Windhoek students present solutions to Real-World Problems
After weeks of stepping out of the classroom to interview experts, research local challenges, and lead their own community projects, ten- and eleven-year-olds at Windhoek International School (WIS) are presenting their findings this week at the school's annual Primary Years Programme (PYP) Exhibition.
The Exhibition is the culmination of the primary school journey — and an educational approach found nowhere else in Namibia. Rather than memorising facts for a test, Grade 5 students identified a real-world issue, conducted their own primary research, and turned it into community action, from environmental sustainability to social equity. This week they share the results.
WIS was one of the founding schools of the International Baccalaureate PYP in the 1990s, a framework now followed by nearly two million students worldwide. As an IB World School, WIS remains the only school in the country offering this student-led model at primary level. "The PYP Exhibition is a brilliant testament to what happens when you trust children to own their own education," said WIS Principal Jenna Brown. "Our students are challenging assumptions, engaging with our Windhoek community, and proposing real solutions. They are using their creativity and communication skills to make a real difference. This is where true leadership is born."
The Exhibition is now open to the school community and invited guests, featuring interactive booths, student presentations, creative performances, and accounts of the community-service projects the students have led themselves.
