With the addition of 30 new students this year the tennis program has been exciting and rewarding. All the kids have worked so hard and they are very excited for the upcoming coastal STI- mini-tennis tournament taking place on the 29^th of July in Swakopmund. We have invited 10 different schools to this mini tournament and this will be the first tournament for our new students. I have noticed a lot of talent in these players so I am confident this will be a fun experience for everyone. 

Another tournament is on the schedule for the grade-5 and grade-6 students so in preparation we have arranged with Warren’s tennis school to compete against MYO on the 5^th of August. This challenge will also take place in Swakopmund and is mainly for the players who do not have much tournament experience to get some competition.

We have had great success this year with our grade-5 learner, Frieda Mukufa. She was selected to play the Inter Pro’s in South Africa and represented the Namibian team. It was a great tennis experience for Frieda and she made a lot of friends in South Africa and became closer with the Namibian tennis players. She did extremely well on her tour to South Africa. She won her first match 6-2, 6-4, and her second match 6-4, 7-5. In doubles, they won their first match but lost the second. Frieda advanced to the semi finals then lost 6-4 and 7-5. Frieda returned from South Africa and played in the Windhoek Junior tennis tournament where she got a silver medal for the girls U/12 but took the gold medal for doubles.

It took a huge effort to make Frieda’s trip possible, so I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following individuals who donated money, their time, or equipment to support Frieda on this trip:

• Warren Frewer and Rudolf De Wet

• MK and his wife

• Clifford and Jasmine Lyners

• Johanna Woermann

• Benny Awase

• Vera Leech,

• Mr Dewald Meyer

• Alta Myburgh

It was truly a team effort to get Frieda kitted out and the necessary funds raised for the trip and we are very grateful for your support!

Shannon Taylor – Academic Program Manager

Reading is the focus – Teaching Namibian children the love of reading!

We are nearing the middle of the second term of the school year and while the focus of the academic program remains on developing critical and creative thinking skills through English and mathematics activities, this term we have worked extensively on building our basic reading program. It is clear, especially with the new grade 4’s, that reading comprehension is an area with which they struggle. We are in the process of accumulating class sets of progressive reading books so we can work with the children based on their ability in small groups to meet their reading needs.

In addition, we have our very own MYO library up and running. Although we have a limited supply of books, to encourage reading as a hobby the MYO kids are allowed to check out and take home books from the library. Namibian culture is not one as a whole that values reading for fun or pleasure. Part of this is a result of lack of access to printed materials and books in schools and communities but also because of language barriers. Many people struggle to read English and there are very few local language texts. Mondesa Youth Opportunities is trying to develop a culture of reading in our participants. This term we have implemented an MYO reading challenge for grades five and six. This contest based on a point and reward system encourages the children to engage in independent reading. So far the idea has been a hit among the students.

We have integrated in the class several new local volunteers this term. These extra hands in the class have been a great help with lending structure and allowing for more individualized attention.

At the end of last term we took the grade 4 learners to our local snake park to get literal hands on experience with indigenous reptiles and amphibians. To round out term-one we took our grade 5 participants to the Swakopmund Aquarium for a picnic by sea. The kids enjoyed the up close observation of Atlantic sea life and then had a little fun at the beach themselves.

Grade 6 learners got a real treat this term with an overnight weekend trip to the Gobabeb Desert Research Station situated in the middle of the desert about 100 kms from the nearest town. The grade 6 participants practiced being junior scientists, taking weather readings for the station, and experimenting with vegetation transects through the Kuiseb River bed and into the dunes. They also spent time relaxing at camp, hiking the enormous sand dunes, swimming, and playing soccer.

Thanks to Rossing Uranium for sponsoring this trip.

We have also made some changes in our lunch program, where we feed 70 children every day. All of these children come directly to our facility following school and many of them return home as late as 7 pm. In an effort to provide a more nutritional well-rounded meal, we have changed the menu to include both meat and cheese sandwiches in addition to peanut butter and jelly, and we are providing soup on Fridays as well. This has been a hit at MYO!

♫ A Musical Note from Miss Pam ♫

My favorite part of the week is Friday afternoon.  Once I arrive at the MYO facility, several MYO kids greet me, calling out my name “Miss Pam!” and they all run to help me with my instruments. 

They peek in the door as I set up for class and ask me questions like “How long has Miss been playing the guitar?” or “Can we sing the Rattlin Bog song from last week?”  I smile at them and think how lucky I am to be working with such an eager and happy group of kids.

There are no formal music classes taught in the primary schools here in Namibia, therefore I started with the very basics in January.  Up to this point, we have been working with very limited resources: my guitar, Irish tin whistle, iPod, and a piano generously donated by Mrs. Uschi.  However, we’ve discovered ways to be musical with our bodies, voices, and even plastic water bottles!  We’ve explored creative movement, tuned into critical listening skills, learned Namibian folk songs and even learned a few American Folk songs.  Who knew Namibian kids would love contra dancing?  I am very pleased with how much the MYO kids are progressing.  They are extremely clever and open to sharing their ideas.

I am also excited to report we received a generous donation of percussion instruments from the Orchestra Swakopmund!  In the coming days, we will be working with new Bass bars, guiros, casabas, and triangles. We are also embarking on a drum-making project.  We purchased goat skins for the drum heads and hope to teach the kids how to make drums in class.  It will be quite an event.

I am thrilled to be part of the great things happening at MYO and with the music program.  It is truly a team effort on behalf of the MYO kids, Miss Shannon, Frau Uschi, Frau Dörte, Mr. Dollar, and Mr. Julian. Thank you for all your hard work in continuing the success of this program.

Lisa Chee - MYO Board Member

In early May 2006 we held our first MYO fund raiser in Australia. I am happy to report there was a great turn out and it was a very successful evening. I would like to express my gratitude to those that supported us by either participating/planning the evening or by making cash donations and/or contributing prizes for the MYO contests.  I received positive feedback from many participants who were very impressed with our program and equally impressed with the results we have achieved with our kids over such a short period of time.

It really is wonderful to see that we are taking significant steps in raising MYO awareness and gathering much-needed support in Australia. We all can make a difference to help break the poverty cycle in Africa so it is great to see people step up to the challenge and help make a difference by supporting MYO. I  have recently heard from many individuals who are keen to offer their skills and join our team of volunteers. The collective enthusiasm and commitment by the team is very powerful in continuing to move us forward.

Upcoming Australia events:

• 14 July – MYO trivia and tapas evening in Sydney – please come along and bring anyone else who would like to join in a fun evening and hear more about MYO. Prize donations for the evening would be greatly appreciated.
   

• MYO 2007 calendar – Martijn has been working closely with a team of professional designers and printers to produce our calendar. MYO calendars will be on sale later this year so please consider buying the calendars as gifts for friends, family, or corporate clients.

I cannot wait to return to Namibia in late August to be with the kids and our great Namibian team.

Lisa Chee