Windhoek, Namibia

At A Glance

Term: D 2008

Project Opportunities: IQP

Housing: University Dormitory Rooms

Director: Professors Arthur Gerstenfeld and Creighton Peet

Preparation: 1/2 unit preparation activity

Application Deadline: September 28, 2006 (before 1 p.m.)

Location

Namibia is a southern African nation of extensive national parks, deserts, seaside ports, livestock farms, and towns, with an excellent infrastructure of maintained roads, clean water, and good services. Students will live in Windhoek, the modern capital city, on the campus of the Polytechnic of Namibia, WPI’s partner university in Namibia. They will work in the city as well as other parts of the country. There will be an opportunity to visit national parks and other tourist attractions and a limited opportunity to become familiar with African rural life.

Projects

Namibia’s well-developed government agencies at both the national and municipal levels will sponsor many of the projects, and these projects will generally focus around issues of sustainable development. In particular, projects typically investigate alternative energy sources, improved water and sanitation management, improved preventive health education, low-income housing, micro-level income generating activities and tourism development. Local towns and peri-urban informal settlements will be the venue of some of the projects. No prior knowledge of Africa is needed, but the preparation will include a heavy commitment to learning about the culture of Namibia in addition to preparing specifically for the projects.

Take a look at some recently completed projects...

Estimated Expenses:

Estimated Out-of-Pocket Expenses	2,400 100 500 + 800 $3,800	Travel to site (RT airfare) Local transportation (e.g., taxis) Dining out (5x term) Weekend tourist activities Estimated total out-of-pocket expenses
Expenses Included on your WPI Bill:	+ 1,850	Housing, program expenses, and campus food plan (plus some official transportation)
Estimated total expenses	$5,650	(tuition not included)

Subject to change due to fluctuations in exchange rate

Note:

In calculating the extra expense to participate in an off-campus project experience, compare this figure to expenses incurred while living on campus (groceries or meal plan, entertainment expenses, transportation, etc.)