Motherhood Namibia is seeking to expand beyond its annual flagship event into a year-round platform supporting Namibian mothers, as it prepares for its fourth edition in September.
Event organiser Helena Shigwedha says the initiative was established to address the limited recognition and support available to mothers outside traditional Mother’s Day celebrations.
“Motherhood Namibia was established as a platform dedicated to celebrating, empowering and supporting mothers in Namibia. We recognised that while mothers are the backbone of families and communities, there were very few initiatives created specifically to honour them and invest in their well-being,” she said.
The fourth edition, themed ‘Sparkle. Shine. Celebrate You.’, will take place at a local hotel on 12 September. South African philanthropist and advocate Rachel Kolisi will deliver the keynote address.
Shigwedha says the initiative began with Mom’s Day Off, an annual event designed to give mothers an opportunity to prioritise themselves, before evolving into Mom’s Night Off, an evening format introduced this year.
She says the platform has grown steadily since its launch, attracting increasing attendance, stronger corporate partnerships and wider recognition.
“One of our biggest milestones has been seeing Motherhood Namibia evolve from an idea into a recognised platform that mothers genuinely look forward to every year. Through our flagship event, formerly Mom’s Day Off and now Mom’s Night Off, we have created memorable experiences that celebrate mothers while encouraging conversations around wellness, purpose and self-care,” she says.
According to Shigwedha, the transition to an evening event reflects feedback from previous participants and the organisers’ efforts to improve the experience.
Like many community initiatives, Motherhood Namibia has faced financial challenges.
Shigwedha says securing sustainable funding while keeping the event accessible has remained one of its biggest obstacles.
“Like many purpose-driven initiatives, one of our greatest challenges has been securing sustainable funding to deliver the quality of experience we envision while keeping the event accessible to mothers from different backgrounds. As a growing platform, Motherhood Namibia has had to build credibility, demonstrate impact and earn the confidence of corporate partners year after year,” she says.
She says organisers have also worked to change perceptions that celebrating motherhood should be limited to Mother’s Day, instead positioning the initiative as a platform focused on empowerment and inspiration.
She says corporate sponsorship has played a significant role in the initiative’s growth, enabling organisers to secure venues, speakers and other resources needed to host the event.
Beyond funding, Shigwedha says partnerships reflect a shared commitment to supporting women, families and communities while helping ensure the initiative’s long-term sustainability.
Kolisi was selected as keynote speaker because her work aligns with the organisation’s values of resilience, leadership, compassion and service.
Shigwedha says Kolisi’s advocacy for women and children, together with her community work, made her an appropriate choice to address this year’s event.
Organisers measure the initiative’s impact through attendance growth, audience engagement, sponsor retention, media coverage and feedback from participants.
Shigwedha says the most significant measure of success remains whether mothers leave feeling appreciated, inspired and motivated to invest in their own well-being.
Looking ahead, she says Motherhood Namibia intends to become a permanent national platform instead of being an annual celebration.
“Our vision is for Motherhood Namibia to become the country’s leading platform dedicated to celebrating, empowering and advocating for mothers.
“While Mom’s Night Off will continue to grow as our signature annual celebration, we see it becoming just one part of a much bigger movement that creates meaningful opportunities for mothers throughout the year through education, mentorship, wellness and community engagement,” she says.
She adds that the long-term goal is to build a platform that supports mothers throughout different stages of life while creating lasting value for future generations of Namibian women.
