Update August 2020

Expect the unexpected!
Since the Corona virus spread to a global pandemic, we have had to realize that the world can change unexpectedly, at lightning speed and with far-reaching and long-term consequences, confronting us all with new challenges.

Since mid-March, this new situation also massively impacts our work and the current and planned projects. This is especially true for our “Southbound” and “Northbound” projects. Our latest Update gave an account of the course of events, and you will find information on the current situation on our website.

We carry on is our motto
To keep going, creative solutions, new formats and a great amount of flexibility was required from everybody involved.

As we wanted to maintain the exchange of expertise in Southern Africa notwithstanding the current and future restrictions on travel and visa, we in record time developed the Virtual Volunteering Program, using state-of-the-art technology. Only thanks to a close cooperation with our partners in Namibia, especially Nico Smit, and the great support of Ernst Elsener, other experts and the B360 team was this possible. More information here.

Successful kick-off!
The pilot project ran in June and July, with the existing Career Starter Week as content. During the six-week test phase, three courses with students from Namibia were conducted in parallel. The results and reactions are very positive and highly encouraging for the participating students as well as for the B360 experts and the whole B360 team.

For information about the program, impressions, opinions and recordings please click here:

Career Starter pilot course with Prisca Hafner

Career Starter pilot course with Markus Huebscher

Career Starter pilot course with Sabina Balmer and Matthias Michel

Conclusion: The virtual Career Starter Course becomes a permanent part of the B360 program and will be provided on a regular basis, initially in Namibia. Additional virtual programs will be developed in cooperation with our partner universities. We have registered with special delight that many of our European partner companies and seasoned B360 volunteer experts have shown great interest in the new program.

We will keep you posted. The new challenges will doubtless keep us on our toes in the future.

B360 Team