The SOS Children’s Village at Tsumeb has since 2023 supported more than 3 000 participants under their care.
The non-profit organisation’s regional manager, Teopolina Haitembu, yesterday said they provide humanitarian and development assistance to children in need and protect their interests and rights.
“We help orphans, abandoned children and children at risk of parental care. We aim to provide long-term support in areas of childcare, health and well-being and education livelihoods,” she said.
Haitembu stated that most of the children have been in their care since they were babies and some found their way to them after they lost parental care at home.
She said that since 2023, through alternative care, they have housed and taken care of 158 children from different regions, using their family strengthening programmes within the community, which are supported by different projects.
Haitembu said they currently have five young people who grew up at their centre at Tsumeb and are now studying at different institutions within the country, adding that their 10 family houses have collectively accommodated more than 100 children.
The children’s village also has four houses for students from different institutions at Tsumeb.
“We have observed that due to issues of accommodation most of the young people are dropping out of the institutions, but we have now spoken to the relevant stakeholders to house these students next year,” Haitembu said.
She indicated that one of their SOS members who grew up in the centre now owns a small bakery business that has created employment for two individuals, closing the unemployment gap one step at a time.
Haitembu reported that their organisation has various projects running to support young people, helping them stay in school and start their own businesses after university.
Haitembu called on all Namibians to work together to help Namibian children achieve their dreams. – Nampa
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