Havana

As stated in Camila Cabello's famous words, this is "Havana oh na na." Havana is an informal settlement in Windhoek close to the mountains. I came here with acquaintances and family to see a completed project by New Elementary Namibia.

Being an informal settlement, Havana has zinc shacks erected all over.  On my drive through the narrow streets of Havana to children's school, I saw water points, live chickens being sold, beautiful gardens, bathrooms with water leading into the street, and a little girl carrying a bag of maize meal on her head.

The zinc shacks in Havana do not have running water in their houses so they make use of paid water points. The water points are not normal taps with faucets that you find in everyday households. The water points are made of sturdy pipes shooting out of the ground with a meter box balance on them and a hosepipe used to run water into containers. The box on the water points is where people insert their prepaid water cards to purchase the water needed in their households. 

New Elementary Namibia is a non-governmental organisation that rebuilds existing schools to improve their infrastructure and to improve early childhood development. It has a standing rebuilt school, the one I saw in Havana, and a new school being built in the works.

One thing about Havana that will always have me in awe is the mountains. I was awestruck when I saw them for the first time that close. Mind you, I am a coastal girl and am only accustomed to beaches and dunes, so seeing the mountains this close was a moment for me.