From the WTN office: Success Stories and the Journeys from Struggle to Strength:

Although the process, value, and outcomes of the WTN program are well documented and discussed in detail on the website, we can’t help but share some of the amazing stories that have come out of this program.

One participant writes:

“Before joining Wilderness Therapy Namibia, I was not really living a good life. I would always lie. I would always feel sad, and I would always feel like I was alone. The day I found out about Wilderness Therapy Namibia, I was so confused about what it was, but I decided to take on the challenge.

After going on the hike, I gave my life to Christ. I've been so much happier, and I've never felt like I was alone after the hike. I've made new friends, met new people, and became more confident in myself. And I also didn't know where I would be after high school. Wilderness Therapy Namibia gave me so many varieties on what job I could choose. They led me on the right path, and as I write this, I just want to say how grateful I am to have them in my life, and I hope they continue doing the great work.”

However, the realities that our volunteer facilitators encounter on their journey with the WTN participants, aren’t always as simple and straightforward.

On the hike, during circle time in the evenings, the participants share their life stories. As facilitators we actively listen to these stories as they provide us with a window into the life of the participant, and we can start to understand behavioral patterns better.

On one occasion a participant told us that both his parents are unemployed, and his father is an alcoholic. They often go hungry and the father is violent towards them. He confessed that he was stealing food and money to feed his family.  

Another participant told us that he regularly witnessed his mother being violently abused by her boyfriend. The boyfriend was also abusing him and his siblings.

There are many more heartbreaking stories shared during the 8 days we spend with the participants. On one of these hikes, a similar story emerged during circle time.

A story of hunger, poverty, and an abusive father that led to this particular participant stabbing someone to get what he always wanted - a cell phone.  As the hike went on, this particular participant, (we will call him Sam for the purpose of this blogpost).  Sam was starting to rethink his life choices, and by the end of the hike Sam decided that he wanted-, no-, he needed to change. Over the course of a few months, Sam wanted to give up and leave the program multiple times. Each time our facilitators would encourage him to stick around for just a little while longer.

This  continued until we hosted The Best Game (a business simulation game that teaches business and entrepreneurial skills. During this time, participants are given an amount of money  with the instruction to start their own business with the skills they’ve learned. After ten days, they had to report back on what happened, plus they had to pay back the loan that was given to them at the start of the ten days).

Sam absolutely loved this game! Afterwards, participants are encouraged to continue growing the business that they’ve started during this game. Like many others, Sam continued with his little business in the heart of Katutura, selling dishwashing soap on the corner of his street. Little did we know that this seemingly insignificant business would change his entire family.

As time went on, we realized that Sam was making more and more money from his business, and he was becoming more open in conversations, walking around with an actual smile on his face, and after a couple more weeks, he told us that he has bought himself a new bicycle, cell phone, and he was paying his own- and  his sibling’s school fees.

These events also caused his father to stop drinking, which meant that less abuse was happening within their family. His father was inspired by his son to start taking care of his family. There was obviously a lot of time needed for restoration and forgiveness to take place, but we are humbled and grateful to say that today, these two have a great relationship!

Of the WTN program, the hike is probably the most emotionally draining event. When we return to the office after a hike we debrief, regroup, and prepare for the next event. Often times we continue the work with heavy, but hopeful hearts.

We have been so privileged to see many stories like this one unfold before our eyes, and we realize that we are only passengers on this journey. We know that our program has its limitations, and we are often reminded of them when we receive requests to assist with food, clothes, and shelter. The work we do is only a small drop in the bucket, and it is vital for us to join hands with other programs and partners so that these participants might have a chance at a better life.

At WTN we’ve learned that psychological healing is often hampered by physical conditions.

Please pray for the WTN team and all it’s facilitators!