SOS Children’s Village sends home 36 workers

Approximately 36 employees of SOS Children’s Village Namibia are facing retrenchment following a strategic transformation.

The non-governmental organisation says the realignment is influenced by the decision to implement a local strategy as, well as dwindling international funding which has been necessitated by Namibia’s rating as an upper middle income earning country.

According to a statement issued yesterday, the retrenchment of the 36 employees is due to a restructuring, stating it was necessary for the sustainability of the organisation and to ensure its relevance, and strengthen its services.

SOS children’s home national director Julieta Ferreira says: “We are currently implementing a national plan which we must align with our goals. We need to make sure we have the right staffing for this. We will be increasing our community development programmes,”

The organisation has been providing child protection, childcare, and family strengthening services for over 40 years.

The adjustments are further aimed at ensuring efficiency of programme impacts.

“We acknowledge the uncertainty and anxieties this alteration has on our employees and are approaching it responsibly, and sensitivity,” read the statement.

The organisation said it has carried out the retrenchment in line with the Labour Act 11 of 2007 for the sake of transparency.

Despite the challenges, the organisation said it remains committed to its mission of providing childcare, protection and support to families.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.