‘Protect Me’

NINE years ago, Corinna Schauenburg and Fransiska Eises founded the Soutere Child Care Centre in a small shack at Windhoek’s Goreangab Dam informal settlement.

Just over 20 children received one hot meal a day and education there. Since then, the number of children has grown to about 100 and bigger and better premises were needed. Children in the community who went to afternoon school sessions can now go to Soutere in the morning to do their homework there or attend extra classes in reading, music and art. Construction has started at the new premises and once finished, the centre will have two kindergarten classrooms, two classrooms for babies and toddlers, two after-school classrooms, a kitchen and bathrooms.Currently there are six teachers at the centre and a few volunteers and support staff. The vision of the centre is to educate the children of the Goreangab Dam area so that they can develop to their full potential.Soutere, which means ‘Protect Me’, also works with young mothers, teaching them home-based care giving, HIV/AIDS awareness and hygiene.