GOOD VIBES ONLY

Good news from Namibia and around the world

LOCAL

Free computer literacy lessons for less-fortunate children:

Rakkel Ndeutala founded Veutile Education Consultancy in 2019 and currently teaches 478 kids from grade 7 to 10 the necessities of computer skills. During her tertiary education, she realised that children from low-income homes fall behind in a technology driven world. While targeting to enrol 100,000 Namibian children in the future, Veutile Education Consultancy is entirely dependent on volunteer teachers and computer donations. Ndeutala says “When we share knowledge and creativity, we can build a more equitable, accessible and innovative world.”

Source: The Namibian

200 Houses gifted to Namibian Women

As part of their dedication to low-cost housing, Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) built 271 houses through the Shack Dwellers Federation. 75% of the houses have been awarded to low-income earning women. MTC spokesperson Tim Ekandjo says the majority hand-over to Namibian women is aimed at combating the outdated standard of patriarchal land ownership.

Source: The Namibian

13-Year-old Tariro Moyo may be Namibia’s youngest university graduate:

The home-schooled teen passed her Cambridge International Examination (CIE) with an average of roughly 90%. She’s in the process of applying for first and second-year subjects at the University of Oxford and plans on becoming a doctor. Her father Brian Moyo tutored her on the entire International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) syllabus in just five months after completing primary school in Zimbabwe. IGCSE levels are usually completed in two years. Tariro’s father says the Namibian education system should also cater for gifted pupils.

Source: The Namibian

THE WORLD

Bee Bricks now a Requirement for buildings in Brighton:

250 bee species in Britain are solitary, meaning they don’t live in colonies, produce honey or have a queen. Mandates by the city of Brighton are being established to require new buildings above 5 metres to include nesting sites within its construction. Bee bricks function like regular building bricks, but include cavities in which solitary bees lay their eggs. Robert Nemeth, the town councillor behind the initiative says “Bee bricks are just one of quite a number of measures that really should be in place to address biodiversity concerns that have arisen through years of neglect of the natural environment.”

Source: Good News Network

France begins the ban on plastic packaging

As of 1 January 2022, 30 varieties of fruits and vegetables are prohibited from being plastic wrapped in France. Cucumber, lemon, peppers and bananas are among the foods marking the beginning of President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to phase out single use plastics by 2040. French government officials say the ban on these few varieties could prevent a billion units of single use plastics from being used annually.

Source: Positive News

World's First 3D printed Raw Earth house

The method called TECLA (short for technology and clay) was co-developed by Mario Cucinella Architects and WASP, specialists in 3D printing. Inspired by the potter wasp, these dome shaped pods are constructed of raw earth sourced from the surrounding area in Ravenna, Italy. Each pod consists of 350 layers of undulating clay constructed by two synchronized 3D printing arms. The result is a fully natural, recyclable and carbon neutral prototype that promises increasingly efficient and sustainable habitats.

Source: Arch Daily