Namibia Projects
According to the Red Cross, the Caprivi region is one of the hardest hit parts of Namibia, with 43 per cent HIV/AIDS prevalence, compared to 22.5 per cent nationwide. The disease hits the most productive members of society, which makes it difficult to support the local economy. It also leaves thousands of children without parents. According to UNICEF more than 20 per cent of youth under 19 years old in this area have been orphaned, because family members have died from the virus.This and other diseases, including malaria, have exacerbated the levels of poverty in the region. Your support for our medical, outreach and orphan care projects here is therefore very welcome.
As a Namibia Medical Volunteer, you can make an important contribution to the improvement of health and welfare services for the local communities.
Namibia – Stunning wilderness and dry desert landscapes
Namibia is one of the least densely populated countries in the world, with vast expanses of wilderness and stunning, but largely dry, or desert landscapes. However, in the north-east of the country is a thin finger of land with its tip touching borders with Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. This region, known as the Caprivi Strip, offers a striking contrast to the rest of the country and is where our volunteer projects are located.
The Caprivi has an abundance of water with a relatively high rainfall and more tropical climate, making it far greener than much of the rest of Namibia. Therefore, the handful of wild National Parks offer an ideal habitat to support an array of wildlife, including large populations of elephants and hippos.
Approximately 66,000 people live in the Caprivi, mostly as subsistence farmers who make their living on the banks of rivers. Bordered by a few African countries, the Caprivi has become home to people from a large number of tribes and different languages are spoken throughout the area, giving it a very eclectic, multi-cultural feel.
The Caprivi is also rich in arts and culture, history and natural landscapes, such as savannahs, floodplains, woodlands and the riverine forests of the mighty Zambezi River. The strategic location of the region and its access to tourist destinations, including Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta make it an attractive destination.