From Windhoek to Bad Homburg

In February, Indileni Munghono (25, left) and Theresa Ndala (26, right) from Namibia started work at two daycare centres run by the City of Bad Homburg. They are the first early years educators from Namibia to work in Hesse. In one year, they will receive recognition as a “Qualified Professional in Daycare Facilities for Children”. In Windhoek, the two women studied “Early childhood education” up to Bachelor level and gained initial professional experience.

In Namibia, however—unlike here—there are many well-qualified early years educators and only very few vacancies. That is why the two young women chose our programme and spent seven months learning German very intensively every day at the Goethe-Institut in Windhoek. “It is a great enrichment for us to have early years educators from different countries in our teams,” says Eva Jethon, Head of Department for daycare centres for the City of Bad Homburg. “We want diversity in our daycare centres,” she adds. The City of Bad Homburg is also feeling the shortage of skilled workers in daycare centres. Since 2020, it has hired a total of 24 young women from other countries; the city will continue this model. “They have very good training and bring high motivation with them, as well as empathy and great appreciation for the children and families.”

Indileni Munghono and Theresa Ndala themselves say they particularly like that daycare centres in Germany are not regarded as pre-school. “In Namibia, there is a curriculum for the whole daycare year that we have to follow. Early years educators back home are teachers for small children. But here, each child can freely decide what they want to play with or do crafts. The children’s wishes are respected. Here, it is assumed that children learn best through play. I like that better,” says Theresa Ndala.

The two young women will now work for one year as a “Qualified Professional Pending Recognition”. During this time, they will be supported by a practice mentor. At the end, they will receive a certificate stating that their degree from their home country is recognised as equivalent to German early years educator training.

Do they miss home? “My family, yes—Namibia, no,” says Theresa Ndala. “My father is proud of me and supported me. He is happy that I can practise my profession here.” But there is one thing they both miss: grilled meat. In Namibia, there is a wide variety of meat types from animals such as ostriches, antelopes, oryx antelopes, lambs or cattle. The two say: “German meat isn’t as tasty, but the sausage is good. And we were surprised by the many kinds of chocolate.”

(Photo: Helmut Fricke)