We are Make Change Possible e.V., or MCP for short.

We are a small, registered, charitable, non-governmental organization, supporting educational projects and programmes in Mayana, Namibia. We are entirely volunteer-run.

 
 
 
 

Our Mission

Change is possible through education:
Lifelong learning and learning from life.

 
 
 
 

Our VISION

To provide personal opportunities for people to meet as equal partners across nations and languages to support the development of world citizenship at a grass-root level.

 
 

 Meet the Team

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The MCP Team

 
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Katharina Voß

Chairperson

Katha has been involved with MCP since 2011. She joined a CAS trip as a Grade 11 student at Heidelberg International School. Upon return, she became a member and project leader. Since then, she has been project leader on several trips and has returned to Mayana year after year. In 2013, she was elected vice chairperson of the MCP Board. Since 2016, Katha has been the chairperson of the MCP board.

Katha holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Print & Digital Publishing from Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada and has worked in environmental communications and campaigning. Currently, she is pursuing a master’s degree in Sustainability, Society and the Environment at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany. In her free time, Katha likes to explore the outdoors (preferably with at least one dog by her side) and binge-watch documentaries on rainy days.

Contact Katha at katha@makechangepossible.de.

 
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Katharina Yacoub

Vice Chairperson

Kathi first joined MCP in 2015 as part of a CAS trip to Mayana. She then became a member and project leader. In April 2017 she successfully organized the German counterpart of the Harambee Challenge, a run from Leipzig to the Namibian embassy in Berlin. In 2018 she decided to go on another project trip as project leader and in 2019 she was elected vice-chair.

Kathi holds a master’s degree in Health Education and Promotion and a bachelor's degree in European Public Health from Maastricht University. Kathi loves a warm spring day in nature when the grass is the greenest and mosquitos aren't out yet. Her passion is football and is involved in activities on and off the pitch. A day without laughing is her worst fear since she loves cracking (probably bad) jokes and banter.

Contact Kathi at kathi@makechangepossible.de.

 
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Larissa Degner

Secretary

Larissa joined the Project trip in 2018 as a Grade 11 student at Kopernikus Gymnasium in Blankenfelde. Her dream is to become a veterinarian and that's why she decided to do an internship for two months in Mayana after graduation. She was in charge of organizing and planning the extension and upgrade of the chicken house. Larissa became a project leader and is part of the extended board.

Contact Larissa at larissa@makechangepossible.de.

 
 
 
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Andreas Voß

Treasurer

Andreas is a presiding judge at the Court of Appeal in Karlsruhe specialized in intellectual property law. He likes to support education in Germany and Namibia through international cooperation at a grassroots level. He has been on two project trips to Mayana and has served as MCP’s treasurer since 2013. Outside of MCP, Andreas enjoys engaging with literature, opera and chess.

Contact Andreas at andreas@makechangepossible.de.

 
 
 

Adina Palm

volunteer

Adina completed an internship with us from June 2022 to February 2023 and took part in our Julne 2022 project trip. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Nonprofit Social and Health Management and is now a volunteer member of MCP. Depending on where her help is needed, she lends a hand.

Contact Adina at adina@makechangepossible.de

 
 

The Founder

 
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Monika Handwerker

founder

While revisiting Africa in 2007, she came across the village of Mayana and was impressed by the open, genuine people she met there. Moved by this experience she made a mental note to come back with more time. A six-week exploratory project between a student, a teacher, and an African village became the foundation of the organization now known as MCP. After formally founding MCP in 2010, she served as chairperson until 2016 and advised the board until MCP’s 10th anniversary in 2020. Monika led the first official trip in July 2010 and accompanied many more trips after.

 
 

 Our Partners

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Partner Schools

 
 
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Heidelberg international school

MCP and HIS share many of the same values, such as sustainable action, global citizenship, intercultural understanding and respect. Through MCP, H.I.S. has been able to provide opportunities for students, parents, and staff to join projects that are built on these values with a particular emphasis on collaboration.

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Kopernikus gymnasium blankenfelde-mahlow

“Since 2012 students from the Kopernikus Gymnasium support MCP. They have a working group which plans and organizes events at the school to fundraise, which is used towards informing parents, new students and teachers about MCP and its goal in Mayana. With roughly 25% of their fundraising efforts directed to MCP, they are an essential partner school.”

 
 
 
 

Our Partner Organisation

 
 

Projekt kleine engel

Located in Swakopmund, Namibia, Projekt Kleine Engel aims to provide full-time care, education, and food for children in kindergartens in the nearby Democratic Resettlement Community.

“Our common goals are to support sustainable development in education and, by working together with the people in Namibia, ensure that communities are empowered to help themselves. Our partnership with MCP benefits all projects and joint networking broadens and deepens our work.”

 
 
 

Want to get involved?