Jutta Rohwer, the ‘White Angel of Katutura’

JUTTA Rohwer (67) affectionately known as ‘The White Angel of Katutura’ among the residents of Katutura and the surrounding informal settlements, has lost her battle against cancer.

Rohwer was born in Germany and later moved to Namibia where she met her future husband. She worked for 12 years for the Namibian Red Cross Society before retiring in 1992. After retirement she devoted all her time and passion to improving the lives of underprivileged children in the informal settlements and Katutura.
From early in the morning until late she could be seen driving around the dirt roads checking up on the estimated 200 kindergartens and crèches she helped establish.
She was instrumental in the building of orphanages like Dolam, a soup kitchen in the Okahandja Park informal settlement and many more. She co-ordinated donations from many organisations in Germany to projects in Namibia.
She ensured that everyone received equal amounts of money and made sure that the donated goods reached those who needed it most.
Through her efforts women’s self-help projects like Oasa Taradi not only became self-sufficient but also could export their goods to Germany and other countries.
Rohwer also helped establish and finance a centre for mentally and physically disabled children. She was also the chairwoman of the Special Olympics Committee and of the FNB Foundation. She helped to organise the yearly Special Olympiad, which in recent years has grown significantly in numbers.
A few years ago she helped Patricia and John Sola form the Hope Initiative Project and got funding for the Okahandja Park soup kitchen. A bridging school for children who cannot attend mainstream schools was started under her guiding hand and the school fees for other children paid for by overseas donors.
Patricia and the Hope Initiative Project will continue with some of Rohwer’s projects and ensure that the aid still reaches those most in need.
In a press release issued by FNB, Group CEO Vekuii Rukoro said: “Death has, once again, robbed Namibia, especially the less privileged communities, of a diligent and conscientious community servant who was at the helm of the FNB Foundation as our chairperson.
“She was dedicated and committed to the cause of community development and social progress – the same principles for which the FNB Foundation was born by the FNB Group in 2003. As mortal beings, we mourn the death of the late Jutta Rohwer: a colleague, a friend, a professional, and a mother for most, if not all charitable projects she was directly and/or indirectly involved with.
“With the footprints left behind by the late Jutta Rohwer, it will be easy for us at the FNB Foundation to follow her shining example. However, the challenge for us will be to find a replacement – someone holding the same passion, drive, enthusiasm and dedication for community development initiatives at grass-root level as the late Jutta Rohwer did with distinction.”
In the Okahandja Park informal settlement there is a small kindergarten named ‘Mum Jutta Rohwer’, a small token of appreciation from the community for all that she has done for them.
She will be missed by her husband, two daughters, five grandchildren and the countless people of Katutura and the informal settlements whose lives she touched and bettered over the years.
A memorial service will be held today at 16h00 at the Christuskirche and the family asks that instead of flowers donations rather be made for the many Katutura projects.
Another memorial service will be held at the Okahandja Park soup kitchen tomorrow at 10h00.
“We from Hope Initiative invite all members of the community to come and celebrate the life of Jutta Rohwer as we remember her for her contribution to the lives of the vulnerable children and communities of Katutura and the surrounding informal settlements,” said Sola.
– tanja@namibian.com.na