WHAT

GAP YEAR
IT IS
PROGRAM

What it is
The Gap Year 2021 takes ordinary
gap years to the next level. It is not
only a year of new Swakopmund
adventure experiences, but is also a
constructive year of self-discovery
and getting ready for a career and
adult life.

The Dome Gap Year is about

learning, experiencing and getting
ready, while having a lot of fun
where the Namib Desert meets the
Atlantic Ocean.

What to expect
The Gap Year runs over 11 months
from mid-January to early
December with short holidays in
between quarters. There are 2 to 3
weeks long vacations in between
each quarter.

Namib Desert survival adventure -

The program kicks off with a unique
survival experience in the desert–
the best way to meet and make
new friends and become part of the
Dome family.

A typical week at the Dome

consists of:
o Entrepreneurial training
o A number of short information
sessions on various topics as per
the curriculum
o Interacting with friends and fellow
students
o Working on learning assignments
in small groups
o Challenging application of
learning in real-life or simulated
situations
o Involvement with Dome events
and activities
o Sport, adventures and leisure.

Buddy system – Each student

becomes part of a small group,
which acts as a nucleus for support,
for learning, experimenting, and
friendship.

Getting fit and in shape – Because

the Dome endorses health and
fitness, each student receives a
one-year membership at the
Dome’s Olympic standard gym.
Participating in scheduled physical
exercise, sport events and
challenges is strongly suggested.
There is room for all – from the
super fit to the totally unfit; from the
self-confident to the insecure; from
the dedicated to the one exercising
for leisure.

Entrepreneur in your own right –

you have the choice to join the
Entrepreneurs’ Program and start a
business with the guidance and
support of experts.

The Program

During the first quarter, a Basic

Orientation brings you up to speed
with the tools, skills and
understanding needed for the rest
of the year, including an informed
and reality-checked career choice,
confidence, a purpose and discover
a set of values to live by.

Then, during the second part of the

year, you start with specific or
general Vocational Training. There
are various options to choose from.

Phase 1 – Basic Orientation

The gap year starts off with Basic
Orientation phase which aims at the
following, just to mention a few:

• Discover one’s authentic self –

Discover who you are, what
they are good at and what you
want.
• Dare to live – appreciate one’s
own unique value and have the
courage to live accordingly.
• Find purpose in life –
Answering the questions “why
am I here?” and, “where from
here?”
• Coping with life crises – ability
to bounce back, be emotionally
intelligent and mental
toughness.
• Self-acceptance – growing a
positive self-esteem, and dare
to live authentically.
• Realism – a more rational
approach, insight in own
illusions, and how to
understand what is real.
• Effective networking - self-
promotion and marketing
through social media.
• Social survival tools – the skill
of saying ‘no’, setting
boundaries, and reading others’
intentions.
• Effective conversational skills –
active listening, empathy, and
self-expression.
• Humor as a survival tool.
• Living with hope.
• Dealing anxiety, fear and stress.

Phase 2 – Vocational Training

At the end of the Basic Orientation

phase, the student chooses one
from three vocational clusters to
follow for the remainder of the year
i.e. Entrepreneurs Cluster, Sports
Cluster or the Open Vocation
Cluster.

There is also the opportunity for

students who want to focus only on
his/her sport whilst receive
professional coaching.

1. Entrepreneurs’ Cluster
The Dome runs an entrepreneurial
development program, the
Entrepreneurs Factory, catering for
aspirant entrepreneurs in general.
Gap Year students have access to
this program and to its expert
business coaches and mentors. The
individual’s’ unique strengths,
passion and forms the point of
departure. Authenticity, personal
purpose, and life satisfaction always
stays center in this equation.

2. Sports Cluster
Students have the choice of either
to opt for a (1) qualifying as a fitness
instructor, or (2) to follow his/her
sport training and coaching in a
professional manner.

National Fitness Instructors Course

FitPro® qualifications are
accredited by South African
Qualification Authority (SAQA) and is
internationally recognized. Students
who opt for this are those who have
a vocational interest in qualifying as
a fitness instructor. This is a full-
time course consisting of 28 weekly
lectures and 250 hours practice.

3. Open Vocational Cluster

This cluster is the highly flexible
option where career opportunities
are identified based on the needs of
the student, such as learnerships
and vocational upskilling. Having
decided on the best suitable career,
the Dome arranges the appropriate
exposure and learning for the
student as far as possible. It
improves the student’s eventual
employability.

The Open Vocational Cluster aims

at setting up students as successful
job seekers of choice within a
career that best fits their unique
strengths, interest and personality.
Students learn how to optimize
digital networks, to market oneself
and to expand one’s sphere of
influence, and also, how to
negotiate and assert oneself. The
student ends up with a CV showing
applicable experience before the
year is over.

Approach:
This is done by,
o firstly, reality checking the career
a student chose in the Basic
Orientation Phase,
o secondly, by optimizing a career
strategy within circumstantial and
personal constraints,
o thirdly, assisting in the relevant
vocation training and/or experience
to ensure optimal employability,
and
o finally, feather their nests to have,
within their reach, a meaningful and
fulfilled life according to their own
uniqueness.

What is in it for the student?

• A once in a lifetime opportunity

to enjoy the Swakopmund
adventure experience.
• While participating in the fun
and excitement, one walks
away with a game plan for life.
• Sense of belonging – Making
new friends and become part
of the supportive Dome family
and network of like-minded
people.
• Increased employability –
Having gotten to grips with
what one is good at and what
career fits best, one already
gains career knowledge and
experience to become better
employable.
• Dare to live – Discovering
oneself and gain the
confidence and courage to live
authentically.
• Thinking outside the box –
Entrepreneurial way of thinking
and creativity make things
happen.
• Sport – Enjoy being active and
healthy, or try one’s chance at
with professional sport career.

CONTACT US
The Dome Namibia
invites you to contact
us to learn more about
the suite of services

CONTACTUS
that we have tailored
to provide you with a
true sport inspired and
hospitality experience.

+264 64 400 301

lourens@thedomenamibi

a.com

5371 Welwitschia Street

Swakopmund, Erongo
Region, Namibia

GPS Co-ordinates
S22 39.884 E14 31.800

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