How it Began

The Beginning

After completing her training in dance and movement therapy, Monika Handwerker worked for seven years as a volunteer in South Africa and Botswana at an international educational institution for intellectually disabled children. During this time, it became clear to her that there was a need to connect people, separated by language, culture and social status, in mutual understanding. Monika returned to Germany to further her training in curative education and counselling before working in a psychiatric rehabilitation center for teenagers and young adults for six years. Subsequently, she became part of the team that founded Heidelberg International School (H.I.S.) in 2000. While revisiting Africa in 2007, she came across the village of Mayana and was impressed by the open, genuine people she met there. Moved by this experience she made a mental note to “come back with more time”.

At the time H.I.S. established the IB Diploma course, she began to envision a possible connection between CAS student requirements and her love of Africa. Lawrence G, an 11th grade student at H.I.S felt a strong need to effect change in the world and, upon learning of Monika’s connection with Africa approached her. Together they made plans to explore the possibility of establishing an ongoing relationship between the village of Mayana and CAS students at H.I.S. The H.I.S. school administration voiced interest in developing such a sustainable international project. The six-week exploratory project between a student, a teacher, and an African village became the foundation of the organization now known as MCP.

Formally founded in June 2010, MCP conducted the first official CAS trip in July 2010, which involved taking two students to spend three weeks working directly with the people of Mayana.

2007

On a private trip staying at the N’Kwazi Lodge in Mayana, Monika Handwerker, teacher at H.I.S., experienced a unique atmosphere in the region and noticed the small wooden elephants on sale to raise money for the local orphans. Her interest was aroused and she was determined to return. 

2008

An H.I.S. student, Lawrence Gillman, knowing about Monika's involvement in Africa, showed an interest in doing something useful as part of his gap year before joining the first diploma cohort of Heidelberg International School (H.I.S.). And so they agreed to pioneer an international CAS project together with one student and one teacher. And meanwhile people's life in Mayana went on…  

2009

The vision turned into action. Lawrence Gillman and Monika Handwerker approached H.I.S. with the idea of an international CAS project for the school in Mayana. On a trip of private nature, they travelled for six weeks together in Mayana and within a few days the range of possibilities to launch a CAS school project became apparent. On their return, they presented the proposed project. It was subsequently adopted by H.I.S. 

2010

The first H.I.S. international CAS project, comprising two students from grade 11 and two teachers, was a great success. The framework for the projects, the preparation for the participants and the involvement of the school community took shape. The project was named the Mayana Community Project.  Its motto became, “Put your eyes on tomorrow and your feet on today!” (Mirjam Makeba), and the vision took organizational form under the official banner of Make Change Possible e.V.  

2011

For the first time we had two project groups travelling to Namibia. In the MCP CAS Trip,  with four students and two teachers, six people from five nations organized a football and netball tournament for the local teams as well as a sports festival for children. Other projects were English and computer classes for the teachers of the Mayana Pre-school, an after school activity at Kayengona Combined School that taught the children board and card games, football training for under 14-year-old children, and the construction of a shelter.

The MCP Friends Trip  participants completed the shelter and established a mobile library. The Meho Kindergarten have now found their home in the shelter. Further projects were a sewing workshop for local women, a video portrait of the founding teacher of the Mayana Pre-school, and the Mayana Midwinter Challenge as a sports event.

2012, June: Pioneering CAS Trip at the new project in swakopmund

The project is in the location of DRC (Democratic Resettlement Community) to establish an arts program that takes place in the facilities of the DRC Community Centre. Six students from H.I.S. in Germany (Heidelberg International School) and W.I.S. in Namibia (Windhoek International School) formed the team to support the local visionary and artist Ronald Kharuxab.

Firstly Neil ran a weaving workshop for kids in co-operation with Karakulia Weavers. It included making looms for future use at the DRC Community Centre. An art workshop was organized and held together with Ronald. Followed by a sand sculpture competition at the beachfront where the general public was invited to be the judges. This event was greatly supported through the presence of Elemotho, the  ambassador of MCP. With the support of Dillon, Daniel, Chris, Zoe ,Maggie and Alicia we organized and held a writers workshop where the children wrote and illustrated their own stories. Another project was the art workshop for the DRC Kindergarten as well as decorating the wall of the ablution block.

A social highlight at the end of this trip was a barbeque held at W.I.S. that gave students, parents and staff the possibility to meet. This event was also the meeting ground for the MCP Friends Trip participants and future co-operation with W.I.S.

2012, November: Exchange triP Mayana to Swakopmund

In November 2012 Christiane Casper travelled to Swakopmund to meet with Joseph Mbamba from Mayana, who is one of MCP's most important contact persons from the community. The aim of her project trip was to help Joseph improve his computer skills to enhance and maintain communication between Namibia and Germany throughout the whole year. Furthermore, the trip was an opportunity for Joseph to get to know his country better. Christiane and Joseph documented their experience in a diary, which you can view by clicking the image gallery on the left.