The Phoenix Heritage project recently provided training on improving the gathering and storage of heritage information to heritage managers from the National Heritage Council, National Museum, Museums Association of Namibia, and the University of Namibia (UNAM).
The training focused on the redesigned Namibian Heritage Knowledge Resources System (NAHIRS), which was designed to preserve historical information by guaranteeing continuity and standardisation.
The Phoenix Project is a partnership between UNAM and Cardiff University in Wales to enhance health, alleviate poverty, and build environmentally aware and sustainable strategies.
Gwasira Goodman, senior lecturer in UNAM’s Department of Geography, History and Environmental Studies, said in a media statement on Tuesday the new information system will aid in the administration and conservation of heritage sites in Namibia and around the world.
“The Phoenix Heritage revamped NAHIRS as a result of co-refining existing UK best practices in heritage inventorying. This transformation will increase opportunities for public engagement in heritage issues and mainstream community participation in gathering and storing information about national heritage sites,” he said.
Following the success of the first workshop in August, Goodman announced that the Phoenix Heritage team will continue with more seminars, but this time using the Twyfelfontein World Heritage site as a prototype setting in following training sessions.
“Using the Twyfelfontein historic site will allow locals to contribute directly to the national database, enhancing information about the sites for the first time in Namibian site management history,” he explained.
Goodman went on to state that the workshop will help the project’s goal of supporting and developing heritage strategies and tools useful for research and management of Namibian heritage.
Furthermore, training on how to use NAHIRS will be incorporated into the University of Namibia’s new heritage curriculum in order to strengthen the development of skills and competence required to sustain the historic sector.
The Phoenix Heritage project will also offer internship possibilities to UNAM students to guarantee that they are prepared to work upon graduation.
The Namibia Heritage Resources Information System project was funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund of Cardiff University.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
