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Helvi Itenge Wheeler

Goodreads author profile

url

http://www.goodreads.com/yambekachildren

born

in Namibia

gender

female

website

http://www.yambekachildren.com

genre

Children's Books

member since

July 2010

About this author

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Yambeka Children Media was founded in Columbus Ohio (USA) by Helvi Itenge-Wheeler a Namibian American who moved to the United States in 2001 to complete her higher education.

Yambeka is a term which literally means “ Blessed ” in the Oshiwambo language, spoken by the Ovambo people in the southern African country of Namibia. Yambeka Children was created to promote African literature, languages, and short stories for children.

While in the America, Helvi found it challenging to educate her children in her native language Oshiwambo because she could not find children’s books written in her original language. Determined to teach her children Oshiwambo, she began to create her own babies and toddlers books using tools available from her own resour...more Yambeka Children Media was founded in Columbus Ohio (USA) by Helvi Itenge-Wheeler a Namibian American who moved to the United States in 2001 to complete her higher education.

Yambeka is a term which literally means “ Blessed ” in the Oshiwambo language, spoken by the Ovambo people in the southern African country of Namibia. Yambeka Children was created to promote African literature, languages, and short stories for children.

While in the America, Helvi found it challenging to educate her children in her native language Oshiwambo because she could not find children’s books written in her original language. Determined to teach her children Oshiwambo, she began to create her own babies and toddlers books using tools available from her own resources.

In July 2009, Helvi arrived in Nairobi, Kenya with her family as a result of her husband volunteering with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). She was excited to learn and teach her children Swahili. However, after visiting a number of books stores, she was disappointed to discover that she could not locate babies or toddler’s “Swahili and English” books in the stores.

As a result of this challenge, and after consulting with Kenyan Swahili speakers, Helvi decided to embark on creating a fun and easy to read picture book that identifies objects, animals, and nature in Swahili and English. Combining colorful and vibrant pictures that excite and provoke learning activities from children, “ Baby’s 1st Kiswahili Book ” was developed! Helvi believes that reading to children is important; she has found numerous educational studies that demonstrate that when parents read to their children at an early age, the child is more receptive to reading.

Helvi is married and a mother of two young children. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology from Wilberforce University in Ohio (USA) and thereafter a Masters Degree in Education with a concentration in E-Learning, at the University of Illinois (USA).(less)

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Helvi Itenge Wheeler's Books

Average rating: 4.80 · 5 ratings · 4 reviews · 2 distinct works · Similar authors

	Wanyama/Animals: Learning Swahili is Fun! (Swahili Edition) (Volume 2) by Helvi Itenge Wheeler (Goodreads Author), L. Mbaabu (Editor), A. Keya (Editor) 4.67 of 5 stars 4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Kishikishi the Bad Monster 5.0 of 5 stars 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Helvi Wheeler is now friends with Febe Shithigona
May 20, 2013 04:28pm · like
Helvi Wheeler added photos to Helvi Itenge Wheeler
Mar 23, 2013 02:16pm
Helvi Wheeler added Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4) by J.K. Rowling recommended to Helvi Wheeler by: http://tangih.blogspot.com/	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 09, 2010 12:04pm
Helvi Wheeler added Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story by Ben Carson read in August, 2010	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Still reading
Aug 02, 2010 08:03am · see review
Helvi Wheeler wants to read The Two Little Boys from Toolittle Toys by Vincent X. Kirsch (Goodreads Author)	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 21, 2010 12:29pm
Helvi Wheeler wants to read The Curious Garden by Peter Brown	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 21, 2010 12:09pm
Helvi Wheeler wants to read Toddler's: A B C by Roger Priddy	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 21, 2010 12:08pm
Helvi Wheeler added Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy by Denise Fleming	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 17, 2010 02:23am
Helvi Wheeler is now a fan of Goodreads Author Nikki Smith
Jul 14, 2010 12:46pm · like · see all of Helvi's favorite authors