Nina Maritz (right) and graduates discuss a solar oven model. It is possible to cook with solar energy in an oven made from cardboard.

Shack dwellers from Windhoek, Gobabis and Dordabis graduated from a dedicated Permaculture course at Farm Okukuna in Goreangab on 26 February 2020. The training is part of the Living Permaculture Project, an initiative funded by the Southern Africa Innovation Support Programme (SAIS 2). The project innovates and designs permaculture-inspired solutions together with shack dwellers. Grey water filters, solar ovens, shack insulation, and dry toilet systems are the first solutions that have been set up at Farm Okukuna in Windhoek as part of the project.

Beatrice Tjaveondja receiving her certificate with City of Windhoek Councillor Ananias Niizimba (right) and Flora Ismail Tibazarwa, Programme Manager of the Southern Africa Innovation Support Programme, applauding

City of Windhoek Councillor Ananias Niizimba thanked the graduates for their commitment. “Thank you for coming to Farm Okukuna, for engaging and learning. I expect you to go out and be leaders of change and innovation in your communities,” he said at the graduation ceremony.

Permaculture is a system of agricultural and social design principles for “human-centred” landscapes. Its intelligent, integrated, and holistic approach has made permaculture one of the fastest-growing grass-roots movements around the world.

The graduates from Windhoek, Gobabis, and Dordabis at Farm Okukuna with Flora Ismail Tibazarwa (SAIS 2 Programme Manager), Alex Kruger (Permaculture Facilitator), Ina Wilkie (Project Coordinator), and City of Windhoek Councillor Ananias Niizimba

“Permaculture minimises external inputs and sets up closed systems – a great approach for people who do not have money,” explains Ina Wilkie, the project coordinator. “We are very proud that we can bring this innovative design system to Namibia. Over the coming months, we will explore, design, test, and communicate permaculture-inspired solutions and introduce them to different informal settlements in Namibia.”

The event gathered coverage from major Namibian news outlets such as the Namibian Broadcasting Cooperation (NBC). Click here to watch their video on the project and permaculture.