luderitz Avenue Shop 1 Office: +264 64 460 555

farm house ART HOUSE

20

HOUSE BURGER

22

ADD

change in my son. Three weeks after we started, I received numerous questions from other moms in his class, as well as teachers, with questions like, “What have you done?”

I just smiled and said ... EDUBLOX.

Attention Deficit Disorder

Nadia van Rooyen tells the story of how her son Dihann overcame his attention and concentration difficulties.

In a few weeks Dihann went from struggling to being second in the class; he could focus on the task at hand and finish it.

T

his is our success story. Well, more the success of my son. Dihann was born early and we were informed that if he lived to three months it would be a miracle.

Well, I am proud to say my little fighter is turning nine this year. We enrolled him in a mainstream school in Grade R and was sure that he would excel in school just as he did in life, but half way through the year we were informed that he was not coping.

In Grade 1 he seemed to be struggling with attention and concentration.

We tried medication, which seemed to calm him down, but still his work continued to be a worry.

At the end of Grade 2 we had him tested and were shocked to find that he was way below standard.

I was devastated for him, as he did so much and he trusted that all the hours of work would pay off. In total desperation I sat down in front of the computer and said a small prayer, asking for a solution.

I cannot remember what word I Googled, but I came across the Edublox site. While reading the success stories I just knew this was it!

I phoned Susan and very calmly she said, “Come, let me help you. ” We made the appointment and soon after that Dihann started his first class. I had high hopes that this would, in time, make a difference.

Never in my wildest dreams could I anticipate how soon we would see the

His writing had improved so much that when I checked his book I asked him who was using it to write in. He smiled at me and said, “That’s all me, mom!” He gave me a hug and said, “Thanks mom, it is hard work and I sometimes hate it, but I love the rewards.”

This year Dihann started Grade 3 and I was afraid that the fire in him would grow cold as the days went by, but it did not.

He remained motivated and continues to amaze me. Since day one he has never received anything less than 80% for his tests, and I can truly say we found the answer in EDUBLOX and my son was given a second chance. @ LIN

EDUBLOX: Training the brain to learn After hearing the success story of Dihann, LIN went to speak to Connie Senekal, owner of the Edublox Learning Center in Swakopmund.

C

onnie is a passionate teacher and uncompromising in her efforts to help children with learning difficulties. Every child is special to her and is like her own till they leave school.

This qualified teacher is fervent about giving each child a chance to overcome obstacles which prevent them from learning. She has years of experience, not just as a teacher but raising her own five children as well. She was one of the first educators in the 1980s to recognise the potential of Audiblox.

This programme, pioneered by Dr Strydom from South Africa, was fine-tuned by his daughter and her husband. It is today a world-wide recognised franchise called Edublox.

“I am always so inspired by the creators of the project, they stay on top of the latest developments and we as tutors stay in training on an ongoing basis,” says Connie.

“Edublox develops cognitive (mental) skills that are used in the process of acquiring knowledge, so not just children with learning difficulties benefit from the programme. Sometimes it is just a matter of a child experiencing a ‘block’.

“Like when they don’t necessarily suffer from a specific disorder, but don’t seem to advance further than they should for their grade. I’ve seen many kids break through this blockage and develop at the pace they should.

“Each child’s lesson is geared for his or her own specific needs. You cannot place all children with learning difficulties in the same category. While a child with a block might just need a few sessions, some children need intense one on one sessions followed by continued lessons for longer.

Edublox is not a quick fix and takes time and a lot of patience, as well as the will from the students to accomplish their goals; they cannot be forced to do this.

26

“The work schedule is intense and it will not benefit a child to skimp on lessons.

When cognitive skills are strong, learning is fast and easy. But when they are weak learning becomes a struggle.” @ LIN

ADVERTORIAL

We give you

tools for learning!

Edublox reading and learning clinics specialise in education interventions comprising of brain training, reading, spelling and comprehension activities that unlock the potential of learners and help them to read faster and learn effectively.

EDUBLOX CLASSES

A balance between one on one computer training, brain training excercises and application of reading, spelling and comprehension.

Classes focus on: Inattention or loss of focus.

Reversal of letters / numbers.

Difficulty with homework.

Falling behind in class.

Improves memory reading, spelling, writing and promotes logical thinking.

Connie Senekal Educational Practitioner

EDUBLOX ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSE Vocabulary: extensive word list with descriptions.

Reading and spelling: powerful and fun exercises for fast and sustainable learning.

Grammar: rules are dealt with comprehensively and include tenses, nouns, degrees of comparison etc.

Pronunciation: tutor based learning ensures correct pronunciation.

STUDIBLOX

MATHBLOX

An advanced academic skills course for superior learning proficiency.

We ensure this by teaching your child: Memory techniques.

Techniques to quickly understand content.

Making summaries.

Preparing for exams.

Speed reading.

How to plan and write essays and speeches.

We cover an in-depth knowledge of math with a curriculum based programme.

Your child will learn: Focused, sustained and divided attention.

Visual processing.

Visual range and working memory.

Deductive and inductive reasoning.

E-mail: connie@edublox.com Mobile: 081 124 1932

Web: www.edublox.co.za FB: www.facebook.com/edublox

HEALING POWER of the brain

By Maretha van Dyk Our daughter Mila was diagnosed with left hemiplegia.

In her case it was thought that she had suffered a stroke when I was three months pregnant with her.

W

e have all witnessed the miracle of our bodies functioning at optimum levels when healing a cut, a bruise or an injury. Do we ever stop to wonder how it happens, or even consider the possibility that it might not happen?

and use the left side, because it had no other choice. In this situation, new neural pathways are formed. The day Mila received the cast she was almost helpless; it was obvious that she did not know what to do.

We trust that the problem will be fixed, but when it comes to one of the most sophisticated parts of our bodies we believe that when we injure the brain it is irreversible and nothing can be done.

The second day she started to move around, opening drawers and doors with her left hand.

I saw brain plasticity happen right before me. She took a fork in her left hand and fed herself.

Few people have heard of brain plasticity.

Possibly only someone with a child or a loved one who has sustained a brain injury might come across this term in their quest for help.

Brain plasticity (neuroplasticity) refers to the brain’s ability to change throughout life.

The brain has the amazing ability to reorganise itself by forming new connections between brain cells (neurons).

Mila’s stroke left a small scar on the right side of her brain, affecting the left side of her body, with the result that movement messages do not get “through” to her left side. It is as if her brain is not aware of her left side.

I took Mila, then two years old, to therapy that was based on the premise of brain plasticity. After researching and reading extensively about the brain, I attend a seminar in which Norman Doidge from the U.S.A. introduced research on how the brain can fix itself. His book, The Brain that Changes Itself, gave me the first concrete path to follow.

Mila’s able right arm and hand were restrained by a cast. The theory is that this would force the brain to start “seeing”

Her brain knew that in order to do what it had been doing up to now, it had to find an alternative. And it did so very quickly.

As I kept reading, more evidence of and research about brain plasticity was published. One of the foremost researchers, sometimes called “the father of brain plasticity”, is Dr Michael Merzenich PhD; in his book Soft Wired he gives insight into this field.

The Anat Baniel Method is another therapy that we have implemented with Mila for almost three years, and has yielded some amazing results. This is based on the Feldenkreis principles, but geared towards children. Very subtle movements connect with the brain to form new neural pathways. To trigger this, Mila wears a custom made shoe with pressure points which activate messages to the brain as she walks and helps form new neural pathways.

The Anat Baniel Method is changing lives of both parents and children on a huge spectrum of special needs.

The wonderful news is that there is so much more information out there now about brain plasticity than there was four years ago. More and more research is being done every day. No longer must 28

we believe that if a loved one’s brain has sustained an injury, or a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, autism or any learning difficulty, there are no alternatives!

Mila’s life has changed for the better through this new information and research.

Her quality of life has vastly improved because research has shown that our brains can adapt, adjust and change according to our needs. Learning new things and doing them differently is ongoing and not restricted by age.

People think it is a miracle when someone walks again after spending 20 years in a wheelchair.

That is just the tip of the iceberg, for the full potential of our brain is yet still unknown. Scientific research in brain plasticity is the new frontier of undiscovered secrets. @ LIN For more information visit: www.neorophysicstraining.com The Anat Baniel Method www.theanatbanielmethod.com

ADVERTORIAL

West Coast FM DJ Tara van Eck and community social worker Pennina Haimbodi combined their knowledge, resources and experience to create and run a rehabilitation programme for male inmates at Swakopmund Prison called the

Uhili Necessity Wellness Programme.

The two women met when Pennina approached Tara to help

with fundraising for her prison support group. As the station has various community upliftment programmes, Tara, a Psychology Science student, embraced the idea wholeheartedly. Together the two women have established a 12 step rehabilitation programme.

Pennina says, “A few years ago I dreamed I was being attacked by a lot of people, they were calling me names, I was there alone and I was cut off. I knelt down and lifted my eyes to heaven, and I just said, ‘Lord save me.’ At that moment I saw hundreds of black birds chasing the people away; I looked around and there was nobody.

As I wondered where all the people had gone, I saw a piece of paper flying down and it landed in my hand. There were two words written on it: cut off. I understood the message, and ever since then I’ve been following the vision.

“My life was not an easy life; I grew up with grandparents, the oldest of seven children. I was very quiet by nature, dark and very ugly and was teased a lot. But I have this strong love in my heart for people, regardless of what they are doing to me.

I did well in school and after Grade 12 wanted to study psychology, but there was no money. From my own life experiences, I learned the importance of being human.

The nurse I was going to for counselling had an affair with my husband and she used information she learned about me to influence my husband to take away my daughter. I could not find my daughter, and when I did after two months, she had lost her hearing due to dehydration. By the grace of God she recovered.

During this period nobody could help me.”

What disappointed her most was that she had no one to turn to. She expected her family to be there for her, but this did not happen. Her friends turned a blind eye. Through that journey she realised how difficult it is to face life alone in your hour of need. She was rejected and discriminated against and no one understood what she was going through. She had no support.

“One day I sat down and I realised that I am not alone in hardship, and I saw my soul telling other people the message of hope. I decided to stand up for other people and to stop swimming in my own deep sadness about what has been done to me in the past.

This is how this project was born – out of my own experience.”

Pennina prefers to work with broken people who have lost all hope, as she can relate to them and because she has a strong belief that she can help people. “If they see a little bit of light they must follow it. And as they follow it, it will get bigger and bigger.”

Tara says, “I met this wonderful inspirational woman and jumped at the challenge to give her the backup support from WCFM, which is the ideal platform to help outreach programmes like hers.

I also wanted to get personally involved as I have a special interest in criminology. People are released into the community and they Tel +264 64 464048

Email: westcoastfm@iway.na

need to be rehabilitated, as so many go back to prison after their release. I think we form a perfect partnership. I learn so much from her and vice versa. We started working together in late November 2014 with a group of 20 male inmates.

“A few inmates had been to therapy before but had had no breakthrough. It takes time for the inmates to trust us and see that we are here to help them. We are not doing it for any financial gain. We follow a plan similar to the 12 step AA programme. The inmates say they have been to psychologists before, but because our programme is such a practical step-bystep formula they find it easy to understand and trust. Breaking your own pattern is not easy.

“We keep contact with the men when they get out, so they know they have a support network. We also work with their families, as they play an important part in re-introduction to life outside prison. We are talking to COSDEF about the possibility of art courses that we could integrate with our programme, and even an exhibition of the inmates’ work towards the end of the year.

“We have seen inmates make significant progress after six months attending our programme. Some never realised they had a choice, and it’s heart-warming to see when they realise they do.”

Pennina: “I have a passion for the inmates, it comes from the heart.” Tara: “The reward for me is knowing that you helped someone realise their potential in life.

We all make mistakes and we all get a second chance.

One small act of kindness can change the world.”

Web: www.westcoastfmnamibia.com

DYSLEXIA

The process of learning is made up of micro skills.

To become good at learning, students need to build up these micro skills.

By Liz Weaver The secret is to work out which micro skills are weak and develop them. Then, and only then, are dyslexic students ready to tackle academics.

Unfortunately that doesn’t happen in schools. It can’t – the teachers’ hands are tied. Laws and rules regulate what is taught. Many teachers know the system doesn’t work. They know that if a child is missing a micro skill he or she will fall through the cracks. They’ll be placed in remedial classes, never to return to the regular classroom.

They’ll receive a diploma without an education.

A fundamental mistake is to push students, without giving them the tools to succeed. To force them to try to learn, when they haven’t built up the foundations. The book The Dyslexia Debate created an incredible stir even before it was released. Dyslexia bloggers and activists were up in arms

There was name calling. There was controversy. It got ugly. All over something the authors never said. That’s how tightly many people hold on to their beliefs about dyslexia.

The truth is that at this point, nobody knows everything about dyslexia, but we do know a lot. Neuroscience researchers, teachers in the field, dieticians have discovered much. Psychologists have been involved. And even seemingly unrelated (but often much related) disciplines in the mind-body realm have discovered things, much of this by observing, some by happenstance, some by science.

The Dyslexia Debate examines how we use the term dyslexia and questions its efficacy as a diagnosis. While many believe that a diagnosis of dyslexia will shed light on a reader’s struggles and help identify the best form of intervention, the two professors argue that it adds little value.

The authors of the book actually have a very good point.

A point I have been stressing for a very long time.

1) Words like dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia are simply umbrella terms.

They are not specific.

2) No two dyslexics, dyscalculics, or dysgraphics are alike.

3) Reading problems, math and writing problems are actually caused by a combination of two or more specific weaknesses in learning.

There are a total of 16 areas of learning that could be weak. This makes for an almost endless array of combinations.

These weaknesses can be fixed.

4) To solve the problem, it is much easier to just work on the specific fundamentals of learning.

Knowing this is much more useful than a general diagnosis, because the general diagnosis doesn’t tell us much.

Teach your child these micro skills and give them the tools which will enable them to learn: Visual tracking; Visual memory; Visual closure; Visual discrimination; Visual form constancy; Auditory memory; Working memory; Directionality; Eye hand coordination; Auditory Closure and Auditory discrimination.

Liz Weaver is the creator of a micro skills teaching programme. Go to www.learningsuccessblog.com for more information.

30

SELF-ESTEEM vs

SPELLING By: Psychological Counsellor Nadezna Swanepoel A little girl recently told her mother that she is “one of the dumbest kids in the class, even stupider than most of the boys.” She sobs nearly every night at bedtime, despite love and reassurance from her parents. They are at their wits’ end, because she loves to learn. She is most successful in mathematics, and her teacher reports that she reveals an abundance of knowledge about a variety of different topics.

She used to be enthusiastic about school, now she announces that she can’t stand it.

Kids can suffering an alarming decline in self-esteem. This is especially true when they have no understanding of the nature of their problem. This girl needed to find out that she is smart; that she is only having trouble grasping the language sounds.

When I had a chance to explain this weakness to her, and her parents followed up with some booster doses of this demystifying information, she started to feel much better about herself; she came to see that she was not innately defective.

Here’s a condensed chunk of my explanation to her: “You know, there are loads of kids out there who, like you, feel terrible about how they’re doing in school.

When it’s hard for you to read and spell as well as other kids in your class, you feel really bad about yourself. You wonder what’s wrong with you, you think bad things about yourself.

It’s not that you have a weak mind or anything like that.

It’s just that you have trouble figuring out the little sounds that go together to make words.

That makes it very hard for you to hear the sounds in the word. It’s not that you are hard of hearing, or have anything else wrong. It’s just that your mind doesn’t pick up the sounds clearly enough. So it’s difficult for you to do things with the sounds, like match up a sound with a little group of letters for reading and spelling.

It’s a really common problem that so many kids have, and we can help you to work on overcoming your language sound problem.

Just as a flower consists of many petals, so you also are made up of different parts. Difficulties with spelling is only one part of the whole you. Let us now start focusing on all the other parts of you.”

The Dyslexia Debate In their book, The Dyslexia Debate, Professors Julian G. Elliott (Durham University) & Elena L. Grigorenko (Yale University) argue: “… parents are being misled by claims that assessments are scientifically rigorous, and that a diagnosis will point to more effective forms of treatment …

“It is a myth that a diagnosis of dyslexia will help teachers to select the most powerful ways to intervene. There is a widespread belief that a diagnosis of dyslexia will help point to appropriate forms of educational intervention.

“This is wholly incorrect. There is no effective treatment for those who are adjudged to have dyslexia that differs from accepted practices for all children who struggle to decode.

“What is clearly evident is that the extensive use of so-called ‘whole language’ approaches, which downplay the role of structured and targeted phonics teaching as a key element of a broader literacy programme, is inappropriate for poor readers.

“A wealth of research evidence has clearly shown that, in comparison with normally reading peers, those who struggle to acquire reading skills typically require more individualised, more structured, more explicit, more systematic, and more intense reading inputs.

“To date, accumulated scientific studies have not supported the notion that children with severe reading difficulties can be helped significantly by the use of physical exercises/perceptual-motor training (sometimes misleadingly labelled as ‘brain-based’), coloured lenses or overlays, vision therapies, auditory training programmes, fatty acid (eg fish oil) supplements and biofeedback.”

With permission to publish extracts from the book The Dyslexia Debate by Cambridge University Press. http://www.cambridge.org

bright star of a boy with

AUTISM

Fanilo is a happy and loving six-year-old boy living in Swakopmund with his parents and older brother.

He is on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and he is among the one in three individuals with this condition who can communicate verbally. People with ASD are challenged in several areas of the brain that manage emotions, social interaction, speech and imagination.

L

udwig and Mirana Haller noticed at a very early age that their baby son Fanilo’s development was slower than what was expected for his age.

“Our first-born, Lova, developed within the typical milestones, so it helped us see how different Fanilo’s development was,” says Mirana. Repeated visits to GPs and paediatricians assured them that their son’s development was normal and it was not uncommon for boys to be slower developers than girls.

But Mirana followed her innate mother’s instinct and took him to several doctors in Cape Town, where in November 2011 at the age of two-and-a-half years, he was diagnosed by a paediatric neurologist with ASD PDD-NOS, a pervasive developmental disorder on the autism spectrum.

For the family it was a relief to know they now had something to work with, and they started researching methods to guide Fanilo’s development and to give him the best support possible in order for him to live a full life.

And what a full life he is living!

The whole family forms a solid rock for Fanilo to stand on and are helping hands when he needs to be picked up, the dust to be brushed off and to keep walking, always with a smile and a thumbs up.

After his third birthday Mirana taught Fanilo to say, “I have autism and it’s ok!”

It has by no means been an easy road, says Mirana. “Fanilo might be slower to learn skills, but he will get there. Slow learners do not equate low intelligence. Just because the turtle took longer to get to the end of the race does not make him less clever than the hare.”

ASD. “People will talk about him when he is right there standing next to them, and Fanilo knows exactly what is said about him.”

The Haller family believes what has made Fanilo’s journey so successful is in huge part due to the support and guidance they have received from SNAP, the Special Needs Adapted Program in Durbanville, Cape Town.

Mirana has no time to listen to people who feel sorry for her son. “Rather give us a hug or a pat on the back and encourage us to carry on instead,” she says.

Through SNAP the Haller family gained tools to help Fanilo in his journey; not only do the family and Fanilo receive training, but his facilitator as well. Following a specific system makes it easier for Fanilo to navigate his life. Visual reminders are one of the tools SNAP introduced. These can be images showing a place where he is going the next day, or visual clues next to his plate at the dinner table reminding him about table manners.

Although friends and family have rallied around them, campaigning with them for autism awareness and acceptance, there are still people who are uneducated about

If he cannot visualise something he needs to do or a place he is going to, it stresses him so much that it affects the way he deals with the situation.

32

Fanilo’s parents would like him to attend a mainstream school with his own facilitator, because he has the academic and social skills to integrate, as is the standard practice around the world. In the Erongo Region 20 government schools have accommodation for children with learning difficulties, as well as some, but not all private schools.

Fanilo knows what he wants and what he doesn’t want. And like everyone else, he expresses his frustrations. “When you understand your child, you will anticipate situations that will make him feel anxious and take precautions, like giving him food at the right time before his blood sugar levels drop, which can happen within a second.”

“People see Fanilo interact without any anxiety at a birthday party or social gathering and comment on how well he is doing, but what they need to realise is that we had already started 48 hours earlier to brief him on what to expect.

ASD individuals can build up anxiety and frustration as much 72 hours before a meltdown. As caregivers we have to accept and understand that our children’s anxiety can hit them gradually or suddenly. We are gradually teaching Fanilo to control his anxiety by mirroring his feelings, teaching him to name them and to do something socially acceptable to go through them.”

Exercise and healthy eating habits are very important to Fanilo’s development, and to this end he follows a strict no dairy,

no gluten, no sugar, no soya diet. His extramural activities comprise swimming lessons with a wonderful coach, Dentie Louw, and horse riding at Okakambe Trails. Simple exercise like jumping on a trampoline is an example of a daily mustdo to help him strengthen his low muscle tone.

Besides autism, Fanilo has several physical challenges. Mirana’s instinct again proved right when, after doctors told her Fanilo’s swollen tummy was normal for his age, she took him to Dr Louise Lindenburg in Tygerberg, Cape Town.

“She was the first doctor to take us seriously about his tummy discomfort.

She ordered blood and faeces tests in December 2014, and sent a faeces sample to the USA. The results showed that Fanilo does not digest fat, is anaemic and has not enough pancreatic enzymes to help his digestive system. Thus the obvious bloating and flatulence he experienced from birth.”

At the moment Fanilo goes to a pre-school called Stepping Stone. For the future,

Mirana stresses, “Mainstream school is a rather big challenge for our special child.

He needs the right environment and the right teaching method to thrive. We need to realise how much effort Fanilo would need every single day to cope and to keep it together. We are not adamant about taking our child into a mainstream school, but if there is no other option we have to.

It takes a huge amount of effort for them to manage in the system, where things like loud noises and crowds are just a few of the challenges they face and must cope with.”

It’s a hard, uncompromising road living with a child on the autism spectrum, but it’s also a rewarding road, especially seeing your child blossom in his/her happiness, slowly finding meaning in life.

One thing is sure, nothing is impossible for this boy; just give him the time and the means to get there. @ LIN The Haller family is looking for a new tutor for Fanilo call them on 081 321 7571 / 081 309 4094

A new classification system eliminates the previously separate subcategories on the autism spectrum, including Asperger syndrome, PDD-NOS, childhood disintegrative disorder and autistic disorder. These subcategories will be folded into the broad term autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

A new symptom, hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input or unusual interests in sensory aspects of the environment, is now included.

In addition, a new category was added called Social Communication Disorder (SCD).

Source: www.autismspeaks.org SNAP centre : www.snap.org.za.

Dr Louise Lindenberg: doctor@autismdoctor.co.za Autism Namibia, Windhoek: Petra Dillmann Mobile: 081 279 3639 Autism Namibia, Coastal Branch: Ludwig and Mirana Haller, mobile: 081 321 7571 / 081 309 4094

34

HOMEWARD BOUND K A R E L P R I N S L O O

Britney Engelbrecht and her kitten.

36

Internationally acclaimed Namibian photojournalist

Karel Prinsloo held a photographic exhibition,

Homeward Bound, at the Goethe Institute in Windhoek in May this year.

It featured the Rheboth Baster community.

The exhibition is part of his project documenting all the cultural groups of Namibia.

LIN caught up with him.

Why the project on Namibian cultures?

I love Namibia with a passion and as I grow older I yearn for my country and her people, so I decided to start a project documenting all the cultures of Namibia.

And besides, why should it always be foreigners who come to photograph our people and tell their view of us?

I cannot describe the love I have for Africa, it flows through my veins and it’s a feeling that never leaves me. Whenever I smell the “veld” or hear the guinea fowl chatting in the mornings I know everything is going to be ok.

Mieta Lottering (60)

Why did you choose the Rehboth Baster community to start your project?

What do you hope to achieve with your project?

I find their history fascinating. In central Namibia lies the town of Rehoboth, home of the Baster community. Historically the name was used to describe their mixed ancestry, but the Baster community of today is proud of their name and history.

They see themselves as a homogeneous group due to their unique history, the fact that they settled in their area more than 100 years ago, and they seek their own independence. They are struggling to preserve their identity and their culture.

Maybe the collection can go to a museum for everyone to enjoy. But a project like this takes a long time and a lot of funding is needed. I am looking for sponsorship to showcase our country’s different cultures with images and a view of Namibia far from the pictures that one usually associates with this country, thus helping to preserve it for the next generation.

What aspects of the Baster community did you look at?

I examined the difference between the older generation who grew up under apartheid but also had a degree of selfdetermination, and the new generation who grew up in independent Namibia but do not have communal land rights.

Previous generations were small-scale farmers and skilled builders. The questions arise now – how can the new generation follow in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents without self-governance, and does this mean they are losing their heritage and culture?

How did you get into photography?

I always wanted to be a photographer, so after graduating from Windhoek High School I went to the Republikein and on the spur of the moment applied for a job as journalist. Des Erasmus, the editor, said he did not have a position as journalist but wanted to know if I’d ever done any photography. I said I had no experience, but he asked if I would be interested anyway. Of course, I said “YES!” And I started the very next day.

countries. It was dangerous and very hard work, but I felt that I was making a difference by alerting the general public to what was happening in the world.

Now I am more relaxed and I realise that I can still help people by documenting their struggle for justice; it does not necessarily have to be in conflict areas. @LIN

Karel has covered conflicts in Africa and the Middle East for 20 years in 30 countries, and is based in Nairobi. He has won numerous awards including the S.A. Photographer of the Year as well as the second prize in news stories of the World Press Photo Awards in 2000 for his coverage of the devastating Mozambique floods and a runner-up in the CNN African Photojournalist of the year.

What drives you as a photojournalist?

When I was younger I wanted to document the injustices of the world, and for 20 years I covered conflicts, war, natural disasters and social issues in many

www.karelprinsloo.com

Widow Melanie Januarie with her children Henrico and Angele.

38

Leilla Platt (left) had a sleep over at her friend Michelle Adams’ house during the school holidays.

The International Africa Festival is the largest and oldest festival of African music and culture in Europe.

More than 6000 musicians and artists from 56 countries of Africa and the Caribbean have entertained about two million visitors over the years in Würzburg, Germany.

Catch Shishani and her band, The Afro Namibian Tales, at this year’s festival!

Shishani & the Afro Namibian Tales is an eclectic acoustic band that fuses sounds from different cultures. It merges African American music traditions with Cuban, African, and European aural flavours. The group was founded by Şahin and Shishani in 2015.

Shishani’s soothing voice and powerful songwriting finds its inspiration in the Namibian social and cultural context and blends with cello virtuosity, explorations in Afro-Anatolian percussion, mbira music from Zimbabwe, and the melodies of centuries-old West African kora music to provide a journey that traverses numerous musical borders.

Shishani & the Afro Namibian Tales make music that is alive with their languages and cultural heritage; they present original compositions as well as storytelling and chanting in Oshiwambo, English, Spanish, and Shona, a language from Zimbabwe.

They will perform at the 27th International African Festival in Würzburg, Germany on the 6th of June and on the 25th and 27th of June in the West Holst Bar, Glastonbury Festival, England.

Photo: Victoria Torii Ashipala Shishani is a talented folk singer-songwriter from Namibia with a soulful, smooth and powerful voice.

She represents the urban voices of her home country, with a thread of social consciousness running through her music.

Her style is influenced

by African American music traditions, giving her a truly unique sound.

Photo: Paolo Schneider

Photo: Paolo Schneider 40

A running event organised by the residents of Uis, The Brandberg Rhino Run, is scheduled for 20 June 2015. The event will entail running either a 25 km trail/jeep track run, a 12 km trail/jeep track run or a 6 km fun run/walk, all of which will start and end in the town of Uis. Most residents in Uis are nature lovers by heart and concerned about the conservation of Namibia’s natural heritage, its animals and their habitats.

Of particular interest is the alarming increase in rhino poaching in the region.

Through fundraising initiatives like the Brandberg Rhino Run, residents hope to raise N$200,000 for Save the Rhino Trust, which recently launched a proactive anti-poaching programme to help return the black rhino numbers to their normal rate and preserve the carrying capacity of the habitat they roam in.

For more information: www.otbsport.com/events www.facebook.com/brandbergrhinorun

Map: Google Earth

tiny

ART Text: Hans Hoffmann

Photos: Hans & Maria Hoffmann

42

Mesembryanthemum querichianum

Tiny works of art

By Hans Hoffmann I’ve been interested in photography ever since I was a young man, and as a pensioner I now have the luxury of time and freedom to combine my love of Namibia’s fauna and flora with my hobby.

My wife Maria and I have a 4x4 and we love travelling around Namibia, sometimes taking our three grandsons along. In the beginning we had to entice their interest, but these days they call us over to photograph what they’ve found, and in the process they learn about nature.

It really is a search for treasure.

To the untrained eye, a walk down a dry river bed reveals nothing special.

But go down on your hands and knees, look under rocks or simply sit still for a few minutes and you’ll see the “nothingness” come alive.

Maria has a thing for ants, spiders and beetles. She loves macro work; she looks at life from a painting point of view and captures the beauty of nature.

Most things she photographs are just a few millimetres big. Our hobby has steadily grown to become a small library.

All slides are scanned and Maria is researching the scientific names of the plants and animals we have photographed over the years.

We have self-published a small coffee table book with about 250 pictures, purely for our own enjoyment – we do not plan to do anything commercial with it.

It’s a personal fulfilment and a privilege to be able to document what interests us, and not to be tied down in any way!

44

Helichrysum roseo-niveum

be ready to make the most out of life.

Not many people have seen the rare Sandhof lily. Only when enough rain has fallen does it bloom. And then only for 7 days.

Then it’s gone. To experience such a phenomenon you need to act quickly. Which you can if you’re invested in a 7 day Notice Deposit from FNB. You can access your money in 7 days so you won’t miss out on any life-changing opportunity. Plus you earn two interest increases, the longer you stay invested.

Terms and conditions apply. www.fnbnamibia.com.na

Roadtrippin’ Story and Photos: LIN Undercover Travel Team and All-round Women of Mystery and Fabulousness

46

ADVERTORIAL

50

48

ADVERTORIAL

As a service to humanity and to their families, two frazzled friends decided to hit the road to Auas Safari Lodge in search of some soul restoration.

T

he hurly burly of everyday life leaves most of us feeling depleted at some time or another, so when a friend comes to you and says, “Basta!” – she has officially had enough of the parental hamster wheel and it’s high time for a child-free, husband-free break, what do you do? Why, you step up like the 24-carat friend that you are and say, “Ready when you are!”

We were quite happy to let the open road tempt us and lead us astray. That, and the prospect of a dark sky, heavy with clouds.

After the complete non-event that was summer in Swakop this year, which was neither here nor there and about as exciting as a cup of weak tea, we were looking for emphatic weather, weather with gumption, so to speak. Clouds, thunder, lightning, rain – we were in the market for it all!

As we passed through Usakos and Karibib our prospects kept improving, and by the time we hit Okahandja the sky was a moody, threatening grey and the light drizzle was a precursor to the big rain that would fall later.

People walking home were jumping puddles and the spectacular light that fought its way through the clouds bathed the whole town in a beautiful rainy-day atmosphere. I know – Okahandja beautiful?

But trust me, it was, so much so that we stopped, ordered a surprisingly tasty coffee at a coffee shop on the edge of town, sat on the stoep and just took it all in. There was no rush (rushing is strictly forbidden on road trips anyway) and it was time well spent.

We skirted Windhoek and took the long and winding road to our destination, Auas Safari Lodge.

Okay, so the road isn’t that long (it’s only 45 km from Windhoek on the D1463 road), but it is winding, and somewhat up-and-down, and a touch shake-it-all-around, too.

Animals were a bit of a leitmotiv on this trip, as we were welcomed at Auas Safari Lodge by two dogs (one large, one small) and a tame juvenile wildebeest, a motley crew who appeared out of nowhere as soon as we stepped out of the car and – hand on my heart – led us to the reception area.

It was a surreal moment, and a good start to our weekend. While we didn’t have much of a plan for said weekend, other than, you know, resting, drinking wine and doing plenty of nothing (no cooking, no driving,

no everyday admin – hooray!), opportunities kept presenting themselves. Unbeknown to us on arrival, Auas Safari Lodge had recently opened its own spa, the Aroma Boma. The brainchild of the lovely Nabila Gürtel, the spa is tucked away behind one of the feature gabion walls at the entrance, the perfect refuge for the travel weary as well as those in need of pampering and soul soothing.

We were the most likely of candidates, of course.

It was heavenly: I had absolutely no defence against the combination of Virginia’s masterful massage, the comfy bed, tinkly music and the lemongrassy aromatherapy scent that pervaded the spa, and so I went straight to sleep.

Bliss, I tell you, pure bliss.

Once I had stumbled back outside, blinking in the sunlight, I met up with my fellow runaway and we decided to go on a bushwalk, which lodge manager Sean Holloway had recommended.

Again the animals surprised us, for this time we were accompanied by a tame impala mama and her leggy and very energetic offspring.

It was somewhat bizarre but oh so lovely: if we took 10 steps and stopped, they took 10 steps and stopped. After a while the little one started to feel its oats and bounded through the long grass, freewheeling and leaping and flashing its white tail.

After watching this high-energy display for a couple of minutes, my Wing-girl and I looked at Mama Impala and then each other, and I know we were both thinking the same thing: kids!!

When we got back to the lodge we joined the afternoon game drive. We spent two-and-a-half hours criss-crossing the farm and saw a veritable laundry-list of animals: black wildebeest, blue wildebeest, waterbuck, oryx, kudu, impala, hartebeest, bat-eared foxes, warthogs, ostriches and plenty of giraffe. In fact, from the koppie that our guide chose as a sundowner spot we could watch those long-necked beauties lope through the bush, stopping to snack on tasty leaves from the treetops.

It was the picture perfect African sunset, pretty enough to soften even the most worn and jaded heart. That night, our last before heading back home to the craziness of our lives, sitting at the patio table outside our room listening to the night noises emanate from the trees and bush around us, Wing-girl and I decided that we were going to make sure that these escapes become a regular thing.

That, or our families were going to have to get used to dealing with our shrewish personas, and that isn’t really a satisfactory option. So, needs must and all that.

We’re planning future getaways, and really, it doesn’t need to be anywhere complicated. As long as the road is open, the fuel tank’s full, the clothes, sunscreen and sunhats are packed and there’s a destination waiting, we’re sorted. After all, as the saying goes, wherever you lay your hat is your home.

Even if it’s just for a weekend. So fire up our steed, Sister, and let’s go! @LIN

Auas Safari Lodge is a popular tourist stop for avid bird watchers. It has a signature ethnic design element and easygoing vibe, making it the perfect place to relax. Both the dining stoep and pool overlook a waterhole and are ideal spots to birdwatch, read books or snooze. In the evenings fires are lit in the lounge and bar areas, which add to the comfortable atmosphere. On weekends, when you need some space and a change of scene, head to Auas Safari Lodge for a delicious lunch. Dad can take the kids for a nature walk or game drive, while Mom indulges at the spa.

Seriously, it’s win-win all the way!

+264 64 406236 www.auas-safarilodge.com

50

ADVERTORIAL

Going nowhere

in St Nowhere Story and Photos: Michelle Pfaffenthaler

52

The other day my five-year-old daughter asked me, “Where is the middle of nowhere?” She could not understand why her cousin considered the middle of nowhere to be our favourite camping spot at the Huab River. And while it is questionable whether nowhere exists, there is an enthralling spot along the Skeleton Coast that has been anointed the official “St Nowhere” – a visit to this peaceful bit of nowhere is highly recommended.

St Nowhere is a camping ground that is well known and primarily frequented by fishermen. It lies 110 km north of Henties Bay, on the site of an old salt mine. There are a number of campsites with a central ablution block graced with flushing toilets and bucket showers, and while the facilities cannot be described as fancy, they are perfectly functional and very clean. It is most satisfying to return to a hot shower after a day of salt and sand.

Campsites are located on the beach, so are at the mercy of the elements. We visited St Nowhere in March and were blessed with excellent weather, which naturally played a significant role in making our visit a success. However, even though the majority of our days were mild or sunny, we too experienced the chilly south-wester in the evenings and woke up to wet tents. Being cold and wet deters most people from camping at the coast, but with some extra equipment such as windbreaks, extra towels and a roof over your eating area, you can enjoy the solitude and vastness of the Skeleton Coast even if it is chilly. It was immensely peaceful to sit down, out of the wind, beer in hand, and watch the pastel palette of cloud sinking into darkness.

Not convinced? Well, if you are someone who likes the simple things in life but feel disinclined to camp at the beach, there are five furnished, self-catering bungalows. In keeping with the style of the place they are basic, but appointed with all that you will need. And to further enhance your stay, there is a laundry service, a small shop with basic commodities and freezers for those intrepid fishermen who need somewhere to store all the fish they catch. Hmmmm …

Like all eager fishermen we journeyed up the Skeleton Coast in search of the plentiful large fish for which this coastline is legend. Alas, every fish we caught was under size, although we did have sufficient bites to keep us casting. Fortunately, there is much more to this part of the world than just fishing. The warm water (which was not good for fishing) was fantastic for the kids and me to splash around in the waves; the clean sand was perfect for building castles, drawing pictures and playing hopscotch, and there is much to see.

The beaches are strewn with the shells, pebbles, feathers and skeletons of numerous marine animals.

A bit further inland one comes across windswept gravel plains, glittering with mica and broken by white quartz outcrops. This contrasts with the fields of green hummocks and shimmering salt pans, all of which are delightful to explore.

And for those who are keen to try something different, St Nowhere offers detox salt baths.

Another feature of St Nowhere that came as a pleasant surprise is that it is dog friendly – if you have well-behaved dogs who can remain leashed when in camp and if you are prepared to abide by the rules of the Dorob National Park.

Comfortable camping, good weather, happy husband, content kids, hounds at your side and time to relax – what other ingredients could one possibly add when contemplating a weekend away? If this kind of mix appeals to you, why not head off into the middle of nowhere – St Nowhere. @ LIN

Making a Difference Libertina I. Amathila Libertina Amathila’s passion for her country and her people drove her to live a life nothing short of extraordinary.

With courage, commitment and tenacity she served her countrymen and women as medical doctor in exiled SWAPO refugee camps, with only her medical staff and a handful of guards, while war raged on around them.

Libertina in 1957 at Augustineum School, Okahandja.

When she was 13 years old, Libertina Amathila took her sick mother to hospital.

The shocking conditions and treatment her mother received (Namibia was at the time under South Africa’s apartheid system) had such an effect on her that she decided there and then to become a medical doctor and vowed to ensure decent medical treatment for her people.

A few years later, while attending Augustineum Secondary School in Okahandja, she realised that this could not happen under the oppressive regime her country and people were suffering; she could only serve her country in a free Namibia.

After finishing school, she saved all her money and left the country, travelling alone from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian ocean to join the liberation struggle in what is today Tanzania.

Speaking at the World Health Organisation Assembly in Geneva 1975.

She would not set foot again on Namibian soil for 27 years.

She was on the first aeroplane to touch down in Windhoek, with other high profile exile leaders returning to navigate Namibia to a free and independent country.

As Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing and Minister of Health and Social Services, as well as Deputy Prime Minister, she would move mountains, if necessary, to better the lives of Namibians, even if it meant driving out to remote areas and camping with marginalised communities to assist them in building houses and clinics.

54

Speaking as President of the World Health Organisation Assembly in Geneva 2000.

BOOK REVIEW

Extracts from her book Making a Difference.

I wanted to share my story with young women from Namibia, who want to do something but who may think that it is difficult or that this is only for boys or that it will take too long. I wanted to encourage them that nothing is insurmountable; all it needs and takes is the will to do it, the focus, determination, courage and discipline, and then go for it!

I loved and respected my grandmother profoundly. I listened to her stories as we slept under our warm karakul sheep blankets and if my grandmother said something was blue it was blue, period, even if I saw another colour. I only later learned that her Herero name was Jerimorukoro Vihajo.

contained traditional ondjupa calabashes in which special sour milk was kept. In front of the hut was the holy fire.

As we were seated by the fire our ancestors were called one by one and we were introduced to them. Water was splashed on our faces as each of the ancestors was called. All these rituals were strange and fascinating to me.

My grandfather was an Omuhimba (Himba) tribesman from Kaokoland, tall and handsome. After the First World War, he landed in Fransfontein and the Nama chief decided he would marry my grandmother.

My grandparents had four daughters and my mother, Cornelia, was the last born.

After grade 12, I worked in a wholesale business as a salesgirl and confided in another sales girl my desire to become a

The journey was a fascinating trip that taught me what African culture and hospitality means. I had no food or place to stay, but never went hungry or without accommodation. After almost two months I arrived at my destination in Tanganyika at the SWAPO office.

Within two months I was offered a scholarship to study medicine in Poland.

I was so delighted that I could do what I wanted most, education. I buried myself in my studies. I learned to speak Polish fluently. I don’t remember a day that I went to bed before 2am.

Poland is cold but the people are kind and treated me very well. I was probably the only black woman in Poland, but was never treated differently because of the colour of my skin.

My stay in Poland made me a better person. Coming from the apartheid system, being in Poland was the best thing that happened to me. I realised that we are the same – black and white – we have equal intellectual potential. I learnt that it was not your skin colour that was important as apartheid made us feel, but how hard you worked.

My apartheid negativism dissipated in Poland. I saw people not as white or black, I saw a person not as an object, the Polish made me a better person with no chip on my shoulder, they made me very confident in life.

Minister of Housing and Local Government 1990-96.

My grandmother was kidnapped from her village in what is now the Otjozondjupa Region during the Nama-Hereo war in the late nineteenth century, when the Nama warriors raided her village.

She and two of her cousins were taken to Fransfontein and handed over to the Nama chief. There are many Herero children who were taken that way.

The story is that there was apparently some agreement not to harm women and children so that when the Nama horsemen raided a village, they took the children to their chiefs for protection and they ended up with different names.

My grandmother was given the name Paulina. When I was growing up I assumed that all those Nama oumas were my grandmother’s sisters. I didn’t notice the difference until very late in life. Later when I was fourteen years old, my mother, one of my sisters and I visited the sister of my grandmother in Ozonahi in Hereroland.

I recall how we were taken to a hut that

In traditional Herero dress for the opening of the National Assembly 2005.

medical doctor. She told me to forget my stupid idea and stop dreaming of becoming a doctor because we blacks have short noses and our intellect is as short as our noses.

“Only white people with long noses could become doctors”, she said.

The 1960’s was a time of awakening and young people were leaving their countries all over Southern African to join their country’s liberation struggle and Namibia was no different. I decided to go alone, as groups of young people leaving the country were easily detected by the authorities.

I left Namibia in a truck in August 1962, disguised as a small girl. I had cut my long hair and was wearing old sandals with a short old dress.

I was the first African woman to graduate as a medical doctor in Poland and also became the first woman in Namibia to graduate as a doctor.

After graduation in May 1969 I was not heading back to Namibia and home, but to the refugee camps in exile as our fight for independence still had a long way to go. I had come to Poland for the one and only reason – to qualify as a doctor and to get back and treat my people.

University of Namibia Press First published 2012 Reprinted 2013 Design, layout and printing: John Meinert Printers, Windhoek Cover design: Ritsuko Shimabukuro Abrahams Distribution Local: Demasius Publications International distribution: African Books Collective

night of 1000 drawings

BERLIN

Special report by Claudia Mascia in Berlin.

56

Claudia Mascia, born and raised in Krefeld, north-west Germany, took 30 months’ unpaid leave from her work as a flight attendant and went to live in South Africa, where she learned about the fundraising initiative, Night of 1000 Drawings.

LIN asked Claudia a few questions about this initiative.

So what is Night of 1000 Drawings?

The idea is to draw anything, on anything, with anything, on A5 size paper.

The drawings are collected from everyone who donated their art, whether a professional artist or a child that likes drawing, then an art exhibition with over 1 000 A5 drawings takes place. On this one night, the drawings are sold for a fixed sum of ZAR100 each, and all income generated is given to charity.

The first exhibition you attended?

The venue was in the Johannesburg CBD and as I wandered around with lovely live African music in my ears and a cute drawing in my hand, I thought how great this idea was. It did not scream “Come and donate!” It was set up subtly and creatively. I simply loved the vibrant atmosphere, those smiling faces, looking at the art work, the creativity, the fact that everyone could walk home with a unique piece of art for a good cause.

Why did you start it in Berlin?

I had always thought that one day I would like to pay forward to Africa, to African people and the continent, which I completely fell in love with. When my husband and I moved to Berlin I started organising doodle sessions.

This is when likeminded people get together to listen to music, talk and draw on their A5 cards.

What was it that interested you about it?

I love art, I love drawing and I like to socialise and bring people together with some good music. To be able to work in an environment that provides all of this was the motivation for me. But not only that, I love the fact that by enjoying art, one can help others in need. From when I was young, I wanted to do something creative, and being a flight attendant isn´t really creative.

What do you hope to achieve in Berlin?

I started this project in Berlin, as the city is bursting with creativity.

There are a lot of people from other European countries living in Berlin, all wanting to find their feet and settle into some kind of creative job.

Although they do not often find it, there is always something to discover and behind some ugly facade you might find a gem and beauty.

My wish is that people regain their belief in their own abilities to change something for themselves and others, to be happy with what they have, use their resources and care for each other. That would be my little drop in the attempt to make this world a better place.

We are collecting so-called “doodles” in different ways, starting about eight months before the exhibition.

Firstly, we host doodle sessions in Berlin about twice a month.

On these occasions we invite everyone who would like to join us to draw together in bars, coffee shops, galleries or parks.

We do so mostly via our Facebook page “1000 Drawings Berlin”.

Professional and non-professional creatives join us. We provide the art utensils, which were mostly donated to us by art suppliers. Sometimes DJs or musicians support us with music, while everyone is drawing. Another opportunity to donate

A5 doodles to us is to send them by post. We have received doodles from all over the world, such as from South America, Turkey, China and Europe.

A third way of collecting doodles comprises our art collection boxes at coffee shops and art suppliers. We built collection boxes and distributed them all over Berlin. The doodle sessions are paticularly rewarding. Every doodle session 58

turns out to be slightly different every time. On one occasion, we start playing a round of dicey doodle, in which we throw a dice and hand our doodle over to another person, who continues with the drawing.

On other occasions someone might pitch up with a musical instrument and ask if he can play rather than draw. Great, they are welcome!

Most visitors perceive our doodle sessions as therapeutic and healing, as nowadays people are often information overloaded and spend too much time on electronic devices.

They are often stressed, and feel they have found a valve to release all this tension that has built up during the day. It’s a social gathering, but at the same time it emerges into a very relaxed atmosphere.

We have some regulars and often also new and first-time doodlers. Everyone is welcome and there is no age restriction.

How many projects have there been?

This project developed into an international initiative. Cape Town followed soon after Johannesburg started in 2007, Amsterdam started in 2011 and Berlin in 2014, Fulda and Munich in Germany starting this year, as well as Tuscany.

How much did you raise in Berlin?

The exhibition took place on 24 May 2014 at a former brewery in Berlin-Pankow. It was quite exciting as we did not have any idea how many people would come to the exhibition. In the end we exhibited over 1 200 drawings to about 600 visitors. The event was free of charge and we presented some local live music by three different musicial groups, Miss Kenichi, Julia Marcell and Dear Reader.

We managed to raise €3 792,60 which was given to three different charities: Paballo ya Batho, One Fine Day and Berliner Tafel e.V. This year the exhibition will take place on 27 June 2015 at the Willner Brauerei, Berliner Str.80-82, 13189 Berlin.

Each doodle will cost €10, be it drawn by an artist or a non-professional. All income will be given to Joliba e.V. (www.joliba.de), a Berlin based charity organisation that helps African refugees to integrate into Germany.

Another German-based organisation we wish to support this year is called “Friends of Mmabana” (www.mmabana.org), a Zambian community outreach programme helping to improve the life circumstances as well as the educational standards of citizens of Choma in Zambia. @ LIN

For more information go to www.1000drawingsberlin.org

TO CAPTIVATE THE

SENSES

As perfume doth remain In the folds where it hath lain, So the thought of you, remaining Deeply folded in my brain, Will not leave me: all things leave me: You remain.

- Arthur Symons

By Wotan Swiegers It is a daunting task to write sensibly about fragrances and perfume. In all honesty, how can I profess to know anything about an art so delicate, almost magical, which has been around for thousands of years..

Nearly impossible, I initially thought, but perhaps I can rekindle your interest and respect for the human senses and the early perfumers whose art and methods are all but forgotten.

Historically, the senses of sight and hearing were regarded as “higher” senses, while the senses of smell, taste and touch were considered the “lower” senses for their connection to primal instincts such as survival, nutrition and mating.

However, the sense of smell must not be underestimated.

This sense is more powerful than you could ever have imagined. The human nose is the main organ of taste as well as smell. The tastebuds on our tongues can only distinguish four qualities – sweet, sour, bitter and salty. All other “tastes” are detected by the olfactory receptors high up in our nasal passages. Our function of smell is carried out by two small odour-detecting areas made up of about five or six million yellowish cells in the nasal passages.

Although the human sense of smell is feeble compared to that of, say, a dog with 220 million olfactory cells, it is still pretty good.

In 2004 the Nobel Prize in medicine went to Axel and Buck for their work on how the brain knows what the nose smells.

We have more than 1 000 genes for perceiving aromas; more than we have for any of our other senses. We can recognise thousands of different smells, and we are able to detect odours in dilutions of less than one part in several billion parts of air.

Nobody knows exactly when and where the perfume culture originated, but perfumes have always played a significant

religious and cultural role in the lives of humans; as such the history of perfume dates back to the ancient world. It is believed that when people discovered fire in the Stone Age, the scent of burning wood had a divine value to conciliate the gods. Even nowadays, the burning of scented material plays an important role in religions, while balms and ointments are used for cosmetic and/or medicinal purposes. Myrrh, frankincense, peppermint and rose were common ingredients in early perfumes. The word perfume actually derives from the Latin perfumare, meaning “to smoke through”, such as is still the custom in many religions. Perfumery is the art of making perfumes, which began in ancient Mesopotamia, China, India and Egypt.

Not surprisingly, the first recorded chemist is thought to be a woman, named Tapputi, a perfume maker who was mentioned on a cuneiform tablet from the second millennium BC in Mesopotamia. She distilled flowers, oil and calamus with other aromatics, then filtered and put them back into the still several times.

In India, perfume and perfumery also existed in the Indus civilization (3300 BC – 1300 BC). The Arab chemist AlKindi (Alkindus) wrote the Book of the Chemistry of Perfume and Distillations in the ninth century, which contained more than a hundred recipes for fragrant oils, salves, aromatic waters and substitutes or imitations of costly drugs.

The art and science were further refined by the Romans and Persians and passed through the Crusader States and Moorish Spain to mainland Europe. In the 18th century a young Italian, Jean-Marie Farina, invented Eau de Cologne – “water from Cologne”, Germany - which was a big success in France and subsequently in Europe.

The eau de cologne was originally intended for both medicinal and cosmetic applications, but Napoleon created a legal distinction between pharmaceutical use

60

and perfumery. This is the perfume which we associate with our grandmothers and which is still around in its modern form, known as Chanel No 5 and Charlie in today’s Western civilisation.

For those who wish to learn more about the subject there is no one better qualified to guide the novice than Roja Dove, the world’s only Professeur de Parfums.

His book, The Essence of Perfume, is the fascinating story of scent written with all the passion and devotion of a true artist.

Passion seems to drive those who are in this industry. Michelle Pritchard-Price, who knows the industry through and through, says, “We do not just sell a perfume; we do not just sell a brand. If we do it right we can bring back long-lost memories and feelings. Something no money can buy.”

Sit with someone and breathe in their scent and they give you one of the most beautiful of all gifts – the gift of memory. You may not have seen someone for years, but with one breath of their scent, the memories come flooding back, dreams are revived, love is rekindled. - Roja Dove extract from “The Essence Of Perfume”.

With names like Unforgettable, Charlie, Dolce Vita, Alchemi, Opium, Chanel No 5, Diamonds, Poison, Obsession, and of course my favourite, L’Air Du Temps (a classic by Nina Ricci), who will argue against that statement? @ LIN

• •

•

•

•

Acknowledgement: I am grateful to Michelle Pritchard-Price for valuable discussions.

History of perfume: http:// en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ perfume The history of perfume: http://www. everythinkaboutperfume.com/history. html Gordon M Shepherd: The Smell Report: http://www.sirc.org/publik/ smell_human.html The history of perfume: http://www. scentiments.com/Home/history-ofperfume.aspx

@swacogroup.com, dcalitz@swacogroup.com reet | PO Box 217, Windhoek, Namibia

voor en agter.indd 2 April 2013 Pathed.indd 64

2014/05/27 08:22:17 AM 4/2/2013 9:29:14 AM