Our Workforce
March 2014
Dear Gondwanians,
WELCOME to our March issue of
“OUR WORKFORCE”!
As we are all out and about busy gearing up for the season, it is our wish to
keep you intact and well-versed of the
happenings within our workforce. We
are delighted to have you in the Gondwana Family and appreciate your uncompromised dedication.
You are part of a team that attributes
to the following core values:

Passionate

Flexible

Wholehearted

Friendly

Creative
It is our sincere hope that you remain
on board and hand-in-hand we become stronger
Our Workforce, Our Pillar!
Enjoy reading.
Yours,
The HR –team
CONGRATULATIONS
A warm welcome to our new manager of
Etosha Safari Lodge.
Simon Andreas has joined the company
since the Roadhouse inception, he has
grown through the ranks and is now promoted to Manager of the Etosha Safari
Lodge.
"You can only be
come successful if
you make others
successful !
Success @ Gondwana
This month’s success story of Simon Angula, Assistant Lodge Manager of Etosha Safari Lodge
Rising through the Ranks!
Be inspired by a successful career
story of one of our pillars, as told by
himself.
I Simon Angula was born on August,
7, 1968 in Omuntele Owamboland
I left school in 1986. Thereafter I
went to Luderitz then to Keetmanshoop in search of employment. In
September 1987 at the age of 18
years I began my first employment
at Mr C Smith as a garden boy for a
monthly salary of N$250.00 later
during the year, I became their
housekeeper and was also
preparing all their meals. At
that time I did not speak
Afrikaans. Mr Smith would
always ask “Simon waar is
jou Mevrou”? and my answer was “Is nie my vrou
nie”. One day he sent me to
buy some meat pies. I did
not understand and bought
some
doughnuts
instead. Even though I did
not understand Afrikaans I
still worked for them for 6
years.
In 1994 I start to work at a
service station as Petrol
“Joggie” for 4 years. Here I
met Mr Goldbeck in
1997. End of May 1998 I
got a job by Gondwana Namibia. I started as a scullery
cleaner for a couple of
weeks. The barman resigned, and I moved to the
bar. However, my English
was very poor and I did not
know a word of German. Gernot,(who was assisting at the lodge,) was
“I have no idea how to get
there?!”.
a learning experience that
was!
Then one day when Sonia
came back from Windhoek
she gave me the good news
that I would be able to visit
Germany. In February 2007
I flew to Germany. This was
the first time at an airport
and being in this big airplane
for
about
9
hours!. When I landed in
Munich I had no idea where
to go. Thankfully, I found
the Methane family, who I
was staying with. When I
landed in Munich, it was
dark outside. When I wake
up the following morning,
all the trees were white
covered with snow. What a
surprise; my first time to
see snow!
In October 2008 I was transferred from Canyon Lodge
to Etosha Safari Lodge in a
position of Head of Guest
relations , where I supervised in the restaurant, bar
and as guest relations, and
in 2009 I got promoted to
Assistant Manager.
While travelling by train I
learned that if you do not
speak German you are lost.
I travelled to Stuttgart to
visit the Liven family for the
weekend.
always speaking to me in
German and my first teacher was Miriam Spatz (now
Schmidt) at Canon Lodge. I
continue to work as Barman
for a couple of years and
also helped at the Restaurant and Reception.
I had no problems getting
there, but on my way back
to Viectitach I realized that I
was in the wrong train!. I
started to ask the people
around me if this is the right
direction but no one knew
Viechetach.
I was then later promoted
to Reception as Guest Relations Officer. In 2006 Sonia
asked me if I would like to
see Europe. My answer was
The conductor advised to
change trains at the next
station, and to go back to
Nurnberg in order to take
another train to Cam. What
I would like to thank all executive Management and
Shareholders for giving me
these great opportunities
and trust.
Welcome Back!
Agnes and Stephanie returning home
Next week we are welcoming back
home our two management students, Agnes Iipumbu and Stephanie
Gantz after a six week period of intensive studies at the University of
Johannesburg , South Africa. It is exiting to know that what they have
learned will inspire the rest of our
workforce.
We’ll have a great feature the next
issue of OUR WORKFORCE where
the ladies will update us on student
life in Johannesburg.
For now we’ll leave you with a photo
of one of their less demanding classes.
Social Responsibility @ Gondwana
Kalahari Farmhouse, SSC staff
and Dgini Visser (Marketing
French & Spanish market representative) serving a hot meal to
children of the Sootdoering Laagte
Kindergarten in Stampriet.
Etosha Safari Lodge and Camp staff donating bed linens and freshly grown vegetables from Damara Mopane Lodge to
hostel children of Ombika Primary School,
Etosha National Park.
DOC’s ON THE GO!
Employee Wellbeing Campaign
In the first issue we’ve introduced Dr. Bernhard Haufiku
who is spearheading the Gondwana Employee Wellbeing Campaign.
The campaign’s main focus is a
sustainable and continuous improvement of the wellbeing of
employees.
This campaign kicked off on 12
Feb 2014 at the Etosha Lodges
and Damara Mopane Lodge. It
was a great success with over
90% of employees making use of
the campaign.
Training Programs
Financial Wellbeing
In February Ministry of Finance
& GIZ provided a Pilot Financial
Wellness Training at private
business at Etosha Safari Camp.
Topics covered were how to
save, how to budget and basic
calculations. Training skills for
the participants.
The goal is to provide selected
staff of four lodges with
knowledge on personal financial organisation. They will pass
on their knowledge to colleagues in lodge-based sessions. We are looking forward
to a fruitful cooperation with
FLI ( Financial Literacy Initiative ).
Training in Motion
March update
Maria Mvula has spent March at Anib Lodge with
on –the-job service training and held training sessions on service related topics. Exams were this
week and everyone is looking forward to test their
skills during independence weekend! Maria, well
done at your first placement!
Dr Dorian Haarhof has returned for workshops on
our new brand and the brand essence of every
lodge at the Kalahari Collection, Namib Desert,
Etosha Collection and Damara Mopane. Teambuilding, Self-confidence, company philosophy and
branding all interlink to a great, new experience for
all participants. Thank to our lodge managers for
taking time to attend!
Renowned Windhoek Vocational Training Centre
and Gondwana offered a first 3-day advanced electricity training for Maintenance Employees. Hosted
in March for heads of department at Etosha Lodge.
It was an intensive course and we are awaiting results. Many participants met for the first time and
able to exchange experiences. Feedback from the
course has been good and we will continue to build
the knowledge of our teams.
Introductory Electricity is offered this week at Anib
Lodge and we are looking forward to the feedback
of all. Training provider is KAYEC and the participants are the assistant supervisors.
NATH Guiding Courses are progressing well. We
have had a high attendants in February for English
Conversation and Story telling. Thank you Etosha
Camp for hosting us!
Silke is at Hakusembe River lodge, supporting the
team during Eddy and Yvonne’s leave. We are part
of the building processes and it is exciting to see the
development. Silke concentrates on on-the-job
training in housekeeping and service.
March Birthday List
Lodge
GTC
CL
DML
GTC
DML
CV
RH
KFH
NDL
DML
ESL
HAKU
NDL
HAKU
NAMU
ANIB
DML
ANIB
ESL
DML
GTC
RH
CV
RH
DML
HAKU
ESL
ESC
NAMU
NAMU
RH
HAKU
ANIB
ANIB
DML
NDL
NDL
ESC
ESC
GTC
DML
SSC
CV
CV
HAKU
RH
NDL
CL
NDL
ESC
Date
1
1
2
3
3
3
3
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
7
8
9
10
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10
11
11
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22
23
24
24
26
26
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28
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29
29
30
30
Employee Name
Vietor, JAC
Cloete, C
Nangolo, M
Shikongo, E
Esau, A
Levi, C
van Royen, S
Garises, G
Heita, LND
Muhpa, W
Kalola, O
Mangundu, M
Schuster, A
Liarunga, MS
Jamu, TA
Garoes, E
Simon, N
Gariseb, H
Amundjela, S
Sipenga, K
Haak, C
Kambata, I
Tukondjeni, S
von Kaschke, BV
Angula, NN
Murangi, I
Shikuyele, S
Shilipipo, S
Mukwambi, DM
Sehani, NT
Hendricks, CI
Klementinus, S
Plaatjies, S
Gerber, R
Tjimbongoro, K
Saal, S J
Geingos, S
Kambonde, J
Howoseb, M
Swart, CG
Kankoshi, L
Gaseb, J
Willemse, B
Kafeni, I
Kaura, EU
Boois, J
Simon, S W
Witbooi, P
Hakskeen, D
Marthin, D
Known As Name
Jens
Cecil
Maria
Eliaser
Albertus
Christoph
Salome
Garlinde
Lahiya
Wahpa
Otto
Mathine
Andreas
Meinolf
Agnes
Edlantine
Ndahambelela
Hendrick
Samuel
Kaveto
Cornelia
Immanuel
Stephanus
Brigitte
Nico
Isak
Selma
Sarah
Doricah
Neviter
Ivan
Simon
Sara
Ryan
Kauiju
Shireen
Selma
Joseph
Moses
Gerhard
Leena
Jonas
Bertha
Immanuel
Edison
Janine
Secilia
Petrus
Dawid
Dennis
Age
42
35
37
45
28
34
24
28
30
41
32
43
38
44
37
37
32
34
35
31
28
24
39
62
44
23
25
26
41
32
28
35
37
35
39
37
30
27
37
33
24
44
31
53
40
23
28
44
34
29
March Anniversaries
Gondwana Travel Centre
Namib Desert Lodge
Margo Vilander
7 years
Melania Shau
5 years
Anthea Cloete
4 years
Roman Beukes
3 years
Desiree Barry
3 years
Emilia Haihambo
3 years
Gerhard Swart
2 years
Moses Kinda
3 years
Almut Kronsbein
1 year
Maria !Khabes
1 year
Sandrina Mutighoma
1 year
Ute Cloete
1 year
Anib Collection
Sophia Tseis
1 year
Alex Claasen
2 years
Delta Howeka
1 year
Thomas Mulondo
1 year
Paulus Olavi
1 year
Lafrenz Mouton
1 year
Denisse Kharuchab
1 year
Canon Lodge
Jashua Haimbodi
8 years
Salome Jobs
4 years
Justina Lasarus
2 years
Canon Village
Etosha Collection
Lydia Nambahu
5 years
Wilhelmina Ndeimana
4 years
Hilma Taapopi
4 years
Hambeleleni Demuhomena 4 years
Otto Kalola
3 years
Mondestus Nampolo
3 years
Lovisa Nekwaya
1 year
Anna Uchams
1 year
Damara Mopane Lodge
Erro Iilonga
13 years
7Sylvia Nghishitelwa
3 years
Albertus Esau
3 years
Ndahambelela Simon
3 years
Jolande Tjatinde
1 year
Juliane Gowases
3 years
Messag Nakanyala
1 year
Victoria Hailwa
3 years
Ntjamba Kambinda
1 year
Auleria Shigwedha
1 year
Hakusembe Lodge
Roadhouse
Anna Janser
3 years
Kamakoli Katewa
1 year