Khwe are working on the further development of their Cultural Village

Making Khwe Cultural Village more visible

This year, we have made great progress towards this goal. Not only do the Khwe have a long-term and stable water supply in the village since August thanks to the support of the TUI Care Foundation and the construction of the well, they are also working with us to improve the program and make their Cultural Village more visible.

They have received support from our local project coordinator Antje from ATC Namibia, who has conducted five workshops on various topics with the Khwe on site in recent weeks.

Firstly, the still somewhat shy Khwe have practiced how to interact with guests and visitors, for example how to greet guests and introduce them to the Cultural Village. As many of the guests and visitors would also like to know how the Khwe live today, they have developed a new tour together with Antje, which not only shows traditional life, but also gardening, chicken farming and the well. The Khwe also include their handicrafts in this tour, so that visitors get a very good impression of Khwe life.

During this workshop, the Khwe asked a number of questions, such as how the overall tour or the goods produced could be sold more effectively. Different scenarios were practiced in various role plays, but solutions were also discussed. The Khwe are now considering putting up a small welcome sign on the road to the village, which will also show whether the village is currently open.

Scarecrow to protect the vegetables

The Khwe have been planting vegetables in the village for several years now, but with moderate success so far due to the lack of water. In addition, wild animals have often destroyed the plants in the past.

Thanks to the well, which was successfully built in August with the support of the TUI Care Foundation, the Khwe now have access to clean drinking water at all times and can thus irrigate the vegetable plants as needed.

So far, the Khwe have planted maize, but also beet, carrots and cabbage. In another workshop, the Khwe discussed with Antje which other plants they can grow (such as tomatoes, onions or pumpkin), why these are more suitable (more frequent harvest possible), what they should consider when growing them (preparing the soil, spacing the plants) and how they can use these vegetables in their daily meals.

In addition, a fence that the Khwe built in early summer now protects the plants from uninvited guests. To protect them from the blue monkeys, which are not deterred by the fence, the Khwe have built a scarecrow together with Antje, which now "guards" the garden.

In addition, the Khwe would like to beautify the so-called reception area, where visitors and guests gather, and are working on building a reception desk.