Penduka is a non-governmental development organisation working with women in Namibia. It was launched by Dutch founder Christina and Namibian founder Martha in 1992. The organisation is based in Katutura, the former black township of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. In the rural areas of Namibia and in the suburbs of Windhoek, women lack access to affordable and effective training and education to be able to obtain a stable job. Penduka addresses this problem by focussing on female employment: they provide jobs for about 660 women. They also educate women in crafts, design, health risks and management skills. This way, women have the opportunity to develop themselves broadly in a variety of fields. For more info, check their website: www.penduka.com

The project entails a collaboration with Penduka and focuses on a big need in Namibia: mobility of older and disabled people. Because of the sandy area and poor providings, many elderly are restricted in their movements. The project will focus on improving the mobility and independence and reducing isolation of these older and disabled people. The idea is to develop a realistic and sustainable concept of a wheelchair which is adapted to the local (sandy/harsh) conditions of Namibia, and which can be developed with local materials preferably in cooperation with a local workshop.

Should you apply for this project and be selected, these would be your concrete goals amongst others:
– Search for a wheelchair model that is realistic and sustainable and suited for sandy terrain
– Search local producers, materials and suppliers of products
– Develop a marketing strategy and business plan (in cooperation with local entrepreneurs) to convince local sponsors/ministries to support the production and the distribution of the product.

The biggest part of your work here in Belgium will consist of making a design and manual for building the wheelchair, working out a marketing strategy and working out a business plan. During the implementation phase in the summer months, your task will be amongst others to search a local workshop, produce a prototype of the wheelchair, work together with local entrepreneurs from Penduka and develop together the worked-out business plan.