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Dark Sky Reserve
NaDEET is the educational core of Africa’s first International Dark Sky Reserve

Learning and Living

for a Sustainable Future!

Our History

UNESCO's Dr. Claudia Harvey officially opening NaDEET Centre on 24 October 2003Namibian environmental education started in the late 1980’s and the early 1990’s when the Namibian government and a few non-governmental organisations took the initiative to establish the first “true” environmental education centres for all Namibian youth. Previously outdoor camps were more focussed on survival training courses instead of the environment. The new centres still exist today and are primarily located north of Windhoek, in areas like Etosha National Park, and are focussed on nature and wildlife. Upon working for such a centre, NaDEET founders Viktoria and Andreas Keding noticed a “disconnect” between what was being taught and what was inadvertently learned. Instead of the centre being a model of environmental living in everything that it does, it was purely focussed on its subject and did not have a holistic approach. It seemed quite counter-productive, for example, to educate about ‘saving wildlife’ and simultaneously have leaky taps in the centre’s bathrooms.

 

Constructing the Centre under 40 degrees plus weather conditions

The NaDEET Vision to Centre-based Environmental Education

Our philosophy is “we practice what we teach”. NaDEET Centre has integrated this philosophy into its infrastructure and teaching practices. At NaDEET, we believe that a major part of a person’s experience at an EE Centre is the facility itself. The EE Centre including where participants sleep, bathe, cook and eat should make a considerable impression on them and should inspire them to integrate the principles of sustainability into their daily lives.

 

 

Building the Centre-from small beginnings

The Centre was built in 2003 by Andreas Keding (construction manager), a small team of assistants and three groups of Raleigh International volunteers. At that time funds were extremely limited and the Centre was built using primarily recycled materials donated by various individuals and our neighbour, Wolwedans Lodge. Almost everything was done by hand as there were limited power tools available. The original Centre consisted of 6 accommodation units with shower and toilet facilities and the main building (classroom and kitchen).

 

Setbacks and Milestones

Damage from the 2006 fire

2006- Due to an unknown cause, the original main building burned down. With overwhelming support from the community, it was rebuilt.

Our 10 year anniversary logo
2008-2013- Since then the original accommodation houses, toilets and solar electricity system have been replaced and improved to accommodate the increase in participants.

2014- After ten years of successful environmental education, NaDEET decided to open a head office on the coast in Swakopmund to better position ourselves to expand beyond the South. It also marked the beginning of our first major 3 year outreach project entitled "RUG for Sustainability".

2015-2016- After having been used for over 10 years, the last major renovation at NaDEET Centre were the bathrooms, better known as the Water Wise Washrooms.

 

 

Head Office
Libertina Amathila Ave 41, Swakopmund
Tel: +264 (0)81 367 5310 Email: admin@nadeet.org

Postal address
PO Box 8702, Swakopmund, Namibia

NaDEET Centre - NamibRand Nature Reserve - Maltahöhe
Tel: +264 (0)81-1257681

Trust Certificate No : T168/2003
© NaDEET

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